Preview: Colorado’s first regular season matchup with Utah HC
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
The surging Avs are set to face a familiar foe in new threads. The Colorado Avalanche continue their road trip with a showdown with the newly formed Utah Hockey Club at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Colorado and Utah meet for their first regular-season showdown, but this Utah team is familiar with the Avalanche. From the ashes of the Arizona Coyotes, a Yeti shall rise? Not for me.
Colorado Avalanche
Hey, this Avalanche game is available in the local market via 9NEWS and Altitude+, so for those waiting for another viewing option, I guess here it is. The Altitude+ product slightly underwhelms me, but I'll save that for another article.
The Avalanche should feel pretty good rolling into a new barn, having secured victories in their last three games. If the Avalanche can win a fourth straight, just like that, they are back at .500 despite dropping the first four games of the season. Not too shabby.
Speaking of not too shabby, young Sam Malinksi has been noticeably comfortable with the puck and has made it clear (to me, at least) that he should be a mainstay with the NHLers this season. Check out this fancy stat I dug up yesterday!
Sam Malinski is leading the NHL with the fewest On-Ice Expected Goals Against Per 60 among defenders with a minimum of 100 ice minutes. Pretty damn good! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RCKBIVgYGW— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) October 23, 2024
Cal Ritchie, on the other hand, has been trending down in most measurables as his debut NHL action has gone on. Yesterday, he was "re-assigned to the OHL" by the Colorado Avalanche after playing seven games in the majors. Jackie Kay made a great point about Ritchie's development on this week's Mile High Hockey Lab by mentioning that it would suit Ritchie to participate in World Juniors. That's almost a given now that he's back in the O.
We have recalled Chris Wagner from the Colorado Eagles. In addition, Calum Ritchie has been reassigned to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. pic.twitter.com/az7HeMsowC— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 23, 2024
Projected Lineup
Ross Colton — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko RantanenNikolai Kovalenko — Casey Mittelstadt — Logan O’ConnorMiles Wood — Parker Kelly — Joel KivirantaIvan Ivan — Matt Steinburg — Chris Wagner
Devon Toews — Cale MakarSam Girard — Josh MansonCalvin de Haan — Sam Malinski
Utah Hockey Club
The Hockey Club has come out of the gates hot, and it appears as though a new change of scenery and a bit more investment from ownership might have been just what this group needed. Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, and others are long-time Coyotes, and that chemistry still shows up despite the change of garb.
Young Dylan Guenther seems to be showing that a more modern approach to development sometimes works, making fans in Vancouver look a bit sideways at their management. It wouldn't surprise me if this kid nets 30 goals this season, as he already has five tallies in seven games.
Projected Lineup
Clayton Keller — Barrett Hayton — Nick SchmaltzJack McBain — Logan Cooley — Dylan GuentherLawson Crouse — Alex Kerfoot — Josh DoanMatias Maccelli — Kevin Stenlund — Kailer Yamamoto
Mikhail Sergachev — Michael KesselringIan Cole — Juuso ValimakiVladislav Kolyachonok — Robert Bortuzzo
Goaltenders
It remains to be seen who will be in the net for the Avalanche, but I know who will get my vote! Justus Annunen has done more than enough to earn himself another start, and honestly, if not him, I'd rather see what Kahkonen has in him tonight. No offense to Georgiev, but Annunen looked more confident and positionally sound, and we gotta figure out what the Avalanche have in Kaapo Kahkonen.
Karel Vejmelka is Utah's unconfirmed starter. Vajmelka has allowed 17 goals in his five career starts against the Colorado Avalanche and has a GAA of 3.17.
Please don't forget to check out the latest Mile High Hockey Lab edition on your preferred podcast platform!
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