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Colorado Avalanche could catch big break in late November

By Graham Tiedtke

Jun 26, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) during the third period in game six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) makes a save on Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) during the third period in game six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nobody knows what any team is going to necessarily look like even a week into the 2023-24 season, but the Colorado Avalanche are hoping that they’re well on a winning streak early on. They’ll want to start off hot especially since they’ll potentially catch a big break in late November.

On November 27th, the Colorado Avalanche will host the Tampa Bay Lightning. As you remember, the Avalanche knocked off the Lightning to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history not long ago. Well, in this regular season matchup, the opposing team might be without that same goaltender they had in that matchup.

One of the best goaltenders in all of the NHL, Andrei Vasilevskiy recently underwent surgery on his back that will keep him out between 8 to 10 weeks. That’s a huge break for the Colorado Avalanche. Even though they were able to knock off the Lightning to win that championship, that was then, and this is now. It is still possible that the Lightning will come out victorious.

That just leaves the Avalanche with no excuses. If they lose that game, people might start to question whether or not they are worthy of a playoff spot. Then again, games leading up to this Lightning game, and games after it, will also have huge implications.

The Colorado Avalanche have to stay healthy.

What is one thing that has been a problem for the Colorado Avalanche? Their prospect pool. If they cannot stay healthy and have to call up a number of players from the Colorado Eagles, you know that this team could be in trouble.

They’re already going to be without Gabriel Landeskog for the season. They suffered a ton of injuries last year and had to deal with the absence of Valeri Nichushkin for a number of games for legal matters.

The worst-case scenario is the Avalanche go into the game against the Lightning with guys from the Eagles who don’t have experience playing against a big-bodied Lightning team. We need to see Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Ryan Johansen among others healthy in this game to match up with the physical Lightning and, hopefully, they can start strong against the Lightning’s backup goalie—if Vasilevskiy is actually still out at the time.

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