Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs Vancouver Canucks (7:00 p.m.)

It’s a Colorado Avalanche gameday!

Following a thrilling shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening, the Colorado Avalanche are back in Ball Arena for the final time this regular season to wrap up their season series with the Vancouver Canucks. The Avs are looking to avoid a series sweep to the Canucks, as they struggled mightily to generate offense in the first two matchups. It will be a tough outing once again tonight, as while the team welcomes back a couple of reinforcements to the lineup, Nathan MacKinnon will sit out as he tends to a minor injury.

Colorado Avalanche:

With Tuesday’s victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, the Avalanche cemented their place in the top three of the Central Division. Neither the St. Louis Blues or the Minnesota Wild will be able to catch the Avs in the standings, so the Avs can almost officially set their sights for Dallas next week.

This presents the Avs the opportunity to rest for players who need it, as the team preps for the postseason. It was a lightly attended morning skate at Ball Arena this morning, with Nathan MacKinnon among those missing. He’s dealing with a minor injury, and will not play tonight. He’s also unlikely to play in the Avs final two games this weekend, a back-to-back set in southern California against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.

There does appear to be reinforcements coming tonight for Colorado, however. Samuel Girard and Martin Necas skated with the team this morning in their usual powerplay jerseys, suggesting they’ll be options to play. Jonathan Drouin took morning skate in a non-contact jersey, so he’s not quite ready, but trending in the right direction. Josh Manson was not out there, so he will also not be back tonight. Ross Colton, who missed Tuesday’s contest, was among the absent from morning skate, so the assumption is that he will not go again tonight.

Additionally, Chris Wagner was recalled from the Colorado Eagles, so he figures to draw into a shorthanded Avs lineup tonight.

Mackenzie Blackwood was the first goalie off the ice this morning, which means he’ll draw the start tonight against the Canucks. Blackwood is coming off of a difficult outing in the 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, where the team in front of him struggled defensively. For the Avs this season, he boasts a 22-10-3 record, while producing a 2.23 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.

Projected Lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen (62) — Brock Nelson (11) — Martin Necas (88)
Joel Kiviranta (94) — Charlie Coyle (10) — Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Miles Wood (28) — Jack Drury (18) — Logan O’Connor (25)
Parker Kelly (17) — Chris Wagner (14) — Jimmy Vesey (26)

Devon Toews (7) — Cale Makar (8)
Ryan Lindgren (55) — Sam Malinski (70)
Samuel Girard (49) — Erik Johnson (6)

Mackenzie Blackwood (39)
Scott Wedgewood (41)

Vancouver Canucks:

Wednesday, Vancouver saw their slim playoff hopes come to an end, when the Minnesota Wild capped off a wild contest against the San Jose Sharks with a Kirill Kaprizov overtime winner. Despite a ferocious last stand that saw them complete a final-minute three goal comeback against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, eventually winning in overtime, Vancouver will miss the playoffs for the eighth time in the past ten seasons.

The Canucks were shorthanded for the home stretch, most notably being without forward Elias Pettersson, who has not played since March 22 due to injury. This was just another nail in the coffin in what has been a very disappointing season for Vancouver. Much of the season was spent toiling in the drama surrounding Pettersson and now New York Ranger J.T. Miller, and other injury woes kept the club from ever finding their stride.

Following this season, there will be a lot of questions surrounding the Canucks, from the uncertainty surrounding their core’s future behind Pettersson, to the lack of a new contract for Head Coach RIck Tocchet.

Thatcher Demko figures to start in goal for the Canucks, he had much of his season derailed by an injury sustained last season, and was not ready to play to begin the season. Backup Kevin Lankinen did all he could early on to hold down the fort for Vancouver, but it was not enough, even once Demko returned. On the season, Demko is 10-8-3 with a 2.90 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

Despite the rough season averages, he has been spectacular against the Avs this season, as he looks to sweep the Avs in the season series. In the first two contests between these teams this season, Demko turned aside 55 of 56 shots, en route to a 0.50 goals against average and a .982 save percentage. His lone shutout on the season came against the Avs on February 4th, where he made 25 saves.

Projected Lineup:

Nils Hoglander (21) — Pius Suter (24) — Conor Garland (8)
Jake DeBrusk (74) — Max Sasson (63) — Brock Boeser (6)
Dakota Joshua (54) — Aatu Raty (54) — Kiefer Sherwood (44)
Drew O’Connor (18) — Teddy Blueger (53) — Linus Karlsson (94)

Quinn Hughes (43) — Filip Hronek (17)
Marcus Pettersson (29) — Victor Mancini (90)
Derek Forbort (27) — Elias (Nils) Pettersson (29)

Thatcher Demko (35)
Kevin Lankinen (32)

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