ST. LOUIS – The Colorado Avalanche wrap up a three-game road trip on Saturday night. But they end it against the hottest team in the entire NHL.

It will see them face the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center. The Blues will be going for their third win of the season over the Avs in this final regular-season matchup with so much to play for by chasing a playoff spot.

Colorado Avalanche (47-26-4)

The Avs had a nice time on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite falling behind 3-2, they roared back with five unanswered goals to take a commanding 7-3 win. Colorado answered brilliantly despite the circumstances of travel issues, leaving the Windy City after playing the Chicago Blackhawks.

They did win that game in Chicago, despite playing far from their best game and needing a shootout. The Avs come in on a two-game win streak and are 7-2-1 overall in their last 10 games. They had plenty of help from both Martin Necas and Jonathan Drouin. However, both of them have been injured since then and their status remains unknown.

Nonetheless, Cale Makar recorded his historic 30th goal of the season and will look for more. Plus, despite getting the win, Mackenzie Blackwood will look to bounce back after an off night against Columbus. Can the Avalanche secure two more points heading into the final week of the season?

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)
Jimmy Vesey (26) – Brock Nelson (11) – Ross Colton (20)
Miles Wood (28) – Charlie Coyle (10) – Joel Kiviranta (94)
Parker Kelly (17) – Jack Drury (18) – Logan O’Connor (25)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Ryan Lindgren (55) – Sam Malinski (70)
Keaton Middleton (67) – Erik Johnson (6)

Mackenzie Blackwood (39)
Scott Wedgewood (41)

St. Louis Blues (42-28-7)

St. Louis has been on an absolute tear, leaving nothing behind except the skeletons of teams they’ve played, all withered to dust. This is thanks to an insane 11-game win streak which has gone nearly an entire month. They’ve cut it close the last few games, including Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, where they needed overtime to win 5-4.

In the midst of this win streak, one of those 11 wins did come against the Avalanche at Ball Arena last Saturday. They played gritty and sucked the life out of the Avs where they couldn’t do enough to beat Jordan Binnington. He has been on a tear himself since winning the Four Nations Face-Off with Team Canada.

With Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou leading the line too, it has been full speed ahead for St. Louis. But they are missing some key players such as Colton Parayko and Dylan Holloway. They look for a remarkable 12th-consecutive win while trying to chase down the same Avs side for third in the Central Division by season’s end.

Projected Lines

Pavel Buchnevich (89) – Robert Thomas (18) – Jimmy Snuggerud (21)
Jake Neighbours (63) – Brayden Schenn (10) – Jordan Kyrou (25)
Mathieu Joseph (71) – Oskar Sundqvist (70) – Zack Bolduc (76)
Alexey Toropchenko (13) – Radek Faksa (12) – Nathan Walker (26)

Philip Broberg (6) – Justin Faulk (72)
Cam Fowler (17) – Nick Leddy (4)
Ryan Suter (22) – Tyler Tucker (75)

Jordan Binnington (50)
Joel Hofer (30)

Game Details

Time: 5:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, FDSNMW, ESPN+ (Out of Market Only)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM