Blues vs. Avalanche: Game Day Preview
The St. Louis Blues face off against the Colorado Avalanche tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET, broadcast on ESPN and SN. Here’s a comprehensive look at projected lineups, injury reports, and what fans can expect from this exciting NHL clash.
Blues Projected Lineup
The Blues are looking to build on their recent 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, with a few key players returning to the lineup. Here’s how they’re expected to line up:
- Forwards:
- Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud
- Jonathan Drouin – Dalibor Dvorsky – Jordan Kyrou
- Jake Neighbours – Pius Suter – Jonatan Berggren
- Alexey Toropchenko – Jack Finley – Pavel Buchnevich
- Defensemen:
- Philip Broberg – Logan Mailloux
- Theo Lindstein – Colton Parayko
- Cam Fowler – Tyler Tucker
- Goalies:
- Joel Hofer
- Jordan Binnington
Scratched: Justin Holl, Nathan Walker, Matthew Kessel, Oskar Sundqvist, Otto Stenberg
Injured: None
Avalanche Projected Lineup
The Avalanche will be without some key players, but still pose a significant threat. Here’s their projected lineup:
- Forwards:
- Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
- Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
- Ross Colton – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor
- Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
- Defensemen:
- Devon Toews – Sam Malinski
- Brett Kulak – Josh Manson
- Nick Blankenburg – Brent Burns
- Goalies:
- Mackenzie Blackwood
- Scott Wedgewood
Scratched: Zakhar Bardakov
Injured: Cale Makar (upper body), Nicolas Roy (upper body)
Status Report & Key Takeaways
Both Toropchenko and Buchnevich, who missed the Blues’ win against Anaheim, are back in the lineup, bolstering the team’s fourth line. The Avalanche, however, are dealing with significant injuries to key players like Cale Makar and Nicolas Roy, both sidelined with upper-body injuries. This will undoubtedly impact their offensive capabilities.
The absence of Makar is particularly concerning for Colorado, as he is a cornerstone of their defense and a key offensive contributor. The Blues will look to exploit this weakness and capitalize on their returning players to secure a victory.
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