The Colorado Avalanche (34-6-9) open a four-game East Coast road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs (24-18-9). Puck drop is scheduled for 11:38 a.m. MT.
READ MORE: One Year Later, the Impact of the Rantanen for Necas Trade Lingers for the Avalanche (+)
Key Stories to Watch
The Avalanche are coming off a 3-2-2 homestand, which also saw their 17-game home winning streak end at the hands of the Maple Leafs. Colorado is 3-4-2 since injuries to both Devon Toews and Gabe Landeskog.
The Leafs can become the second team (Nashville to defeat the Avalanche twice this season.
Toronto has been mired in a disappointing stretch of hockey since defeating Colorado. On Friday, the Leafs were doubled up 6-3 by Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights, losing to them twice in eight days. Toronto is 1-3-2 since their performance at Ball Arena and have surrendered six goals in four of those contests.
Colorado is likely going to go with Mackenzie Blackwood again. He has given up 11 goals on 47 shots since returning from IR, which dropped his save percentage from a league-leading .924 to .907. Isak Posch was called up to be the backup, as Scott Wedgewood is in Denver with his wife, Brittany, who gave birth to their second child on Thursday. Wedgewood will join the team on the road trip.
The Leafs will counter with Joseph Woll between the pipes.
Season Series
Jan. 12 vs Toronto Maple Leafs (L, 4-3 OT)
Jan. 25 at Toronto Maple Leafs
Avalanche Injuries
Logan O’Connor (undisclosed, TBD)
Ross Colton (lower body, week-to-week)
Devon Toews (upper body, week-to-week)
Gabriel Landeskog (upper body, “weeks”)
Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)
Victor Olofsson — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Artturi Lehkonen — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta — Jack Drury — Gavin Brindley
Taylor Makar — Parker Kelly — Zakhar Bardakov
Sam Malinski — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan — Samuel Girard
Mackenzie Blackwood
Isak Posch
READ MORE: Postgame Wrap: Blackwood’s Struggles, PP Issues Sink Avalanche in Homestand Finale
Projected Starters (Subject to Change)
Expected: Mackenzi Blackwood (COL)
Confirmed: Joseph Woll (TOR)
Upcoming Milestones
Samuel Girard — needs 3 assists for 200
Gabriel Landeskog — needs 7 points for 600
Devon Toews — needs 9 points for 300
Valeri Nichushkin — needs 5 games for 600
Nathan MacKinnon — needs 3 assists for 700
How to Watch
TV: NHL Network, Altitude TV
Radio: 92.5 FM
