Avalanche vs. Lightning: Adversity Hits, Lineup Changes, and How to Catch the Action
The Colorado Avalanche are gearing up for a challenging match against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with a crucial three-game road trip on the line. The puck drops at 5:16 p.m. MT, and the Avalanche will be facing a formidable opponent without several key players.
Key Injuries and Lineup Changes:
- The Avalanche's star players are dealing with injuries. Team captain Gabe Landeskog, top-pair defenseman Devon Toews, starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, and depth forward Joel Kiviranta will all be absent. Head coach Bednar estimates that Landeskog and Toews will be out for a week or more.
- The Lightning, on the other hand, are on a seven-game winning streak and will be eager to continue their dominance. They had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Avalanche two months ago, so a win tonight would be sweet revenge.
Goalie Situation:
- Colorado's goaltending situation is a bit uncertain. Scott Wedgewood has been playing well in Blackwood's absence, and he's likely to start again. However, it's not yet confirmed if he'll be in net for the entire game.
Season Series:
- The Avalanche and Lightning have already faced each other twice this season. The first meeting was a thrilling 3-2 win for Colorado on November 4th. The second game is scheduled for January 6th, and it promises to be another intense battle.
Avalanche Injuries:
- Logan O'Connor (undisclosed injury, status to be determined)
- Joel Kiviranta (lower body, day-to-day)
- Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body, injured reserve)
- Devon Toews (upper body, week-to-week)
- Gabriel Landeskog (upper body, week-to-week)
Projected Lineup:
- Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
- Valeri Nichushkin - Brock Nelson - Gavin Brindley
- Ross Colton - Jack Drury - Victor Olofsson
Taylor Makar - Parker Kelly - Zakhar Bardakov
Samuel Girard - Cale Makar
Josh Manson - Brent Burns
Ilya Solovyov - Sam Malinski
Scott Wedgewood (goalie)
Trent Miner (goalie)
Projected Starters:
- Scott Wedgewood (COL)
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) (status to be confirmed)
Upcoming Milestones:
- Samuel Girard needs 3 assists to reach 200.
- Parker Kelly needs 2 games to accumulate 300.
- Devon Toews needs 9 points to reach 300.
How to Watch:
- TV: Altitude TV
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Don't miss this crucial match as the Avalanche navigate adversity and look to bounce back from recent injuries. Will they be able to overcome the challenges and secure a win? Tune in to find out!
