GAME PREVIEW: Colorado Avalanche seems to be closing strongly before dismissal against Edmonton Oilers

On February 8, 2025By Littum

Colorado Avalanche did what they needed last night. After a disappointing effort in Vancouver, which saw the AVs becoming blank after two shutout performances of their own, Colorado jumped back in a big way against Calgary Flames.

On the shoulders of a three-point evening from Martin Necas (2G, 1A), AVS turned aside the flames with a score of 4-2 and created some separation between himself and Calgary in the process. Colorado now sits 7 points ahead of the flames, sitting as the first team on the outside of the Western Conference Playoff image and can push it to 9 with a win over Oilers.

AVS dropped their first two meetings with Oilers this season, both in Edmonton. The last time these two teams met, Colorado blasted a first-period 3-0 lead that fell 4-3 after fumbling the lead slowly in the last 48 minutes of regulation. With this status as the last game before the four nations that have been dismissed, AVS will appear to end this part of the season strong before being repaid to the home lane.

Last matchup in the season between avalanche and oilers tonight. Regular season, that is.

If the final game started today, these two teams would meet each other.

– Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) February 7, 2025

Colorado Avalanche

The AVs put together a solid effort last night and disassembled the flames on the first part of Alberta Back-to-back. After a flat first period that saw Avs in the box all too often, they weathered the storm and stamped their seals on the last 40 minutes of play. There is a need for as much as 60 minutes to take down Oilers on the back half of the back-to-back.

Martin Necas continues to shine after the massive trade to Colorado. When he came out of a three-point evening that included two goals, he still has a perfect fit with Nathan Mackinnon. Last night he recorded a team high eight shots on goal and has given the new life in the powerplay after a brutal stretch before the trade.

Mackinnon has also reversed a new magazine since the trade, after winning over 58% of his features over this span. Oilers are the last team in the NHL you will give up possession, so that more continued success in DOT is welcome tonight.

Josh Manson does not play again tonight as he puts his views on returning after the dismissal. Scott Wedgewood is questionable that fits up tonight, leaving the target situation on the second half of a back-to-back a bit of a mystery.

Projected lineup:

Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan Mackinnon (29) – Martin Necas (88)
Jonathan Drouin (27) – Casey Mittelstadt (37) – Juuso Parssinen (16)
Miles Wood (28) – Jack Drury (18) – Ross Colton (20)
Joel Kiviranta (94) – Parker Kelly (17) – Logan O’Connor (25)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)
Samuel Girard (49) – Sam Malinski (70)
Calvin de Haan (44) – Oliver Kylington (58)

Mackenzie Blackwood (39)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
Trent mines (50)

Edmonton Oilers

Oilers have been on a roll in 2025. With a record of 12-4-1 since the calendar, Edmonton has been one of the league’s strongest teams this season. Boasts skill, speed and gravel in bundles, Oilers, currently led by the league’s leading goal scorer in Leon Draisaitl (38), is just below Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets as one of the best teams in the NHL.

While he pots the puck at a higher rate than anyone else in the league this season, Draisaitl is also the closest competitor to Nathan Mackinnon in the Art Ross race, which currently sits two points behind the reigning MVP with 81 points. Connor McDavid currently sits fourth in the NHL with 71 points as Oilers Duo enjoys another monster season together.

However, Edmonton doesn’t just thrive on their backs on their superstars. Lately, all lines have been able to produce for Oilers, who over their last 10 matches all four forward lines have contributed at least five goals during this period. Scoring depth has been a problem for AVS so far in 2025, and they will probably have to find a goal or two from their bottom six tonight.

Projected lineup:

Viktor Arvidsson (33) – Connor McDavid (97) – Zach Hyman (18)
Jeff Skinner (53) – Leon Draisaitl (29) – Vasily Podkolzin (92)
Mattias Janmark (13) -Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) -Connor Brown (28)
Corey Perry (90) – Adam Henrique (19) – Kasperi Kapan (42)

Mattias Ekholm (14) – Evan Bouchard (2)
Darnell Nurse (25) – John Klingberg (36)
Brett Kulak (27) – Ty Emmerson (49)

Stuart shines (74)
Calvin Pickard (30)

Goals

There wasn’t a morning skate, so who will be in target for avalanche won’t be known until puck drop. Mackenzie Blackwood played last night, but given the importance of this game and the upcoming dismissal, he will probably be back in the net tonight. If Wedgewood can’t go, it would be hard to see Trent Mines that fit in a game of this stature.

Stuart Skinner finds out that the grid protects from Oilers. Rails have not been as good this season as he was when he backstopped Oilers right outside the door to Stanley Cup Last end game. However, rails have followed a similar seasonal course. After a gloomy start to the season that saw him placing a .872 savings percentage in October, his game has gradually climbed with each month and he closed January with a .921 SV%. In general, he boasts a 2.68 gaa and a .902 SV%with a 20-12-4 record.