The Colorado Avalanche have an opportunity to get back at the New Jersey Devils as the two teams clash at Ball Arena on Wednesday night.
The Avs will be looking to avenge a 4-3 loss on October 20, an essentially lopsided game that saw the Avs score two late goals to make the game much closer than it really was.
Now, Colorado will have a chance to prove that game was nothing more than an aberration, as the Avalanche look to end the Devils’ four-game winning streak. New Jersey is riding high after Connor Hellebuyck’s debut in Dallas on Tuesday night. The Devils beat the Avalanche’s division rivals 5-1, as Jack Hughes and Hellebuyck led the way.
The Avalanche, for their part, are 4-5-1 in their last 10, and look nothing like the dominant club they were last season. That’s why this game is crucial and comes with some added pressure to get back at the Devils and regain the Stanley Cup contender form that has characterized them over the years.
Avalanche need more guys to step up in support of MacKinnon, Necas, and Lehkonen
Colorado can score with just about anybody when its top players are rolling. Nathan MacKinnon has 21 points through 12 games, while Lehkonen leads the team with 10 goals. Martin Necas has also contributed offensively, giving the Avalanche a dangerous top line when all three are clicking.
But that’s not going to be enough to get the club through the rest of the season. The Avs are going to need other guys to step up.
One of the guys I recently wrote about was Parker Kelly. He doesn’t look like his 20-goal self from a year ago. While there’s still time for him to go on a heater and get back on pace, the issue is that the club needs him to step up now.
Similarly, other guys like Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Jaden Schwartz, while they’re not exactly struggling, have to step up, too. Kadri has just one goal in 12 games. Nelson doesn’t look to be on pace for another 30-goal season, while Schwartz hasn’t exactly been a stabilizing factor in the bottom six.
These guys need to do more in order to help balance the already top-heavy Avalanche offense.
Lineup changes loom on the horizon
Head coach Jared Bednar will be looking to make some changes for Wednesday night’s game. While it doesn’t look like he’ll be putting his lines in a blender, the return of Nic Roy could see him on the second like with Nelson and Gabe Landeskog. That situation will move Kadri to the third-line center role with T.J. Hughes and Schwartz.
Meanwhile, the fourth line looks all right with Kelly rolling with Fedor Svechkov and Logan O’Connor. It’s interesting to see Svechkov back in the fold after his unceremonious benching on Sunday night.
But that’s all right. Wednesday night is a new opportunity to show he belongs. The problem will be if things go sideways like they did against the Nashville Predators.
Lastly, MacKenzie Blackwood should be back in the crease. He’s been good this season, so that hopefully means the team will bounce back and come away with two points at home.
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