Oct 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Justus Annunen (60) knocks away a puck in a crowd together with defenseman Samuel Girard (49), defenseman Devon Toews (7) and Seattle Kraken ahead Shane Wright (51) throughout the second interval at Local weather Pledge Area. Obligatory Credit score: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Photos The Colorado Avalanche left city on Oct. 18 with a 1-4-0 file and questions on almost each facet of their lineup.
The Avalanche then swept a three-game highway journey to drag even and now have an opportunity for a fifth straight win after they host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night time.
Colorado continues to be lacking key gamers, however the points that have been current in dropping the primary 4 video games have been cleaned up. The Avalanche are taking part in higher in their very own zone and creating extra probabilities on the opposite finish.
The goaltending additionally has improved — and turn out to be extra aggressive. When Alexandar Georgiev struggled early, coach Jared Bednar confirmed assist and affirmed that he was the No. 1 goalie. Nonetheless, Justus Annunen was in web for all three highway video games and Bednar stated he’ll go along with the “sizzling hand.”
With Sunday being the primary of a back-to-back set, each goalies will get a begin within the subsequent two video games, however Annunen, for now, is the recent hand Bednar will use.
“If he can maintain getting good outcomes, then he’ll maintain getting begins,” Bednar stated after Saturday’s apply.
Bednar additionally gave updates on forwards Ross Colton and Miles Wooden, who have been each dinged up in Thursday’s win at Utah and did not apply Saturday. Colton scored his team-leading seventh purpose within the 5-1 victory and, together with Woods, will participate in Sunday’s morning skate earlier than a choice is made on their standing for Ottawa.
Colorado might recall a participant from the AHL ought to one or each sit, and with ahead Calum Ritchie, a high prospect and a 2023 first-round draft choose, being assigned to the Ontario Hockey League.
Ottawa has two succesful goaltenders in Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg however is coming off a 6-4 loss at Vegas on Friday night time that Ullmark (22 saves on 27 pictures) stated was his accountability. He allowed two targets inside 21 seconds within the first interval after which a pair one minute aside within the third.
“If we had a succesful goalie in there in the present day, we might have gained 4-3,” he advised reporters after the sport. “It was approach too sloppy for this league. That is the kind of sport the place you need to depend on the goaltender to close the door.
“I am not going to give you any excuses. It stinks. It is a type of video games the place we deserved to win.”
The Senators have gotten off to a strong begin after lacking the playoffs final season. They gained 4 of their first six video games and have an opportunity to complete 2-1 on this Western Convention highway journey.
Ottawa has unfold out its scoring, with 5 gamers having three or extra targets and 6 with six or extra factors.
Brady Tkachuk has been one of many extra constant gamers to start 2024-25. He notched at the very least one level within the first six video games and has scored a purpose in three straight video games earlier than being held with out a level within the loss to the Golden Knights.
He has eight factors (three targets, 5 assists) for second on the group to Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, who’ve 9 every.
–Discipline Stage Media
