Colorado falls to 0-3 this preseason.
The Colorado Avalanche started hot, but unlike next month’s predicted record-high temperatures, they hit a massive cold front.
Colorado was defeated by Utah Hockey Club 6-3 in Sunday’s preseason matchup at Ball Arena. Miles Wood, Sam Malinski, and Calum Ritchie scored for Colorado, and Justus Annunen made 32 saves on the night.
The Avalanche kicked off the scoring at 13:12 of the first period when Samuel Girard found Ivan Ivan below the goal line before the latter handed a pass to Wood for a five-on-three power-play goal.
Miles Wood with the line Avs goal as they are tied with Utah at 1 heading into the room #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/PGSWs9YYdZ
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) September 29, 2024
However, Utah responded when Dylan Guenther nodded up the game at one at 18:32 with a one-timer on the power play. Both teams remained in a deadlock at the end of the first period.
Once again, Colorado got off to a hot start, scoring at 2:17 of the second frame—again on the power play—when Malinski sped down the right-wing side, charged at the goaltender, and went five-hole on Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka with a backhander.
Sam “Speedy” Malinski #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/WMYBE6Xl2i
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) September 30, 2024
And just like their first response, Utah tied the game up again, and it was the same man who victimized Colorado the first time around. Guenther scored his second goal of the game with yet another one-timer at 7:19 of the period after he capitalized on a cross-ice feed from Clayton Keller.
From this point forward, Utah was in control of the action. They took a 3-2 lead at 13:13 of the middle frame when Cameron Hebig sent a sizzling wrist shot past Justus Annunen. Then, Josh Doan, the son of former NHL player Shane Doan, made it a 4-2 game at 19:09 when he pounded on a rebound in the crease for a backhand goal.
As the third period began, Utah continued to pour on the pressure. Keller gave Utah a three-goal advantage at 6:15 of the final frame with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle off a backhand feed from Guenther.
The Avalanche finally stopped the bleeding when Malinski connected with Ritchie, sending Colorado’s hottest prospect on a breakaway, and the young man scored with the backhand shot to make it a 5-3 game on a beautiful fake move.
Sam Malinski ⏩ Cal Ritchie ⏩ #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/5aQbePszHP
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) September 30, 2024
However, Utah delivered the coup de grace with a short-handed empty-net goal from Jack McBain to seal the deal. The Avalanche’s next game is Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:30 p.m. ET at Ball Arena. It will be televised on TNT and TruTV. It will also be streamed on Max.