Avalanche Game 67 at Calgary Flames: Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (39-24-3) finish off a two-game road trip with a battle against the Calgary Flames (30-23-11). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. MT.

READ MORE: Avalanche Mailbag: Trade Deadline Fallout & Stretch Run — Ask Us Anything!

Following a perfect 6-0-0 homestand, the Avalanche suffered a 2-1 shootout loss against the Minnesota Wild on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Colorado defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 at home on Monday, flew out after the game, landed in Saint Paul at 4 a.m., and took on a rested Wild team. All things considered, it was a good game and a great job by the Avs for squeezing out a point.

The lone goal came from Joel Kiviranta after he tipped home a Samuel Girard backhand shot from the blueline to beat Filip Gustavsson late in the third period. Kiviranta is red hot, riding a career-high four-game goal-scoring streak. Mackenzie Blackwood was in goal for the Avs and didn’t look great in the shootout. But in regulation, Blackwood made 22 saves, only giving up a goal on a bad turnover in the second period.

Now, after a full day off and a practice in Calgary, they’ll look to beat the Flames on the road again with an opportunity to get back into the winning column before a crucial match against the Dallas Stars at home on Sunday.

The Avs are riding a strong defensive stretch where they’ve given up just 11 goals in their past 11 games. Head coach Jared Bednar has continued to juggle through his depth options, allowing him to both rest players and see which combinations work.

Against the Flames, Erik Johnson will draw back in for Sam Malinski on defense. The forward group will remain the same.

Scott Wedgewood is also making his second start in three games because Blackwood is under the weather. Wedgewood has won his last two starts, giving up just one goal on 53 shots in 120 minutes of action.

READ MORE: Digging Through The Numbers From the Avalanche’s Perfect Homestand

Calgary is in the midst of a playoff race for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference, a seed they currently hold in the standings. In their last game, the Flames fell in OT to the Vancouver Canucks — one of the teams challenging them for a trip to the postseason.

Overtime losses have helped keep them in the race. Calgary is 4-2-4 in its last 10 games and are tied with both the Canucks and Utah Hockey Club with 11 OT losses.

Offensively, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau lead the way with 48 points each. They’re the only two skaters with more than 40 points on a team starving for goals.

Their season us ultimately being kept alive by the play of rookie netminder Dustin Wolf. He’ 22-15-2 with a .915 save percentage and is likely to be a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Especially if the Flames end up qualifying for the postseason.

Subscribe to CHN+ using promo code Deen10 for 25% off an annual subscription.

READ MORE: The Avalanche’s Center Depth is a Problem — And That’s Bad News for the NHL (+)