The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Buffalo Sabres for the final time this season on Thursday. The Avalanche had devastating news that Valeri Nichushkin “will be out for some time.” This has led to the recall of Taylor Makar in his place, who could play his first game at Ball Arena. Colorado could also see the return of defenseman Samuel Girard, who has not played since October 9 because of an injury. For Buffalo, things have not been getting any easier. They lost Rasmus Dahlin so he could care for his fiancée, who had had a recent heart transplant. They are also down five other players for various issues. So the Rochester Americans may put up a fight to show what they have against the Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche (11–1–5)

Tuesday, the Avs met Anaheim, second in the West, testing who among them was dominant. Colorado clarified they hold the title with a 4–1 victory over the Ducks. The game was fun, fast-paced and exciting to watch, something TNT probably wasn’t expecting when they made the schedule. Gabriel Landeskog finally got his first goal in 1,347 days, and it stood! Scott Wedgewood stopped 35 of 36 shots to shut down the Ducks’ seven-game win streak. Parker Kelly even joined in on the fun, adding an empty-net goal, his third goal in as many games.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Victor Olofsson
Gabriel Landeskog – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov – Taylor Makar

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Samuel Girard – Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Buffalo Sabres (5–7–4)

The Buffalo Sabres played the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night, and it did not go well. Buffalo started the game with two goals from Isak Rosen, but it was all Mammoth after that. Former Sabre JJ Peterka nailed his revenge goal against his former team for being traded to Utah over the summer. The Sabres have six players on the injured-reserve or out for personal reasons right now, so this is not the same team the Avs played in October.

Projected Lines

Alex Tuch – Ryan McLeod – Tage Thompson
Isak Rosen – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Jordan Greenway – Tyson Kozak –Josh Doan
Josh Dunne – Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn

Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Bowen Byram – Conor Timmins
Jacob Bryson – Michael Kesselring

Alex Lyon
Colten Ellis

Game Details

Time: 7:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, KTVD (My20), KUSA (9News), MSGB (Buffalo), ESPN+ (out of market)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950