Preview: Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche 10/3/19 (1/82): Flames & Avs Meet Again

Calgary Flames @ Colorado Avalanche, 7 PM MT, Pepsi Center, CO

TV: SNW – Radio: Sportsnet 960

THE REGULAR SEASON HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! The Flames will open the season with a road trip to Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche. The last time these two saw each other the Avs were ending the Flames season at the Saddledome in a totally dominating 4-1 series win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flames will look to avenge that terrible season ending by doing something they haven’t done in nine years: win on opening night. The last time the Flames opened up the season with a win was in 2009-10 when Brent Sutter was their coach and they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-3.

Colorado meanwhile will look to grow on their surprising 2018-19 season. Colorado worked themselves into the playoffs last season by playing very well down the stretch. The Avs roared into the playoffs going 8-1-2 in their last 11 games before bowing out the San Jose Sharks in seven games during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flames own a 79-70-20 record overall against Colorado, but they struggle when in Denver. Calgary is 35-38-11 when visiting Colorado, going 3-3-0 in their last six at the Avalanche home barn.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected, C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 0-0-0, Save% N/A, GAA N/A

Avalanche: Grubauer (E)- 0-0-0, Save% N/A, GAA N/A

Team Leaders (2018-19)

Calgary Flames: Goals: Gaudreau (36) Points: Gaudreau (99) PIM: Bennett (93) Save%: Rittich (.911)

Colorado Avalanche: Goals: MacKinnon (41) Points: MacKinnon (99) PIM: Cole (115) Save%: Grubauer (.917)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Colorado Avalanche Coverage: Mile High Hockey

Last Time Out (Preseason)

Calgary Flames 3 – Edmonton Oilers 3

Colorado Avalanche 3 – Dallas Stars 4 (SO)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames: Johnny Gaudreau (F) Gaudreau missed the 100 point mark by 1 point last season and will look to piggy back off that season in 2019-20. His 99 points were by far his career best, which topped his previous career high of 84 in 2017-18.

Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (F) MacKinnon was also one point short of the 100 point plateau with Colorado last season. Last year was the second season he came close to 100 points (2017-18 he had 97) so you can bet he’ll be pushing towards breaking that mark this season.

by Mark Parkinson