Game Preview: Patrick Roy headlines New York Islanders return vs. Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche host the visiting Boston Bruins tonight. For the Avalanche, who have yet to win a game in three games of the new season, it feels embarrassingly like a must-win. That may seem like an exaggeration, as we've seen some of the best Avalanche teams go for three games. Boston is coming off a 3-4 loss to the reigning champion Florida Panthers. Can the Avalanche get in the win column, or will the Bees be too much?

Colorado avalanche

Not much has changed since my last preview, as the Avalanche lost to Patrick Roy and the New York Islanders on home ice and their defense and net side continued to struggle. That previous loss felt like the worst, with abysmal performances from guys who should be the team's most consistent and uplifting players.

Cale Makar is clearly struggling and has openly criticized his own game. It's difficult to go sledding at the moment with so many people on the mend. The list of newly discontinued Jonathan Drouin and Devon Toews titles continues to grow, and the product reflects that. Altitude Radio play-by-play Conor McGahey has an excellent analogy for what we're currently experiencing in Colorado:

Planned lineup

Ross Colton – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen
Miles Wood – Casey Mittelstadt – Callum Ritchie
Nikolai Kovalenko – Parker Kelly – Logan O'Connor
Ivan Ivan – Matt Steinburg —Joel Kiviranta

Oliver Kylington – Cale Makar
Sam Girard-Josh Manson
John Ludvig-Sam Malinski

Note: Head Coach Jared Bednar mentioned that Arturri Lehkonen was due to leave on 10/28. is evaluated. There's still no word on the timeline for Jonathan Drouin's return.

Update: Matt Steinburg has been recalled and will likely assume the role of 4th line center tonight.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have secured their franchise goaltender, Jeremy Swayman, and he is the highest-paid NHL goaltender (until Shesterkin signs) for good reason. He was arguably the Bruins' best player last postseason and will be desperate to prove he's worth every cent of his eight-year, $66 million contract. Can he knock out a thin Avalanche team and make things worse in Denver?

The Boston skaters still have an experienced, talented and dangerous roster. Honestly, this might be the best team they will face in the first four contests. If the Avlance crashes again and goes 0-4, we'll all be sweating as we look at the panic button.

Planned lineup

Pavel Zacha – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
Brad Marchand – Charlie Coyle – Morgan Geekie
Trent Frederic – Matthew Poitras – Riley Tufte
John Beecher – Mark Kastelic – Cole Koepke

Mason Lohrei – Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Carlo
Nikita Zadorov – Andrew Peeke

goalkeeper

It will be Swayman for the Bruins and Alexandar Georgiev for the Avalanche. Georgie is having a moment and his head coach seems insistent on weathering the storm. He has no choice. The Avs are desperate for a confident Georgie and a save here and there against tonight's established dynamo.

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