TORONTO, ON — The Colorado Avalanche head out East to play in the first of three games away from Ball Arena. First up is a Wednesday night matchup on national TV against the always-pertinent Toronto Maple Leafs.

Both teams are chasing others in their respective playoff races. A win for either will help their case while also affecting the other. Who will influence the other this evening?

Colorado Avalanche (41-24-3)

Colorado is on an incredible pace at the moment. They are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and running a hot streak. The last game might’ve been the most important win of the season, coming 4-3 in overtime against the Dallas Stars.

Not only did it spoil the homecoming for Mikko Rantanen, but it also showed the importance of the new players they acquired this season. Scott Wedgewood was on a tear in the crease, Martin Necas scored, and Brock Nelson had an assist on the game-winning goal.

Cale Makar led the way with a three-point night, including his winner. However, he won’t have additional help on the blue line for some time. Jared Bednar told the media Josh Manson will be out for practically the rest of the regular season, specifically out for three to four weeks.


Even without Manson, they have another prominent figure in Gabriel Landeskog. He again skated with the team at morning skate and even took some contact – although jokingly – with Makar. The captain, while still far from playing, will bring the good vibes as Colorado looks to keep winning.

Lines

Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Martin Necas (88)
Jonathan Drouin (27) – Brock Nelson (11) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Joel Kiviranta (94) – Charlie Coyle (10) – Ross Colton (20)
Parker Kelly (17) – Jack Drury (18) – Logan O’Connor (25)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Ryan Lindgren (55) – Sam Malinski (70)
Sam Girard (49) – Erik Johnson (6)

Mackenzie Blackwood (39)
Scott Wedgewood (41)

Toronto Maple Leafs (40-24-3)

Toronto has taken a step back from where they were, but they are still a great team. Their last game came on Monday Night in Hockey Canada on Prime Video, where they took down the Calgary Flames 6-2, despite the hot play by Dustin Wolf early on.

The Leafs are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, with one of those four regulation losses coming against the Avs back on March 7 in a 7-4 defeat. Toronto had the lead after both the first and second periods but couldn’t answer the bell to Colorado’s four goals in the third – including the hat-trick for Valeri Nichushkin.

This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Leafs, who will play the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. These two games – particularly against the Rangers – are huge for playoff positioning and gaining lost ground. Can Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner combine to help get the first leg off on the right foot?

Lines

Matthew Knies (23) – Auston Matthews (34) – Mitch Marner (16)
Pontus Holmberg (29) – John Taveres (91) – William Nylander (88)
Bobby McMann (74) – Max Domi (11) – Nicholas Robertson (89)
Steven Lorentz (18) – Scott Laughton (24) – Calle Jarnkrok (19)

Morgan Reilly (44) – Brandon Carlo (25)
Jake McCabe (22) – Chris Tanev (8)
Simon Benoit (2) – Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95)

Joseph Woll (60)
Anthony Stolarz (41)

Game Details

Time: 5:00 p.m. MT

Watch: TNT, MAX, SN, TVAS

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM