Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-1) @ Colorado Avalanche (3-1-0)
5 p.m. MDT | Ball Arena | Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, NHL Network | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM), Altitude Sports Radio App
For the third-consecutive game, the Avalanche will face a Canadian team when it hosts the Maple Leafs on Saturday. This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams in 2026-27, as they’ll play in Toronto on November 10th.
Latest Result (COL): COL 7, CGY 3
Latest Result (TOR): TOR 3, VGK 4 (SO)
Two Points on Thursday
Calgary native Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz each scored twice to help the Avalanche defeat the Calgary Flames 7-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday. Nathan MacKinnon added a tally for Colorado, Brett Kulak posted two assists and T.J. Hughes recorded his first NHL point. In net for the Avs, Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves in his 200th NHL game.
Toews opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 15:54 of the opening frame via a tip-in from the doorstep set up by Makar’s perfect pass. The Flames tied the game at 17:30 of the first period when Adam Klapka scored with a right-circle wrist shot. Colorado took a 2-1 lead at 6:45 of the middle frame when Toews scored his second goal of the game via a shot from above the left circle. Makar doubled the Avs’ lead at 9:16 of the middle frame with his third goal of the season via a right-circle shot off the rush. At the end of a shift that saw the Avalanche possess the puck in the offensive zone for 1:44, MacKinnon scored his third goal of the season at 11:39 of the second period via a one-timer from the point to give Colorado a 4-1 lead.
At 5:35 of the final frame, Makar scored his second goal of the game and third of the season to give the Avs a 5-1 lead via a slap shot from above the left circle. Schwartz made it 6-1 at 6:34 of the third period with his second goal of the season via a shot from the left slot that was set up by Hughes. Calgary’s Mikael Backlund scored to make it 6-2 at 7:17 of the third period via a redirect from the low slot. Kevin Bahl scored for the Flames at 8:28 of the third period to make it 6-3 via a shot from the right slot. The Avalanche took a 7-3 lead at 9:41 of the final frame when Schwartz scored his second goal of the game and third of the season when his pass from the left circle deflected off Flames defenseman Jacob Middleton’s skate and into the net. With his assist on the goal, Brent Burns tied Chris Chelios for the 10th-most points by a defenseman in NHL history (948).
Leading the Way
Nate the Great
MacKinnon is tied for fifth in the NHL in points (8) and tied for seventh in assists (5).
All Hail Cale
Among NHL defensemen, Makar ranks second in goals (3) and tied for second in points (6).
Good Stick, Lehky
Artturi Lehkonen is tied for first on the Avalanche in goals (3) and tied for fifth in points (4).
Series History
In 48 previous regular-season games against the Maple Leafs, the Avalanche has a record of 25-19-2-2.
Defeat on the Road
The Maple Leafs lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in a shootout at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday. Toronto took a 3-0 first-period lead after goals from Jack Roslovic at 34 seconds, Easton Cowan at 3:20 and Nick Paul at 8:37. Vegas’ Mark Stone made it 3-1 with a goal at 17:36 of the first period. In the middle frame, the Golden Knights tied the game after a goal from Brett Howden at 1:12 and a penalty shot by Jack Eichel at 3:58. In the shootout, Vegas’ Braeden Bowman and Toronto’s Kirill Marchenko both scored in the first round before Trevor Connelly scored the fifth-round winner for the Golden Knights.
Making Plays Against the Maple Leafs
MacKinnon has posted 28 points (10g/18a) in 24 games against the Maple Leafs.
In 12 contests against Toronto, Makar has registered 10 points (2g/8a).
Martin Necas has recorded 14 points (5g/9a) in 16 games against the Maple Leafs.
Tallying Points for Toronto
William Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in goals (3) while ranking tied for first in points (6) and tied for second in assists (3).
Auston Matthews leads Toronto in assists (4) while ranking tied for first in points (6) and tied for second in goals (2).
Cowan ranks tied for second on the Maple Leafs in goals (2), tied for third in points (4) and tied for fifth in assists (2).
A Numbers Game
23
Colorado’s 23 goals through its first four games are the most by a team since the 1993-94 Los Angeles Kings, which featured Wayne Gretzky.
19
The Avalanche leads the NHL with 19 five-on-five goals.
12
Colorado’s 12 second-period goals are the most in the NHL.
Quote That Left a Mark
“Hughes has fit in in all kinds of ways for us, including on the top power play. He’s a smart guy, doesn’t throw the puck away. [He’s a] really good passer. I think he thinks the game real well. [He has] got a great brain and hockey sense. Can play with the top-end skill guys and make plays.”
-- Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar on T.J. Hughes
