Preview: Avalanche aim to rebound against surging Hurricanes

Colorado faces another team atop the NHL standings early on in the season

Perhaps we get a weather omen today?

After losing a hard-fought battle on Thursday evening in Winnipeg against the Jets, the Avalanche return to Ball Arena in a snowy downtown Denver to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. There was a lot to like in the latter half of Colorado’s game, but they could not score on Connor Hellebuyck after the early 1-0 Jets goal from Gabriel Vilardi. A rebound won’t come easy tonight, as the Hurricanes come into this contest as another top 5 opponent in the standings and are only behind the Jets in goals against.

Let’s get into it.

Colorado Avalanche:

As previously mentioned, the Avs performed pretty well in Winnipeg on Thursday, all things considered. Winnipeg’s lone goal occurred in the opening minute of the contest on an odd-man rush, highlighting the need to start the game on time against Carolina tonight. Colorado came out of the gate flat against the Jets, and while it only cost them one goal, that game very easily could’ve gotten out of hand early with the lack of detail in Colorado’s game.

While Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, and Miles Wood are nearing returns, none of the three appear likely to go this evening. Colorado figures to run the same lineup from the other night as they await more guys to return.

Additionally, Justus Annunen and Kaapo Kahkonen were the two goalies on the ice before morning skate, signaling that the Avs may be turning to Alexandar Georgiev between the pipes for the second consecutive game tonight. He was stellar in Winnipeg. There was not much Georgiev could’ve done to stop Winnipeg on their lone goal, and for the remainder of the evening, he shut the door, turning aside 27 of 28 shots. The only player who played better than Georgiev in that game was Connor Hellebuyck, who earned a 35-save shutout.

Projected lines:

Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Mikko Rantanen (96)
Joel Kiviranta (94) – Casey Mittelstadt (37) – Logan O’Connor (25)
Ivan Ivan (82) – Parker Kelly (17) – Nikolai Kovalenko (51)
Nikita Prishchepov (85) – Chris Wagner (14) – T.J. Tynan (9)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Samuel Girard (49) – Josh Manson (42)
Calvin De Haan (44) – Sam Malinski (70)

Alexandar Georgiev (40)
Justus Annunen (60)

Carolina Hurricanes:

As for the Hurricanes, they begin a three-game road trip tonight in Denver. They come into tonight hotter than any team in the NHL, sweeping their recent four-game homestand as part of a league-leading 8-game win streak. They’re playing tremendous hockey right now. Their 4.17 goals for per game sits them third in the entire NHL, and they are backing it up with an average of 2.33 goals against per game, only second to the Winnipeg Jets in that regard, who currently sit atop both stat categories.

The Carolina roster is as stacked with talent as ever, boasting a solid mix of high-end talent and grit, with a fine mixture of veterans and young players. They’ve maintained their identity as having one of the best defense corps in all of hockey and solidified it this summer by signing former Avs defenseman Sean Walker to a five-year contract.

For injuries, Carolina is in pretty good shape. The only players out for the Hurricanes are forward Jesper Fast, who is not expected to play this season after undergoing neck surgery in the offseason and starting netminder Frederik Andersen, who was injured late in October and has been out ever since.

In Andersen’s absence, young Russian goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov has been holding down the blue paint for the Canes. He currently boasts a 7-1-0 record on the season, with a 2.51 GAA and a .896 SV% to boot. He has gotten the job done with Andersen on the shelf, but there’s still another level he needs to find with his game.

Projected lines:

Andrei Svechnikov (37) – Sebastian Aho (20) – Jack Roslovic (96)
Eric Robinson (50) – Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) – Martin Necas (88)
Jordan Martinook (48) – Jordan Staal (11) – Seth Jarvis (24)
William Carrier (28) – Jack Drury (18) – Jackson Blake (53)

Jaccob Slavin (74) – Brent Burns (8)
Shayne Gostisbehere (4) – Sean Walker (26)
Dimitry Orlov (7) – Jalen Chatfield (5)

Pyotr Kochetkov (52)
Spencer Martin (41)

Where to watch:

This game will be broadcast on Altitude, Altitude+, and ESPN+.

For radio listeners, tune into Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM.