Colorado Avalanche Preseason 2 vs Vegas: 3 Important Questions

The Colorado Avalanche are heading to Vegas to face the Golden Knights in what’s sure to be another tough challenge of prospects vs vets.

The Colorado Avalanche are entering their third preseason game of the year. They’re still chasing their first win. The Vegas Golden Knights are still chasing their first loss, though I guess they’re not really chasing it.

Vegas is coming into tonight’s game in their home arena having won all four of their games so far. Since tonight is their fifth game, I’m guessing we’ll see a lot of NHL players as the Knights attempt to fine-tune their roster for opening night.

Colorado is still testing out the youngsters, seeing who could potentially make the team. This might not be a pretty one for us here in Avs Nation. However, tonight’s game can still answer some questions for us.

How to Enjoy the Game

Game time: September 24, 8:00 pm MT
TV Networks: *
Radio: Altitude Radio (FM 92.5)

*It appears tonight’s game will not be broadcast on television. It’s possible one or both of the teams might stream the game. Otherwise, you can listen to Conor McGahey on the radio.

Is Coaching an Issue?

I attended the first preseason game in Colorado. I had the good fortune/misfortune to attend the game with a Vegas fan. From Boston. Who used to play hockey. He knows the game.

As the game wore on, and I watched their AHLers often outplay our top line, I asked why they looked so good, My friend replied that the coach required them to out-work their opponents at all times no matter the situation.

During the 7-0 embarrassment in Minnesota, a fellow Avs fan observed on Twitter:

You all know by now that my default mode will always be to question Jared Bednar, at least until the team wins a Stanley Cup with him. However, just because I’m biased doesn’t mean I’m wrong.

And just because Bednar is coaching the polar opposite of Patrick Roy doesn’t mean he’s right. There’s no right and wrong in these situations — just levels of effectiveness. So far, I’m not seeing a lot of effectiveness in the preseason.

To be clear, I want to be wrong. I really do not want us to have two excellent chances at winning the Jack Hughes Sweepstakes — Ottawa’s and our own. So, tonight I’m hoping we can see that coaching isn’t an issue.

Who will Start to Develop Chemistry?

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While the full roster hadn’t been released at the time of writing, coach Bednar stated that it will consist of “mostly kids again.” That can be helpful to the prospects because that’s partially how Alexander Kerfoot got into the lineup last season — he showed chemistry with Matt Duchene and Nail Yakupov. If one of the prospects shows a similar chemistry, it can help fast track him into the lineup.

Speaking of Kerfoot, he’s meant to play tonight. The team is mixing things up a bit. J.T. Compher is also slated in the lineup. While it’s not said if the two will be on a line together, that would make sense since the played a lot together last season and had chemistry.

Last year’s checking line is also going to play, well, two-thirds of it anyway. Matt Calvert was supposed to replace the departed Blake Comeau, but he’s been skating with Compher and Logan O’Connor. Gabriel Bourque has been with Carl Soderberg and Matthew Nieto, but only in practices. Tonight is the first time we’ll see some version of that line on the ice in a preseason game.

Will Scoring Continue to be a Problem?

The Colorado Avalanche are a fast team with skill that’s been built to score. In their two preseason games, though, they’ve been outscored 12-1. Yes, defense and rusty goalies are part of the problem. But that answer would feel a lot better if the scores had been high on both sides.

Instead, the Avs have just one goal to their name, scored by a defensive prospect. The players who are supposed to comprise our top two lines have played in a game each.

Tonight isn’t going to tell us too much about scoring because we don’t have many of our big-name scorers in the lineup. However, that’s a question that’s going to need an answer.

As of right now, the Colorado Avalanche roster still sits at 45. According to Bednar, the plan is to keep it that way until after the fourth preseason game. At that time, the team will probably make a big selection of reassignments with only the best prospects fighting for the final roster spots.