Preview: Seeking virtue in Vegas
Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images
If there’s any time for a bounce back performance, it’s now.
Less than 24 hours after a drubbing, the Colorado Avalanche are back in action against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’ll wrap up the season series between these two teams, with each team winning one game against the other in a shutout.
With the opponent of the Winnipeg Jets already determined for the Avalanche, they have to win out while also hoping the Jets lose out to have any chance of home-ice advantage. But for the final two games of the season, they’ll just be looking to stay healthy.
Colorado Avalanche
As mentioned earlier, the Avs took a drubbing from the Jets 7-0 yesterday. The less said about that, the better.
Health is the big question going forward. While Mikko Rantanen returned from injury yesterday, the team is still without Miles Wood, and Sam Girard entered concussion protocol after he was on the receiving end of a friendly fire hit by Ross Colton.
But, Colorado gets a chance to respond. After losing by the exact same scoreline against the Golden Knights in November, the Avs won eight of their next 11 games. They;ll be looking to start a similar streak with a win today.
Projected Lines
Jonathan Drouin (27) - Nathan MacKinnon (29) - Mikko Rantanen (96)Artturi Lehkonen (62) - Casey Mittelstadt (37) - Valeri Nichushkin (13)Brandon Duhaime (12) - Ross Colton (20) - Zach Parise (9)Andrew Cogliano (11) - Yakov Trenin (73) - Joel Kiviranta (94)
Devon Toews (7) - Cale Makar (8)Jack Johnson (3) - Josh Manson (42)Caleb Jones (82) - Sean Walker (26)
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas officially clinched the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with their 7-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday. It was also a necessary win, as it stopped a three-game skid for the team.
Hence, their Stanley Cup defense is officially on, with reinforcements on the way. Whether or not you agree with them or not, the return of Mark Stone for the playoffs will be crucial for them.
It is also crucial for them to win this game to try and finish in the first wild card spot. They need to win out, while the Nashville Predators need to lose their last game of the year to have a chance. Otherwise, they’re due for a Western Conference Final rematch of last year in the first round against the Dallas Stars. Can Vegas get off to the right start and take advantage of a stunned, tired Avs squad?
Projected Lines
Ivan Barbashev (49) - Jack Eichel (9) - Jonathan Marchessault (81)Pavel Dorofeyev (16) - Tomas Hertl (48) - Chandler Stephenson (20)Brett Howden (21) - William Karlsson (71) - Anthony Mantha (39)Paul Cotter (43) - Nicholas Roy (10) - Keegan Kolesar (55)
Noah Hanifin (15) - Nicolas Hague (14)Brayden McNabb (3) - Shea Theodore (27)Ben Hutton (17) - Zach Whitecloud (2)
Goaltenders
Jared Bednar confirmed after the loss yesterday Alexandar Georgiev would play in this game after he was pulled yesterday after 15 minutes for Justus Annunen. Meanwhile, we should see Adin Hill in the crease for this game for Vegas....
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