Calgary Flames (32-36-9) @ Colorado Avalanche (51-16-10)
7 p.m. MT | Ball Arena | Watch: KUSA-9, KTVD-20, Altitude, Altitude+ | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)
After clinching the Central Division and the Western Conference’s prime seed on Tuesday, the Avalanche begins a two-game homestand in opposition to the Calgary Flames on Thursday. This is the second of three regular-season conferences between the groups, because the Avs defeated the Flames 9-2 on March thirtieth in Denver, and they’ll play in Calgary on April 14th.
Latest Result (COL): COL 3, STL 1
Latest Result (CGY): CGY 3, DAL 4 (OT)
Success in St. Louis
Valeri Nichushkin scored twice and Martin Necas added a tally to assist the Avs clinch the Central Division and the Western Conference’s prime seed because it defeated the St. Louis Blues 3-1 at Enterprise Center on Tuesday. In internet for the Avs, Scott Wedgewood stopped 18 of the 19 pictures he confronted. Nichushkin opened the scoring at 16:11 of the primary interval with his sixteenth aim of the season by way of a net-front deflection on Devon Toews’ shot from the purpose. Necas doubled Colorado’s lead at 19:32 of the primary interval with his thirty seventh aim of the season by way of a shot from the suitable doorstep arrange by Nathan MacKinnon’s feed. The Avs took a 3-0 lead at 1:40 of the second interval when Nichushkin scored a shorthanded aim with his seventeenth tally of the season by way of a between-the-legs shot from the suitable doorstep on a partial breakaway arrange by Brock Nelson’s feed. Robert Thomas put the Blues on the board at 15:38 of the second interval by way of a shot from the suitable doorstep off the frenzy.
Leading the Way
Nate the Great
MacKinnon leads the NHL in targets (51) whereas rating third in factors (123) and assists (72).
Wedgewall
Among goaltenders with at the very least 24 video games performed, Wedgewood leads the NHL in save proportion (.918) and goals-against common (2.10).
Marty Party
Necas is ninth within the NHL in factors (95).
Series History
In 135 earlier regular-season video games in opposition to the Flames, the Avalanche has a file of 67-54-8-6. The groups have met as soon as within the playoffs, with the Avalanche defeating the Flames in 5 video games within the 2019 Western Conference First Round.
Defeat in Dallas
The Flames misplaced 4-3 in additional time to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Tuesday. In the second interval, Justin Hryckowian gave the Stars a 1-0 lead at 4:30 earlier than Calgary made it 2-1 after targets from Joel Farabee at 12:38 and Yegor Sharangovich at 18:52. The Flames took a 3-1 lead when Zayne Parekh scored a power-play aim at 26 second of the third interval. Dallas tied the sport after third-period targets from Wyatt Johnston at 1:16 and Jason Robertson at 4:51. Johnston scored the game-winning aim with a power-play tally at 3:39 of additional time.
Contributing Offense Against Calgary
MacKinnon has posted 43 factors (18g/25a) in 31 regular-season video games in opposition to the Flames, along with eight factors (3g/5a) in 5 playoff contests.
Gabriel Landeskog has recorded 23 factors (8g/15a) in 30 regular-season contests in opposition to Calgary, alongside with 4 factors (1g/3a) in 5 playoff video games.
Necas has registered 10 factors (5g/5a) in 13 video games in opposition to the Flames.
Flames’ Scorers
Matt Coronato is tied for first on the Flames in factors (41) whereas rating second in assists (24) and fourth in targets (17).
Morgan Frost leads the Flames in targets (21) whereas rating tied for first in factors (41) and third in assists (20).
Mikael Backlund leads the Flames in assists (25) whereas rating tied for first in factors (41) and fifth in targets (16).
A Numbers Game
92.3%
Colorado’s 92.3% mark on the penalty kill since March eleventh is the perfect within the NHL.
4
Toews’ 4 assists in April lead the Avalanche.
73
Necas’ 73 even-strength factors are the sixth most within the NHL this season.
Quote That Left a Mark
“[Our] goals for us started with winning the division, the conference [and we] still need another win to get first overall [in the NHL], and we’d be crazy not to chase that at this point. It’s important. If you get to where you want to go you, might as well try and get your home ice, especially after a season like this. So, it feels great. We’re not throwing parades or that kind of stuff yet, but we’re happy with where we’re at. We should celebrate it a little bit, because it’s a big goal of ours to start the year. And now we’ve accomplished part of it and we’ll stay focused here. We have five games to go, and [we’ll] keep working on our and dialing in some things so we feel really good about our game going into the playoffs.”
— Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar on the Avalanche clinching the Central Division and the Western Conference’s prime seed
