Avalanche Pregame Notes
Avalanche Game 54 vs Detroit Red Wings: The Rematch! Lines, Notes & How To Watch
The Colorado Avalanche (36-8-9) close out a home-and-home against the Detroit Red Wings (32-18-6) at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. MT.
READ MORE: 10 Takeaways: No Necas, No Problem. Supercharged MacKinnon Led Avalanche in Detroit
Key Stories to Watch
- The Avs outclassed the Red Wings on Saturday, shutting them out 5-0, led by Nathan MacKinnon’s two goals and three points, and Mackenzie Blackwood’s 28-saves
- Martin Necas will miss his second consecutive game. He was a late scratch in Detroit and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
- Devon Toews returns for Colorado, replacing Keaton Middleton in the lineup. Toews has not played since Jan. 3 in Carolina.
- Like they did on Saturday, both John Gibson and Blackwood will get the nod in goal. Detroit’s Gibson was pulled after letting in four goals on 17 shots through two periods.
READ MORE: Postgame Wrap: Blackwood, Avalanche Blank Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena
Season Series
- Jan. 31 at Detroit Red Wings (W, 5-0)
- Feb. 2 vs Detroit Red Wings
Avalanche Injuries
- Martin Necas (lower body, day-to-day)
- Gabriel Landeskog (upper body, “weeks”)
- Logan O’Connor (undisclosed, TBD)
READ MORE: In The Room: Asking Blackwood About MacKinnon is Always Entertaining (+)
Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta
Taylor Makar — Zakhar Bardakov — Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Samuel Girard — Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
READ MORE: Landeskog to Captain Team Sweden at Winter Olympics?
Projected Starters (Subject to Change)
- Confirmed: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
- Confirmed: John Gibson (DET)
Upcoming Milestones
- Nathan MacKinnon — needs 1 assist for 700
- Valeri Nichushkin — needs 1 game for 600
- Samuel Girard — needs 2 assists for 200
- Gabriel Landeskog — needs 7 points for 600
- Martin Necas — needs 7 games for 500
- Devon Toews — needs 9 points for 300
READ MORE: Avs Coach Says Landeskog’s Olympic Participation Not In Jeopardy
How to Watch
- TV: Altitude TV, KTVD My20
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Is there any update on LOC?
No update. I’ll check in again after the Olympic break
On cbs sports injury report it says Feb 28th is his return date. Is that a credible source?
Super curious on what the deal is w/ LOC; boy would he be a jolt if he comes back as his old self!
Aarif have you see. OC around the team or at the Family Sports center rehabbing…or is he out of touch like Landy was for quite awhile.
Burns has been pretty awful last 3 weeks. Love to see him move back to the 3rd pairing with Girard and also see Malinski on the 2nd PP. Obviously the Avs see him as a second pairing D man ir they wouldn’t have paid him almost $5m. Time to give him his shot to see if it’s an upgrade to our top 4 prior to the playoffs.If not, can always go back to the pairings we have now.
Taylor Makar has played 10 games up with the team and I am struggling to recall anything about his performance outside of that iffy penalty called on him.
Why no Prischepov or Polin, etc.?
Because they are not named Makar. The sad thing is, the Avs could have a real talent in Taylor if they developed him. Instead he is playing 5 mins a game to make Cale happy. Nielsen makes sense in that he doesn’t need any more AHL experience. He may not be a permanent option, but he offers more than Taylor currently.
Yeah too early to tell, but he’s had trouble with big league time & space.
Yep, this is the Cale give us a discount move. Smart.
I doubt this is true, but if it were the case, then that (1) is kinda sad for Taylor, (2) doesn’t speak super highly of Cale, and (3) is a totally understandable move by the Avs—let him play all the sheltered and unimportant minutes he wants.
I doubt Cale went into management & said “call my brother up”! But it’s quite clear nothing about Taylor’s performance has resonated. So why then is he still dressing as oppose to other more deserving Eagles who could probably offer a bit more currently?
It’s probably one of those unspoken things. Where Avs brass knows it makes Cale happy to have his brother around for a bit. And considering it’s such a temporary small role. The Avs figure there’s no harm in continuing to play him.
We get two power-play goals tonight.
Did you hit your head buddy? Feeling ok…