Avalanche Game 79 vs Vegas Golden Knights: WCF Preview? Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche (47-27-4) open their final week of the regular season against the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights (47-22-8). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. MT on ESPN.

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Colorado is coming off a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. During that game, the Avs trailed 4-0 before scoring three times to pull within a goal. The Blues added an empty-netter in the final minute, which was followed by a late tally from Sam Malinski.

The Avs are 14-4-2 in their last 20 games and 0-3-0 against Jordan Binnington and the St. Louis Blues during that stretch. They’re looking to get back in the winning column in their second-to-last home game of the season.

They’ll continue to play without four of their starters. Head coach Jared Bednar said on Monday that he’s hoping to have Jonathan Drouin, Martin Necas, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson back before the end of the regular season this Sunday. But none of them are ready to return tonight.

Given the chemistry on the third line between Charlie Coyle and wingers Miles Wood and Joel Kiviranta, expect Bednar to roll the same lineup as he did over the past two games. That means Jimmy Vesey and Ross Colton will slot into the top six.

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Vegas defeated the Avalanche on opening night before falling in a shootout in November in Alexandar Georgiev’s final home game before being traded to San Jose. This is the first meeting between two of the Western Conference’s top juggernauts since Colorado’s roster turnover.

It could also perhaps be a preview for the Western Conference Final, albeit neither team is going to have an easy route getting there.

No. 2 center Tomas Hertl has been out for the past two weeks. He’ll sit again for the Golden Knights, who have won two straight games and eight of their last 10.

Akira Schmid was the first goalie off the ice and is expected to get the nod in goal for Vegas, making his second start of the season. He’ll go head-to-head with Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood.

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Season Series

• Oct. 9 at Vegas Golden Knights (L, 8-4)
• Nov. 27 vs Vegas Golden Knights (W, 2-1 SO)
• April 8 vs Vegas Golden Knights

Avalanche Injuries

• Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)
• Josh Manson (upper-body, day-to-day)
• Samuel Girard (lower-body, day-to-day)
• Jonathan Drouin (lower-body, day-to-day)
• Martin Necas (upper-body, day-to-day)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Valeri Nichushkin
Jimmy Vesey — Brock Nelson — Ross Colton
Miles Wood – Charlie Coyle — Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren — Sam Malinski
Keaton Middleton — Erik Johnson

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
• Expected: Akira Schmid (VGK)

Upcoming Milestones

• Brock Nelson — needs 1 goal for 300

How to Watch

• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 92.5 FM