Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames: Game Time, TV, Radio, Injury Report

The Colorado Avalanche are in Calgary for a matchup with a former division rival  in the Flames. The Flames have 15 points, the Avs 16.

Colorado has been heavy on top-line scoring and goaltending in the early going of the season.  They have ridden strong Semyon Varlamov performances between the pipes and a scoring explosion from Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen who leads the NHL in scoring with 21 points.

For Calgary, Johnny Gaudreau leads with 16 points and the top line of Gaudreau. Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm have carried the Flames to two wins and four points in a recent two-game swing.

The Avalanche will benefit from more of the same thing they’ve been doing all season, opportunistic offense and solid defense with outstanding goaltending.  The MacLaRan line (what do you think?) seems unstoppable through the early season and needs to stay that way as the drop off to the second, third and fourth line production is significant.

The boys will have to be on top of their game tonight as Calgary comes in hot and right on the heels of Colorado in the Western Conference.  A good start will go a long way as the Avalanche have tended to fade late.

The Avalanche have dropped 5-of-6 in Calgary, the Flames took the last meeting 3-2 at the Pepsi Center.

Here’s the details for Thursday night’s game:

Calgary Flames (7-5-1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (7-3-2) 7:00 PM MDT

ScotiaBank Saddledome – Calgary, Alberta

TV: Altitude, SN1

Radio: 92.5 Altitude Radio, SportsNet 960

Streaming:  AltitudeNow (Subscription)

Favorite: Calgary (-130)

Injury Report:

Colorado Avalanche:

J.T. Compher (head) – out

Sven Andrighetto (lower body) – out

Tyson Jost (head) – out

Calgary Flames:

Travis Hamonic (face) – out

Johnny Gaudreau (concussion) – probable

The Avalanche head directly to Vancouver for a matchup with the Canucks on Friday while the Flames welcome the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.