Colorado is back home for one game before the break.
The Colorado Avalanche come back home after a three-game West Coast road trip, for one quick game before the holiday break. It comes against a new-look Seattle Kraken team.
The Avs took two of three on the road and looking to improve the home record. At just 8-8 on home ice, tonight is a good chance to get over .500 before the four-day break for Christmas.
Back home for one game before the holiday break against the Seattle Kraken! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/KG3ap9Tup4
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) December 22, 2024
Colorado Avalanche
As mentioned earlier, Colorado took two of three away from home, with the most recent two wins coming on back-to-back matchups. Colorado took care of business against both the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks Thursday and Friday night, with both games ending in a 4-2 final.
While there were some new faces on the trip including Tye Felhaber and Jere Innala, only one of those two is expected to be in the lineup this evening thanks to the holiday roster freeze. That would be Innala, still holding his own on the fourth line.
There was also hope of Josh Manson returning during the road trip, but he did not make an appearance. It looks as though he won’t play this evening either, as he skated in a red non-contact jersey during morning skate. Hence, can the same lineup prevail for a third straight game?
Projected Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Ross Colton (20) – Casey Mittelstadt (37) – Mikko Rantanen (96)
Joel Kiviranta (94) – Parker Kelly (17) – Logan O’Connor (25)
Givani Smith (55) – Ivan Ivan (82) – Jere Innala (22)
Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Sam Girard (49) – Sam Malinski (70)
Keaton Middleton (67) – Calvin de Haan (44)
Seattle Kraken
Seattle comes into Denver on their own back-to-back, having played last night against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kraken would come out on the wrong end of the result in a 6-2 drubbing.
The new face entering the lineup is Kaapo Kakko, who was traded by the New York Rangers for Will Borgen and a couple of draft picks. Kakko immediately enters Seattle’s top six and gives them another scoring threat with the forward looking for a fresh start.
DONE DEAL ✔️
Kaapo Kakko is now a member of the @SeattleKraken! pic.twitter.com/6zj4lyAJRE
— NHL (@NHL) December 19, 2024
This will be his third game with the ‘S’ on the front of the sweater. Can he get his first point against the Avalanche and help his team stop a three-game skid?
Projected Lines
Jared McCann (19) – Matty Beniers (10) – Kaapo Kakko (84)
Eeli Tolvanen (20) – Chandler Stephenson (9) – Oliver Bjorkstrand (22)
Jaden Schwartz (17) – Shane Wright (51) – Andre Burakovsky (95)
Daniel Sprong (91) – Yanni Gourde (37) – Brandon Tanev (13)
Vince Dunn (29) – Adam Larsson (6)
Jamie Oleksiak (24) – Brandon Montour (62)
Ryker Evans (41) – Josh Mahura (28)
Goaltenders
Mackenzie Blackwood will get the nod for the Avalanche in what will be just his second home appearance. With Philipp Grubauer playing last night in Las Vegas, expect Joey Daccord to go this evening for the visitors.