Colorado Avalanche (2-1-0) @ Calgary Flames (0-3-0)
7 p.m. MDT | Scotiabank Saddledome | Watch: KTVD-20, Altitude, Altitude+ | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM), Altitude Sports Radio App
The Avalanche concludes its first back-to-back of the campaign when it faces the Calgary Flames on Thursday. This is the first of three meetings between the teams, as they’ll play in Denver on October 31st, and in Calgary on April 8th.
Latest Result (COL): COL 2, WPG 3
Latest Result (CGY): CGY 1, SEA 6
Defeat on the Road
The Avalanche lost 3-2 to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday at Canada Life Centre. Jaden Schwartz and Fedor Svechkov each posted a goal and an assist; Brent Burns and Brett Kulak both recorded helpers, while the Avs' penalty kill went 2/2. In net for the Avs, Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 16 shots. Colorado opened the scoring at 2:51 of the middle frame with his first goal as an Av via a slap shot from the slot. Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor tied the game at 4:01 of the second period with a deflection from the slot. At 18:16 of the middle frame, Cole Perfetti gave the Jets a 2-1 lead with a net-front redirect. Svechkov tied the game with his first goal as an Av at 12:35 of the third period via a shot from the doorstep set up by Schwartz’s backhand pass. At 19:00 of the third, Connor scored his second goal of the game to give the Jets a 3-2 lead via a shot from the slot.
Leading the Way
Nate the Great
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in points (5) while ranking tied for first in assists (3) and tied for second in goals (2).
Good Stick, Lehky
Artturi Lehkonen leads the Avalanche in goals (3) and is tied for second in points (4).
Go Ahead and Celly, Parker Kelly
Kelly is tied for first on the Avs in assists (3) and tied for second in points (4).
Series History
In 137 previous regular-season games against the Flames, the Avalanche has a record of 69-54-8-6. The teams have met once in the playoffs, with the Avalanche defeating the Flames in five games in Round One in 2019.
Sunday in Seattle
The Flames lost 6-1 to the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday. Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Kraken led 3-0 after goals from Berkly Catton at 2:22, Mackie Samoskevich at 4:40 and Bobby McMann at 7:40. In the second period, Seattle added to its lead with a pair of goals from Shane Wright at 11:58 and Samoskevich at 19:34. Morgan Frost put the Flames on the board with a power-play goal at 14:25 of the third period before Jordan Eberle gave the Kraken a 6-1 lead at 15:04.
Filling the Net Against the Flames
MacKinnon has posted 47 points (20g/27a) in 33 regular-season games against the Flames, in addition to eight points (3g/5a) in five playoff contests.
Calgary native Cale Makar has registered 17 points (3g/14a) in 14 regular-season contests against Calgary, along with two points (1g/1a) in three playoff games.
Martin Necas has recorded 14 points (6g/8a) in 15 regular-season games against the Flames.
Contributing on Offense for Calgary
Joel Farabee leads the Flames in points (2) and assists (2).
Matt Coronato is tied for first on Calgary in goals (1) and ranks tied for second in points (1).
Zayne Parekh is tied for second on the Flames in points (1) and assists (1).
A Numbers Game
.720
Since 2020-21, the Avalanche has posted a .720 points percentage with a 43-14-9 record in the second game of a back-to-back.
3
The Avalanche went 3-0-0 in games played in Alberta last season, going 2-0-0 against the Edmonton Oilers and 1-0-0 against the Flames.
520
Since entering the NHL in the 2013-14 season, MacKinnon's 520 road points (185g/335a) are the third most in the League in that span.
Quote That Left a Mark
"As we do every game, we'll address some of the weaknesses we had tonight and try to improve on them. And some of the things that we did really well, too. And show [the team] a little bit of that going into tomorrow night's game, and then you regroup and go again."
-- Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar on the team moving forward to Thursday's game against the Flames
