The Colorado Avalanche delivered a dominant performance in their season opener against Los Angeles on Wednesday night. This game marked the first matchup within the Central Division, with the St. Louis Blues visiting Denver for the first time this season.
Colorado Avalanche (1-0-0)
Opponent: St. Louis Blues (1-0-0)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MDT / 9:00 P.M. EDT
Broadcast: ALT, ALT+ (local to Avalanche area), STLNHL, BN+ (local to St. Louis), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (US outside regional areas), SN+ (Canadian regions)
Radio: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
In their opening game, the Avalanche, still sour from their playoff exit last May at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, took out their frustration on former goalie Darcy Kuemper, winning decisively with an 8-4 score. Their power play, which struggled against Vegas, was highly effective, with Brock Nelson earning three power-play points, Artturi Lehkonen scoring two power-play goals, and Nathan MacKinnon contributing another. Seven players on the team registered points from the power play. MacKinnon also scored an additional goal during the game and even engaged in a brief but impactful fight in the third period against Los Angeles defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Newly acquired Jaden Schwartz made his Avalanche debut by assisting twice, while goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 27 of 31 shots for his first win of the season. Head coach Jared Bednar mentioned that Zachary L’Heureux might have a chance to play in the upcoming game, depending on his condition during morning skate. However, he appeared doubtful about Logan O’Connor being available.
Projected Lineup:
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas; Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri; Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes; Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar; Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski; Josh Manson – Brent Burns; Noah Juulsen
Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood
The Blues opened their season Friday in Dallas, securing a 4-0 victory. McTavish scored the first goal as a Blue, which proved to be the game-winner, with Dvorský adding one in the second, and Snuggerud and Suter scoring empty-net goals in the third. Goalie Joel Hofer notched his first shutout of the season, stopping all 24 shots faced. The game was marked by controversy when Blues’ player Colton Parayko delivered a knee-on-knee hit to Roope Hintz, who returned to play after a brief period, but Parayko was ejected with a five-minute major.
In net, Jordan Binnington is expected to start for St. Louis tonight, as Hofer was given the last start. Binnington, widely recognized as a polarizing figure among fans, is entering the last year of his current six-year contract. Backup Joel Hofer appears poised to become the starter in the future, which could mean this might be Binnington’s final season with the team. Blues head coach Craig Berube also indicated that Alexey Toropchenko, injured early in the Dallas game, remains uncertain as his recovery continues.
Projected Lineup:
Forwards: Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud; Pavel Buchnevich – Mason McTavish – Connor McMichael; Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorský – Jonatan Berggren; Dillon Dube – Pius Suter – Ross Johnston
Defense: Philip Broberg – Adam Jiříček; Theo Lindstein – Colton Parayko; Cam Fowler – Brandon Carlo
Goalies: Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer
Note: Be sure to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s game and engage with Mile High Hockey’s discussions. The app, available now in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android, makes commenting and community interaction simple through its Game Chat feature.
Fan Take: This game is crucial for both teams to establish momentum early in the season, and the Avalanche’s offensive firepower makes them exciting to watch. For hockey fans, it’s a chance to see how the dynamics of the Central Division could shape up and whether Colorado’s powerful start can carry them further into the season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
