Preview: Eyeing seven in a row against Montreal
Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado looks to keep on running with its win streak.
Touchdowns for the Denver Broncos this weekend aren’t the only things on the line in Colorado. Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche face off against the Montreal Canadiens looking for seven wins in a row.
Colorado is on a great streak at the moment, aside from the seven straight wins. They’ll look to continue their current run of form for the kids tonight in their annual “Next Gen Night.”
Looking to tack on the extra point for seven wins in a row tonight! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Jn7zDe8gEy— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) January 4, 2025
Colorado Avalanche
Drama ensued in the Avs’ last game, which they came back to win 6-5 in overtime over the Buffalo Sabres. They battled through everything on Thursday night, from refereeing decisions to injured goaltenders to to a hat trick from Jason Zucker, all while being down 3-0 and then 5-3 in the final two minutes.
All eyes will turn to Mackenzie Blackwood, who will now be heavily relied on. Scott Wedgewood’s lower-body injury will make him “miss some time,” according to Jared Bednar. He will get the bulk of games going forward, while Trent Miner will be called upon when needed.
Here is the Wedgewood injury as the Buffalo player falls on his leg #Avs #GoAvsGo @MileHighHockey pic.twitter.com/X6bKwI5crt— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) January 3, 2025
If the forwards and defensemen continue to produce as they have, then it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Cale Makar racked up two points last game, and Nathan MacKinnon will look to ride high off his first Star of the Month honors in December.
Projected Lines
Artturi Lehkonen (62) - Nathan MacKinnon (29) - Mikko Rantanen (96)Ross Colton (20) - Casey Mittelstadt (37) - Jonathan Drouin (27)Joel Kiviranta (94) - Parker Kelly (17) - Logan O’Connor (25)Oskar Olausson (24) - Juuso Parssinen (16) - Jere Innala (22)
Devon Toews (7) - Cale Makar (8)Sam Girard (49) - Josh Manson (42)Keaton Middleton (67) - Sam Malinski (70)
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has trouble ahead, as this matchup with the Avalanche is the second leg of a back-to-back. Last night, they played against the Chicago Blackhawks, and they lost 4-2 to the hosts.
It snapped what was a three-game win streak for Martin St. Louis men, still learning and growing while sitting toward the bottom half of the Atlantic Division. The new star man in town has been Patrik Laine, who recently returned from a preseason injury with eight goals and two assists in 13 games.
However, he was scratched last game alongside David Savard for flu-like symptoms and an upper-body injury. Hence, can Cole Caufield and former Av Alex Newhook help steer the Canadiens back into the win column?
Projected Lines
Cole Caufield (13) - Nick Suzuki (14) - Juraj Slafkovsky (20)Alex Newhook (15) - Kirby Dach (77) - Michael Pezzetta (55)Josh Anderson (17) - Christian Dvorak (28) - Brendan Gallagher (11)Emil Heineman (51) - Jake Evans (71) - Joel Armia (40)
Lane Hutson (48) - Mike Matheson (8)Kaiden Guhle (21) - Alexandre Carrier (45)Arber Xhekaj (72) - Jayden Struble (47)
Goaltenders
The aforementioned Blackwood will get the nod for the Avs. With Sam Montembault playing last night in Chicago, expect Jakub Dobes to get the start for the Habs.
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