The Avs get a much-needed boost in the top six.
Finally, the Colorado Avalanche gets some good injury news before its matchup tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. Ross Colton will make his return after his hot start to the season.
The old rivalry will be renewed yet again in this road matchup. Can the Avs find success in the middle game of this five-game road trip?
Ross Colton returns TONIGHT against the Detroit Red Wings! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/P8L04qXLDQ
— Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) December 7, 2024
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs started the road trip with an improbable win against the Buffalo Sabres 5-4 on Tuesday night but fell back to Earth against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night in a 5-3 result. Colorado tried to ramp up another comeback but fell short.
As mentioned earlier, the return of Colton will give the forward lines more jolt than the last few games. He started the season hot and will be looking to get back on track starting tonight. He will be paired on the second line alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Valeri Nichushkin.
Other changes in the lineup include a season debut for Keaton Middleton, slotting in for John Ludvig on the blue line. All in front of Alexandar Georgiev in the first of a back-to-back, can the Avs get going on the right foot?
Projected Lines
Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Mikko Rantanen (96)
Ross Colton (20) – Casey Mittelstadt (37) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Joel Kiviranta (94) – Ivan Ivan (82) – Logan O’Connor (25)
Nikolai Kovalenko (51) – Parker Kelly (17) – Chris Wagner (14)
Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Sam Girard (49) – Sam Malinski (70)
Calvin de Haan (44) – Keaton Middleton (67)
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit is on a skid and is looking to right the ship. Their most recent loss came on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators in a 2-1 final, marking a fourth straight loss.
The Red Wings come home for one game after going winless on their most recent road trip. Similar to the Avalanche, they need any results and points they can get to stay in the running.
They have the firepower with Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and their captain Dylan Larkin. Plus, former Av J.T. Compher will look to get the better of his former team. Will Detroit find a result back on home ice tonight?
Projected Lines
Michael Rasmussen (27) – Dylan Larkin (71) – Lucas Raymond (23)
Alex Debrincat (93) – J.T. Compher (37) – Patrick Kane (88)
Jonathan Berggren (48) – Marco Kasper (92) – Vladimir Tarasenko (11)
Joe Veleno (90) – Andrew Copp (18) – Tyler Motte (14)
Simon Edvinsson (93) – Moritz Seider (53)
Ben Chiarot (8) – Jeff Petry (46)
Erik Gustafsson (56) – Justin Holl (3)
Goaltenders
As mentioned earlier, Georgiev will get the call tonight with Scott Wedgewood playing tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils. The Red Wings are without two of their netminders who are day-to-day, and will be going with Ville Husso in the crease.