The Colorado Avalanche return to Ball Arena on Friday night to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Avs will be looking to get back in the win column after dropping a tough shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. Despite the loss, Colorado had a solid showing in its back-to-back set with its heated division rival.
Now, the Avalanche will be playing their third game in four nights, with injuries and fatigue potentially becoming issues to consider in Friday night’s tilt.
So, let’s check out three storylines to watch as Colorado looks to finish this stretch on a positive note.
Brett McLean takes over as Avalanche look to fix the power play
Dave Hakstol's departure to become head coach at Arizona State has given Brett McLean an immediate opportunity to make his mark in Colorado. McLean, a former Avalanche forward who has also worked as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks, takes over the power play in desperate need of a reset.
The early returns this season have been no bueno, with the coaching change giving the team a natural break to start over.
The biggest question regarding the Avalanche power play will be TJ Hughes. Calls have been going out for the team to reassess the rookie’s role on the top unit. So, it will be interesting to see if MacLean reassigns Hughes’ role to someone else.
It would be unfair to expect an overnight transformation. Still, Friday offers the first chance to see whether McLean can introduce a different approach and get the power play moving in the right direction.
Can Mackenzie Blackwood deliver another strong performance?
Colorado's schedule is another concern. Friday marks its third game in four nights, and fatigue could become a factor against a Penguins team looking to bounce back from a loss to Chicago.
That makes Mackenzie Blackwood a crucial player to watch. He delivered a strong performance in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Stars, stopping 24 shots to help Colorado secure the road victory. It’s likely he’ll get the call on Friday night, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see coach Jared Bednar roll with Scott Wedgewood after this strong showing on Wednesday night.
Blackwood cannot be expected to bail out the team every night, of course. Colorado will need to limit the defensive gaffes such as Sam Malinski’s egregious giveaway or Cale Makar’s costly mistake on the power play.
The goal here will be to play a solid game in front of whoever gets the call on Friday night. If they can do that, winning the game should be that much easier.
Avalanche lineup decisions could give Gavin Brindley another opportunity
Colorado's forward depth remains a question heading into Friday. Nicolas Roy is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, while Logan O'Connor is not ready to return from injured reserve. Zachary L'Heureux has also been dealing with an upper-body injury, leaving the Avalanche with several moving pieces up front.
That could mean another game with 11 forwards and seven defensemen. The setup gives head coach Jared Bednar additional flexibility on the blue line, but it also puts more responsibility on the available forwards to handle extra shifts.
Gavin Brindley is one player who could benefit. He nearly scored in Wednesday's game against Dallas, hitting both posts on a chance that would have tied the game. That effort gives Bednar another reason to keep him around, particularly if Roy remains unavailable.
Colorado would obviously prefer to have its full forward group available, but injuries can create opportunities for younger players to establish themselves. If Brindley gets another chance, how he handles the increased responsibility could be one of the more interesting developments of the night.
The Avalanche have enough talent to beat Pittsburgh, even with a few lineup questions. But between the coaching change, the demanding schedule and the uncertainty up front, Friday should provide a useful early test of their depth and adaptability.
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