Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Buffalo Sabres (7:00 p.m.)

Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche welcome the Buffalo Sabres and followers to Fourth Wing Night at Ball Area. The Avalanche come into this showdown because the NHL’s finest squad and hope to maintain enterprise with a struggling Sabres group. Can the Avalanche proceed on this torrid tempo of securing a degree in each residence recreation to date? Or will the Sabres go full-on plot-twist and upset Colorado?

Colorado Avalanche: 11-1-5

The Opponent: Buffalo Sabres 5-7-4

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Time: 7:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+

Pay attention: Altitude Sports activities Radio, 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche

That is the form of recreation that the Avalanche ought to cruise via. I’m not saying they’ll win effortlessly, nevertheless it shouldn’t take lengthy for the Avalanche to get a agency maintain on this one (on the scoreboard) early, with Buffalo presently touting the league’s FOURTH-worst aim differential (-11). That is very true if the Avalanche proceed to play the best way they did whereas beating the Pacific-leading Geese for his or her FOURTH straight victory.

Nathan MacKinnon has scored three or extra factors in a single recreation 5 instances already this yr, and I’m keying on him doing that but once more tonight. MacKinnon is beginning an early and efficient Hart Trophy marketing campaign alongside a Norris Bid from his good buddy Cale Makar.

Sadly, it does seem that Val Nichushkin will miss a while after sustaining an damage throughout Colorado’s spectacular victory over the Geese. Bednar talked about in the present day that Val will miss a while however that he’s not but certain simply how a lot.

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It’s a very good factor the Avalanche have obtained loads of depth contributions as of late, and are benefiting from the budding profession of Gavin Brindley. I’d anticipate both Gabe Landeskog or Victor Olofsson to fit into the highest six within the absence of Nichushkin.

That is the right night time for MacKenzie Blackwood to get again between the pipes and a terrific night time to supply a efficiency that spurs on his resurgence. He’s the confirmed starter tonight for the Avalanche.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Victor Olofsson (Valeri Nichushkin)
Gabe Landeskog — Jack Drury — Gavin Brindley
Parker Kelly — Zakhar Bardakov — Tristen Nielsen

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Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan — Sam Malinski

MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Buffalo Sabres

Regardless of their efforts, I’m afraid this Sabres group presents like one that may miss the playoffs for a fifteenth consecutive season. Their possibilities have been considerably impacted by a litany of accidents and different components, leading to a roster that’s closely depleted.

The dearth of depth and title recognition on the middle place is obvious, which leads me to my prediction for Nathan MacKinnon. When you think about that the Sabres performed simply final night time towards the Utah Mammoth and had you learn my article in regards to the advantages at altitude, you must view this as a scheduled loss for Buffalo.