Pre-Game Talk: Week of No Mercy for Mercenary Moose (Mon vs. CHI, Tues @ MIN, Fri @ CGY, Sun vs. DAL)

[RoyIsALegend]

Coming off of 5 straight wins and a much stronger roster after the trade deadline, we close out our homestand against Chicago on Monday. We then quickly leave Denver and go to Minnesota to finish off a back-to-back on Tuesday night in a key divisional matchup with huge standings implications. A quick trip north of the border to face old friend Nazem Kadri and the Flames on Friday, and then...

...the return of Mikko Rantanen to Ball Arena on Sunday with his Dallas Stars.

For the first time all year, we start a week completely healthy other than Gabriel Landeskog on LTIR. A big change for us and coach Jared Bednar is loving the tough decisions he has with the lineup every night.

Schedule:

Monday, March 10 vs. Chicago Blackhawks - 7:00 PM MST​

Tuesday, March 11 at Minnesota Wild - 6:00 PM MST​

Friday, March 14 at Calgary Flames - 7:00 PM MST​

Sunday, March 16 vs. Dallas Stars - 1:30 PM MST​

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Standings - Central Division:

Nathan MacKinnon is the first player this season to reach 100 points and has stretched his lead over Leon Draisaitl to 5 points. Cale Makar leads all defensemen by 9 points over the next closest D in Zach Werenski.

Active roster is at 24 players; 14 F + 8 D + 2G.

Forwards (14):

Artturi Lehkonen​

Brock Nelson​

Charlie Coyle​

Jack Drury​

Jimmy Vesey​

Joel Kiviranta​

Jonathan Drouin​

Logan O'Connor​

Martin Necas​

Miles Wood​

Nathan MacKInnon​

Parker Kelly​

Ross Colton​

Valeri Nichushkin​

​

Defensemen (8):

Cale Makar​

Devon Toews​

Erik Johnson​

Josh Manson​

Keaton Middleton​

Ryan Lindgren​

Sam Malinski​

Samuel Girard​

Goaltenders (2):

Mackenzie Blackwood​

Scott Wedgewood​

Long-Term Injured Reserve (2):

Gabriel Landeskog (Knee)​

Tucker Poolman (Head)​

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[Freudian]

I'm a little surprised they didn't go with the following pairs.

Girard Manson
Lindgren Malinski

I never been in love with Girard with Manson, but still.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I'm a little surprised they didn't go with the following pairs.

Girard Manson
Lindgren Malinski

I never been in love with Girard with Manson, but still.

Bednar has said the top 5 D are set, will all see shifts with each other, and that he has 3 guys to choose from for the 6th D spot based on matchups and how they are performing.

In the Toronto game, the pairing of Lindgren-Manson had the worst analytics of the three.

5v5 xGA:

Girard-Malinski(12:37 TOI): 0.11
Toews-Makar(15:18 TOI): 0.269
Lindgren-Manson(14:10 TOI): 0.561

Bednar has this idea that Lindgren-Manson would be some top shutdown pairing, but the truth is they appear to struggle together.

I think we will see the pairings go back to Toews-Makar, Girard-Manson, Lindgren-Malinski at some point.

 

[RECKLESS]

Can't wait for our hungry new line-up go FEAST on Chicago.

Won't expect anything less than an 8-point-week. Build chemistry and roll on. The spring is here and the darker times of the earlier parts of this season are over and done.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Bednar has said the top 5 D are set, will all see shifts with each other, and that he has 3 guys to choose from for the 6th D spot based on matchups and how they are performing.

In the Toronto game, the pairing of Lindgren-Manson had the worst analytics of the three.

5v5 xGA:

Girard-Malinski(12:37 TOI): 0.11
Toews-Makar(15:18 TOI): 0.269
Lindgren-Manson(14:10 TOI): 0.561

Bednar has this idea that Lindgren-Manson would be some top shutdown pairing, but the truth is they appear to struggle together.

I think we will see the pairings go back to Toews-Makar, Girard-Manson, Lindgren-Malinski at some point.

I actually think Lindgren is covering for Manson right now. Manson needs to calm down a little bit. The Manimal has decided he's Brent Burns.

I've loved Lindgren so far. Somehow he just gives you 17 to 20 minutes of steady play even with his D partner being an adventure. He's probably used to that lol.

Girard is the DFD on that line with Malinski.

It's a weird setup, but it's working in a equally weird way.

The ice time reflects it too, but there are no passengers on this D core.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

28 goals scored so far during this 5-game homestand, with an opportunity to light up the post-deadline Hawks before heading back on the road.

Not too shabby at all

 

[AllAboutAvs]

I voted 6 pts because it is the maximum total of points we can get with only three games this coming week.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I voted 6 pts because it is the maximum total of points we can get with only three games this coming week.

Here we go with people stuck in the biblical era.

Sunday is part of the weekend. Period.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Here we go with people stuck in the biblical era.

Sunday is part of the weekend. Period.

Nothing to do with biblical era for me. I go with what North America AND the NHL use.

 

[Valushkin]

I hope EJ plays tomorrow vs Chicago. It’s a perfect game to put him in the lineup. Home game where the fans will welcome EJ back, and against a bottom team

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I hope EJ plays tomorrow vs Chicago. It’s a perfect game to put him in the lineup. Home game where the fans will welcome EJ back, and against a bottom team

Girard-EJ third pairing reunited!

 

[LOFIN]

Nothing to do with biblical era for me. I go with what North America AND the NHL use.

North America does use the ISO standard in official listings, and on those the week starts on Mondays. Cope.

 

[Valushkin]

Imagine if we get Tucker Poolman back in the playoffs!!!

 

[NorthernAvsFan]

I’m trying to temper my excitement, but I love the makeup of this team. I haven’t had this kind of confidence in the Avs in a long time.

I think they’ve found a group that has the perfect blend of skill, speed, and toughness.

I really think this is a group that can wear on a team over the course of a 7-game series. As opposed to some years in the past where people have been concerned about the opposite happening.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

North America does use the ISO standard in official listings, and on those the week starts on Mondays. Cope.

I still see all the calendars with Sunday as the first day of the week especially the NHL. Cope.

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

I voted 6 pts because it is the maximum total of points we can get with only three games this coming week.

Same

 

[dahrougem2]

Avs are naturally in for a let down game against Chicago.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

W vs Chicago
OTL vs Minny
W vs Flames
W vs Stars


I'll be in Calgary for the game Friday.

 

[Snow Arc]

I voted 8 points because I failed 8th grade math, and also Nuke