Preview: Colorado looks to bounce back against Nashville
Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images
The Avs continue to try to make it through this stretch of injuries.
The Colorado Avalanche are looking for a much-needed bounce-back game tonight after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 three days ago. Tonight, they get their first look at the Nashville Predators this season, who have arguably been struggling more than the Avs. Will Colorado be able to take advantage of a struggling Nashville team, or will missing six of their top nine forwards prove too much to overcome again?
Colorado Avalanche
Not a lot has changed for Colorado since their last game, as they are still waiting for reinforcements to come and help alleviate some of the effect that all of their current injuries have had on the team. The one bright spot we did get after the last game was news that the Avs are expecting Artturi Lehkonen to make his return to the lineup next Tuesday.
Avs are aiming for a Tuesday return for Artturi Lehkonen against Seattle.— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) October 31, 2024
Both TJ Tynan and Nikita Prishchepov were called up ahead of tonight's game to fill in for Matt Stienberg, who got a two-game suspension for a hit during the Tampa Bay game. Prishchepov will more than likely make his NHL debut tonight, which will be really fun to see.
Projected Lines
Joel Kiviranta - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko RantanenIvan Ivan - Casey Mittelstadt - Logan O’ConnorNikita Prishchepov - Parker Kelly - Nikolai KovalenkoOliver Kylington - TJ Tynan - Chris Wagner
Samuel Girard - Cale MakarDevon Toews - Josh MansonCalvin De Haan - Sam Malinski
Nashville Predators
I think it’s safe to say that no one really expected Nashville to have the struggles that they are currently experiencing, especially with all the talent that they acquired this past summer. For all the struggles that the Avs have had this year, the Predators have certainly struggled more.
Nashville of course signed both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault last summer, and between the firepower that they already had and added, a lot of people thought that they would be a lot better than they currently are, to be frank. Despite Colorado’s injuries, the Avs might be able to take advantage of a struggling Nashville team and weather the storm as they wait for reinforcements.
Projected Lines
Filip Forsberg - Ryan O’Reilly - Jonathan MarchessaultSteven Stamkos - Colton Sissons - Gustav NyquistJuuso Parssinen - Tommy Novak - Luke EvangelistaZachary L’Heureux - Michael McCarron - Cole Smith
Brady Skjei - Roman JosiJeremy Lauzon - Alexandre CarrierMarc Del Gaizo - Luke Schenn
Goaltenders
After Kaapo Kahkonen got a look against Tampa Bay, it will likely be Justus Annunen in net for Colorado tonight, as he’s been the hottest goalie out of all of Colorado’s goaltenders so far. And when you’re as injured as Colorado is right now, you’ll likely ride the hot hand to give yourselves a chance to survive this stretch of injuries until reinforcements come back.
The Preds should be going with their usual number one, Juuse Saros.
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