Can the Avalanche win and sweep the season series against the defending champs?
Before this season, the Avalanche hadn’t tasted victory in Sunrise, FL, for quite a while, but they ended that streak in late November with a 7-4 win. That game showcased a team overcoming a goalie struggle. With that issue resolved, the Avalanche aim to build on their recent victory over the Panthers in snowy downtown Denver, CO, tonight. Securing a win would complete a season sweep against the defending champions. Will it be a win for the Cats or another victory for the boys in burgundy and blue?
Colorado Avalanche: 24-15-1
This matchup should present a tough challenge for the Avalanche, despite their earlier success against Florida this season. They are coming off their first overtime loss of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, a team that, although less skilled, posed a real challenge. The Avalanche allowed a lesser opponent to linger too long, leading to an unexpected goaltending performance that cost them valuable points.
Tonight’s game is crucial for a rebound, and as Coach Bednar and others mentioned after the comeback against Buffalo, they shouldn’t need an injury to spark their motivation. They need every point available as they compete with Dallas for the third position in the Central division and the first wild-card spot.
In their previous game against the Panthers, Jo Drouin was just one goal away from achieving a hat trick. I predict that he, along with MacKinnon and Rantanen, will shine tonight!
Projected Lineup:
- Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
- Artturi Lehkonen — Casey Mittelstadt — Ross Colton
- Joel Kiviranta — Parker Kelly — Logan O’Connor
- Jere Innala — Juuso Parssinen — Tye Felhaber
- Devon Toews — Cale Makar
- Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
- Keaton Middleton — Sam Malinski
Note: It’s uncertain if Val Nichushkin will return to the lineup tonight.
Florida Panthers The Panthers are proving to be a strong team, as their record demonstrates, but repeating success can be a challenge. We know this all too well here in Colorado, and it will be no different for Florida. Nevertheless, their core group and depth remain largely undiminished, making them a serious contender for a repeat.
Watch out for former Avalanche player Evan Rodrigues, who has secured a top-six spot in Florida following a stellar playoff performance last season. Evan is quick, sneaky, and full of skill.
Projected Lineup:
- Evan Rodrigues — Aleksander Barkov — Sam Reinhart
- Eetu Luostarinen — Sam Bennett — Matthew Tkachuk
- Carter Verhaeghe — Anton Lundell — Jesper Boqvist
- A.J. Greer — Tomas Nosek — Mackie Samoskevich
- Gustav Forsling — Aaron Ekblad
- Uvis Balinskis — Dmitry Kulikov
- Nate Schmidt — Adam Boqvist
Goaltenders Sergei Bobrovsky is unconfirmed for the Panthers, while Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start for the Avalanche!
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