The Avalanche are in a much-needed win situation against a tough Panthers team and the power play units need to heat up to help earn the two points.
The Avalanche are in a much-needed win situation against a tough Panthers team and the power play units need to heat up to help earn the two points.
Colorado is in dire need of a win after three consecutive losses — earning only one point from an overtime loss. Florida is coming in from a win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday, so the matchup will be a huge test for the Avalanche.
"They're a strong, strong team. Their depth is unbelievable. But you know tonight will be a great test for us," Miles Wood said.
The 28-year-old forward stressed the importance of his team scoring first and sticking with a tight game through all three periods.
"I think we've had strong parts of our game at times but yeah, tonight's a huge game for us," Wood said. "We haven't won in three games or so, so tonight we need to bring our best to beat this team."
The Avs' power play units have struggled on the road trip so far going zero for six against Carolina in Thursday's loss to the Hurricanes.
"We're constantly evaluating the power play (on a) nightly basis in game to see what type of advantage we can gain and how we can execute through their pressure, around their pressure in order to create scoring chances," head coach Jared Bednar said after morning skate on Saturday.
Assistant coach Ray Bennett explained how the team uniquely holds two separate power play meetings split by unit to drill down to specifics with each player and the group as a whole. He said there is a lot of conversation with him and among the players themselves.
"Obviously Nate (MacKinnon) has a lot to say — sees the game differently than some of us and sees some things that maybe we don't see but I think everyone in that meeting from the coach to any player has the right to talk and we all talk," Jonathan Drouin said. "I think when we're all on the same page and you're all kind of working toward the same goal and you have some ideas, you see some stuff — Nate might see something, I don't see, I might see something. So it's good to talk about it."
Projected lineup
Bednar said Alexandar Georgiev will start in net and that tonight's game is especially important for him to bounce back from the Carolina loss.
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Zach Parise — Ryan Johansen — Artturi Lehkonen
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O'Connor
Andrew Cogliano — Fredrik Olofsson — Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Bowen Byram — Jack Johnson
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
Puck drops at 4 p.m. MT at Amerant Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
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