24/11/2024

Preview: The desperate Avs welcome the Boston Bruins

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Preview: The desperate Avs welcome the Boston Bruins

Will the Avalanche start 0-4 for the first time since 98-99?

Will the Avalanche start 0-4 for the first time since 98-99?

The Colorado Avalanche will host the visiting Boston Bruins tonight in what awkwardly feels like a must-win for the Avalanche, who haven't won a game three games into the new season. That might feel like an exaggeration, as we've seen some of the best Avalanche teams go on three-game slides. Boston arrives after a 4-3 defeat suffered at the hands of the reigning champion Florida Panthers. Can the Avalanche enter the win column, or will the Bees be too much?

Colorado Avalanche

Not much has changed since my last preview ahead, as the Avalanche lost to Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders on home ice and continued their defensive and net-side struggles. This previous loss felt like the worst, with abysmal performances from guys who should be the squad's most consistent and uplifting players.

Cale Makar is noticeably struggling and has openly critiqued his own game. It's tough sledding right now with so many guys on the mend. A list that featured newly unavailables Jonathan Drouin and Devon Toews keeps getting longer and longer, and the product reflects that. Altitude Radio play-by-play, Conor McGahey, has an excellent analogy for what we are currently witnessing in Colorado:

Projected Lineup

Ross Colton — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Miles Wood — Casey Mittelstadt — Callum Ritchie
Nikolai Kovalenko — Parker Kelly — Logan O'Connor
Ivan Ivan — Matt Steinburg — Joel Kiviranta

Oliver Kylington — Cale Makar
Sam Girard — Josh Manson
John Ludvig — Sam Malinski

Note: Head coach Jared Bednar mentioned that Arturri Lehkonen will be evaluated on 10/28. There is still no word on Jonathan Drouin's return timeline.

Update: Matt Steinburg has been recalled and will likely take the 4th line center role tonight.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have secured their franchise netminder, Jeremy Swayman, and he's the highest-paid NHL goalie (until Shesterkin signs) for a reason. He was arguably the Bruins' best player throughout last postseason and will be eager to prove that he's worth every cent of his eight-year, 66-million-dollar contract. Can he shut down a thin Avalanche squad and make matters worse in Denver?

The Boston skaters still have an experienced, talented, and dangerous lineup. Honestly, this might be the best team they will face in the first four contests. If the Avlance drops another and goes 0-4, we will all sweat as we look at that panic button.

Projected Lineup

Pavel Zacha — Elias Lindholm — David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand — Charlie Coyle — Morgan Geekie
Trent Frederic — Matthew Poitras — Riley Tufte
John Beecher — Mark Kastelic — Cole Koepke

Mason Lohrei — Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm — Brandon Carlo
Nikita Zadorov — Andrew Peeke

Goaltenders

It will be Swayman for the Bruins and Alexandar Georgiev for the Avalanche. Georgie is having a moment, and his head coach seems insistent on riding out the storm. He doesn't have a choice. The Avs are desperate for a confident Georgie and a bailout save here and there against tonight's established dynamo.

Please don't forget to check out the latest Mile High Hockey Lab edition on your preferred podcast platform!

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