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Coming off two days’ rest, the Colorado Avalanche (7-5-1) again face a team heading into town on the second night of a back-to-back when they host the Calgary Flames (6-7-0) at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. MT.
It’s the third straight game that the Avs are the rested team and facing an opponent who played the previous night. It’s also the second straight game that they’re doing so with two days rest. The Flames faced Seattle last night and came away with a dominating 6-2 victory over the Kraken. They’ll face a Colorado team which averages five goals per game at home.
The Avalanche have already faced the Flames once this season, defeating them 7-3 on the road in the fourth game of the season. Since then, Calgary has gone on a bit of a run. They began the season 0-5-0 but are 6-2-0 in their last eight games, scoring big wins against the Minnesota Wild, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Flames are 1-4-0 on the road.
Colorado is set to play its first game without Josh Manson in the lineup for the foreseeable future. Manson injured his ankle late in the first period on Wednesday and Bednar said Friday that he’ll be out for around eight weeks. Without Manson, Noah Juulsen will slot into the lineup more regularly, skating with Brett Kulak.
The Avs recalled Gavin Brindley from the American Hockey League on Friday night, and he’ll also re-enter the lineup. He replaces Logan O’Connor, who stepped away from the team on Friday for personal reasons. O’Connor’s absence was pre-planned and not likely something to worry about. He was initially scheduled to play tonight before plans changed.
In goal, the Avs are starting Mackenzie Blackwood for the 10th time. Blackwood is 4-1-0 in his last five games with a .913 save percentage. The Flames dressed Dustin Wolf in Seattle and would either need to play him on consecutive nights or go with rookie Arsenii Sergeev following a recent injury to Devin Cooley.
Oct. 8 at Calgary Flames (W, 7-3)
Oct. 31 vs Calgary Flames
April 8 at Calgary Flames
Zachary L’Heureux (upper body, week to week)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy Jaden Schwartz — Nazem Kadri — T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly — Fedor Svechkov — Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews — Cale Makar Brett Kulak — Noah Juulsen Sam Malinski — Brent Burns
Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
Unconfirmed: Arsenii Sergeev (CGY)
Nazem Kadri — needs 1 power-play goal for 100
Nicolas Roy — needs 4 points for 200
Parker Kelly — needs 5 points for 100
Scott Wedgewood — needs 6 wins for 100
Sam Malinski — needs 7 games for 200
Brent Burns — needs 8 games for 1,600
TV: Altitude TV