Game Preview: Avalanche Open Seven-Game Homestand Against Ottawa Senators

Winning games at Ball Arena has not been an issue for the Avalanche through the first three months of the regular season.

But coming off their first two-game losing streak, Colorado opens a seven-game homestand against the Ottawa Senators with hopes of continuing what has been a historic run at home.

“It’s important that we’re a stingy team at home,” star defenseman Cale Makar said. “Teams gotta know when they come in here, they’re going to get our best effort.

READ MORE: Avalanche Game 43 vs Ottawa Senators: Homestand Begins, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Avs have won 15 straight games in front of Avalanche faithful. The only two losses (17-0-2) both came in shootouts in October. They’ve won every game in Denver since.

It’ll be interesting to see how the homestand unfolds. On one hand, this is still the best team in the NHL by a wide margin. Jared Bednar’s club just made history by having only two regulation losses through the first 40 games.

But on the other hand, the Avs have lost their last two games, both in regulation, to fall to 31-4-7. They also lost team captain Gabe Landeskog and top-pair defenseman Devon Toews to upper-body injuries while on the road. It was easily the most adversity the team has faced all year. But the cushion they’ve built in the standings have made this two-game rut almost irrelevant, at least when it comes to the standings.

“We would love to have them with us right now, but obviously it’s going to take a little bit,” Martin Necas said “We’ve got to do our best and keep fighting for those points every night.”

The Avs will still be without goalie Mackenzie Blackwood. That means Scott Wedgewood, who started all three games on the road, will get his fourth consecutive start.

Wedgewood is 18-3-4 this season with a .917 save percentage and two shutouts. He’s also 10-0-1 at home.

Meanwhile, the Senators have been on the other side of the goaltending spectrum. While Colorado has had success at that position, Ottawa has seen the opposite. Starting goalie Linus Ullmark has an .881 save percentage in 28 starts, but is away from the team on personal leave.

His backup, Leevi Merilainen, started in Utah on Wednesday, meaning we’ll likely see Mads Sogaard against the Avs.

Brady Tkachuk has had a solid year since returning from a long-term injury. He has 20 points in 21 games, playing mostly on the second line with Shane Pinto and Fabian Zetterlund.

The Sens are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.