Colorado wants to turn snow into an avalanche against hurricanes

by Junna Base November 10, 2024

Denver, Co. – The Carolina Hurricanes brave Colorado’s easing snowstorm on Saturday to face the Avalanche for the first time this season. The Avalanche are 3-5-0 at home and earned their last win on Tuesday, November 5th against the Seattle Kraken.

The Avalanche return to Colorado after a hard-fought loss in Winnipeg, falling 1-0 and handing Connor Hellebuyck his second straight shutout. With this loss, both Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon ended their season-opening consecutive points streak (13). Despite the loss, MacKinnon still leads the NHL in assists (19). His 25 points this season ranks him second among NHL leaders, trailing only Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov (27).

Colorado Avalanche Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) läuft im ersten Drittel gegen die Winnipeg Jets im Canada Life Centre durch die neutrale Zone.

<p>Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images</p>
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<p><button class= — Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) runs through the neutral zone during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.

Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

A wet force of nature vs. a cold force of nature

Colorado and Carolina last met in February when the Hurricanes earned a 5-2 win at home against the Avalanche. Martin Necas scored a natural hat trick in the first half of the game. The Avalanche finished the season series against the Hurricanes with a 6-4 home win in October of last season. They enter today’s game having won four of their last five games against the Hurricanes at Ball Arena.

The Avalanche have an all-time franchise record of 80-50-21-3 against the Hurricanes franchise. What’s even more exciting about this record are the specific stats when playing at home: 49-19-9-1. These 49 wins are the most for them against an opposing team/franchise.

The Hurricanes enter tonight on an eight-game point streak and are currently in 4th place in the league standings, although their points percentage would put them in second place leaguewide. Martin Necas currently leads the team in points and assists, while Jack Roslivic, a free agency addition to the team from last offseason, leads the team in points.

Roslovic scored nine goals with the New York Rangers last season. He’s already reached this point with the Hurricanes after just 12 games this season, two of which came in a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Return to Colorado

Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin returns to his home state tonight. He signed an 8-year contract with Carolina this offseason that will keep him in Raleigh until after the 2032-33 season.

Slavin is considered one of the best active defensive players. He is considered one of the best defensemen in the league and is ranked No. 13 on the NHL Network’s list released this offseason. Cale Makar tops this list at No. 1 and his defensive partner Devon Toews is at No. 10.

Today’s game also sees the return of Sean Walker, who joined the Avalanche at the trade deadline last year. He returns after signing a 5-year, $3.6 million contract with Carolina in this most recent free agency period. Walker’s only point this season is a goal against the Boston Bruins. Although he wasn’t particularly eye-catching on the scoresheet, he only improved Carolina’s defensive prowess on the ice through blocked shots and recoveries in the defensive zone. His speed just made it easier to get into their system.

Team spirit comes into play

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar really liked how his team played in Winnipeg. He’s looking for the team to replicate that on the ice tonight.

What he expects from his group to be successful against the Hurricanes tonight:

“I want us to play the same way we played against Winnipeg. We always try to take sections of games or entire games and reset the bar for how we play. And I would say Winnipeg – if you’re talking about a full 60 minutes against a really good team, the intensity of the game, the competitiveness of the game, the attention to detail in executing a game plan, I thought that was as good as in this year So we have to try Repeat it. There are many similarities between [Winnipeg and Carolina] and the way they play, how they defend, how they can be dangerous through four lines. I thought we did a good job against Winnipeg – I think if you play like that, even against Winnipeg night in and night out, you’re going to get some results. There are minor adjustments to the schedule tonight against Carolina, but there are also many very similar characteristics between the two teams.

Aside from a change on defense (John Ludvig playing in place of Calvin de Haan), the Avalanche’s lineup will look the same tonight. Georgiev will start in net for the second consecutive season.

Bednar on Alexandar Georgiev’s performance in Winnipeg:

“He was great in the last game and gave us a great chance to win. And that’s what we said: We’re going to play a well-rested goalkeeper, we’re going to play the goalkeeper that we think gives us the best chance of winning.” Justus [Annunen] had some great starts and stringed together some games and [Georgiev] deserves the same respect.”

Colorado Avalanche-Torhüter Alexandar Georgiev (40) wärmt sich vor einem Spiel gegen die Winnipeg Jets im Canada Life Centre auf.

<p>Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images</p>
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<p><button class= — Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) warms up before a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.

Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

Carolina flew into Denver this morning after a snowstorm grounded her flight from Raleigh. Bednar talked a little about what taking advantage of this situation could mean for his team:

“You want to get off to a good start and see if they have their legs under them, but this team can move, they play a fast game. You don’t do that every day, so I would say advantage, yes, but if.” Like every game this year, you are prepared and ready to play. Then I don’t know if there’s a clear benefit other than spending the morning on the plane.”

Colorado will look to take advantage as much as possible to secure a second straight home win tonight as they begin a four-game homestand.

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