Game Preview: Miner Starts Again; Can Avalanche Match Their Franchise Record?

Winners of their last 17 games at home, the Avalanche can match their franchise record by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

Colorado last won 18 consecutive games at Ball Arena during the 2021-22 season, just a few months before they raised the Stanley Cup in June. The run from four years ago was the fifth-longest in NHL history. This year’s 17-game run is right behind in sixth.

The streak started on Oct. 28, when the Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 8-4 following a shootout loss to Carolina five days earlier.

Since then, Colorado has defeated the likes of Tampa Bay, Montreal, the New York Islanders, Florida, Utah, and Los Angeles, among others.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Avs and visiting Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto is 7-0-2 in its last nine games.

“They’re playing their best hockey of the year. They’re scoring more than they have in the recent past and defending well,” Avs head coach Jared Bednar said. “Every team goes through ups and downs through the course of the year, and oftentimes that’s related to injuries in the lineup and getting bodies back and finding chemistry. They’ve certainly found that here recently, and are playing really well. So we’re expecting a tough game tonight.”

Trent Miner gets the nod in goal for the second consecutive games. Miner earned his first career win, a shutout, against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Bednar said Scott Wedgewood is dinged up and will serve as backup. Mackenzie Blackwood remains out.

The Avs will likely need to lean on their depth to help out offensively against a stingy Leafs lineup. Toronto has been solid in recent weeks. As the offense continues to pick up, the defense has been among the best in the league.

Colorado’s depth provided all the scoring in Saturday’s 4-0 victory

“You don’t have a record you have without depth and secondary scoring, which they do have,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “I mean, I think they’ve gotten contributions from everybody.”

The Leafs are countering with Joseph Woll between the pipes. The 27-year-old netminder has been on a heater as of late, going 5-0-1 in his last six decisions. He shutout the Vancouver Canucks in his last outting on Saturday, which was preceded by a 32-save performance on 33 shots against the Florida Panthers.

Woll has a .921 save percentage, good for fourth in the league and just behind Mackenzie Blackwood’s .924.

Toronto also got William Nylander back in the lineup against the Canucks. Nylander had not played since Dec. 27, and had a goal and two assists in his return. His 44 points lead the Leafs despite missing 10 games. His 1.29 points per game is the best pace of his 11-year career.