Game Preview
Game Preview: Avalanche, Hurricanes Go Vintage With Nordiques and Whalers Colors
Necas, Drury, and Burns will also take on the Hurricanes for the first time since playing there
The Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes are playing out a vintage NHL dream on Thursday night.
In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Colorado unveiled throwback Quebec Nordiques sweaters earlier this week. The team will wear them for the first of seven times against the Canes, who will be dressed in Hartford Whalers road colors.
Both teams will wear the same sweaters on Jan. 3 in the only road game Colorado will have in the throwback fit.
“These jerseys are probably the best-looking ones I’ve seen,” Martin Necas said.
The Avs’ top-line forward, along with Jack Drury and Brent Burns, are all facing their former team for the first time since departing.
On top of the vintage celebration, the two rosters on the ice are among the best in the league. Colorado is currently tied for first in the NHL with 12 points in seven games, while Carolina is right behind with 10 points in six games. The winner of this matchup could end the night as No. 1 in the league.
Neither club has had much success on the power play. Colorado is 30th in the league, operating at 11.5%, while the Hurricanes are 31st, scoring on just 8.5% of their chances.
The Avs’ top PP unit remains unchanged. Victor Olofsson and Brock Nelson continued to practice with Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar at morning skate.
Olofsson replaced Artturi Lehkonen several games ago but the production hasn’t changed much.
“It’s been difficult lately because we’ve got four power plays in our last three games. That’s it,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “We’re used to getting that every night so over a five game stretch, you’re getting a really good look at what you’re doing well, what you need to improve on. There are lots of teaching points in there.
“But over the last few games, it just isn’t. So we got to give this unit some time and we’ll probably experiment again shortly.”
Added Necas: “We’ve got too much talent not to score on the power play.”
On the second unit, Gavin Brindley got a look with four regulars in Brent Burns, Gabe Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin, and Lehkonen.
The Avs are coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on the road. In that game, Bednar’s club had a goal waved off after review in the second period that drew ire from the head coach.
Utah went on to gain both a 2-1 and 3-2 lead before a Martin Necas tally late in the third secured a point for the Avs.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have also been nearly perfect. They won each of their first five games before falling 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. They’ll look to get back in the winning column, and will use goalie Frederik Andersen against the Avs.
Colorado is countering with Scott Wedgewood, who will make his eighth consecutive start. He’ll be backed up by Trent Miner as usual starter Mackenzie Blackwood continues to work his way back from an injury that sidelined him since training camp began.
Blackwood was on the ice early ahead of morning skate, taking reps with an injured Logan O’Connor and a handful of members of the coaching staff.
