Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks (6:30 pm)
Tonight, the Colorado Avalanche hit the street and located themselves in Chicago simply after they turned the river inexperienced for St. Patrick’s Day. Colorado might be fairly sick of that Colorado after their SO loss to rival Dallas Stars of their final outing, and after coping with well being points within the locker room. Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks, then again, are approaching sturdy late this season, with Bedard exhibiting extra confidence and aptitude than ever. Can the child with one of many league’s finest releases benefit from a battered Avalanche workforce?
Colorado Avalanche
Jared Bednar all however flat-out mentioned that regardless of the SO loss, he wasn’t displeased with the efficiency or actually involved with the end result, stating, “I have very few issues with the way we played. I’ve said it all along, I’m not going to judge our team on results only. I think that’s a losing battle. I think if you play like that, good things will happen.” So what does success seem like to this workforce, which is now simply two factors forward of Dallas for division supremacy and the Presidents’ Trophy? The factors do matter.
I agree with Bednar’s evaluation of the workforce’s efficiency. They had been higher 5-on-5 and created loads of possibilities, however simply weren’t capable of beat Jake Oettinger. That feels a bit too acquainted, however let’s examine how these possibilities settle towards Chicago, who aren’t as aggressive between the pipes.
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Scott Wedgewood solely allowed one objective within the largest recreation of the common season, which was a pleasing sight as he was chased from the crease in Colorado’s 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh. It can be simply as great to see MacKenzie Blackwood get the beginning and dominate tonight. Avs can be more than happy to have each netminders firing on all cylinders as we get nearer to April.
Projected Lineup
Valeri Nichushkin — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Nazem Kadri — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta
Ivan Ivan — Zakhar Bardakov — Gavin Brindley
Brett Kulak — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Devon Toews — Sam Malinski
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MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks aren’t simply Connor Bedard and the boys, though he steals a lot of the headlines. Bedard has 11 factors in his final 10 video games, together with a giant objective towards Minnesota of their final outing and victory.
Colorado would do nicely to get out in entrance of this Blackhawks workforce early, as they’re nonetheless undefeated when coming into the third interval with a lead.
The Blackhawks in all probability aren’t a playoff workforce with how issues are stacking up within the West. No one is catching the trio of Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota, and the wild-card spots can be simply as troublesome to snag. Chicago sits 8 factors again from the one comparatively attainable wild card spot. Guess they will do their finest and play spoiler!
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Projected Lineup
Ryan Greene — Connor Bedard — Andre Burakovsky
Tyler Bertuzzi — Frank Nazar — Teuvo Teravainen
Andrew Mangiapane — Ryan Donato — Ilya Mikheyev
Nick Lardis — Landon Slaggert
Alex Vlasic — Artyom Levshunov
Matt Grzelcyk — Sam Rinzel
Wyatt Kaiser — Louis Crevier
Ethan Del Mastro
Spencer Knight
Arvid Soderblom
