Schedule / Matchup Preview

Colorado Avalanche vs Carolina Hurricanes · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Hurricanes · FRI · DEC 18 · 8:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
FRI · DEC 18 · 8:00 PM CT
Ball Arena
ALT · CARNHL · HHN
Colorado Avalanche
Avalanche
2–0–0
VS
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes
1–1–1
Upcoming
FRI · DEC 18 · 8:00 PM CT
ALT · CARNHL · HHN
Colorado Avalanche
Home · Avalanche
2–0–0
4 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
The man to watch is Nathan MacKinnon: 10 points in his last 4 against Carolina. But Mackenzie Blackwood has not had an answer for Nikolaj Ehlers: 4 goals on 20 shots.
Ball Arena
Carolina Hurricanes
Away · Hurricanes
1–1–1
3 PTS
Avalanche
GOALIES
Hurricanes
Mackenzie Blackwood
Mackenzie Blackwood
Expected
.912 SV% · 2.50 GAA · 2W
.886 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Brandon Bussi
Brandon Bussi
Expected
.872 SV% · 2.88 GAA · 0W
.881 SV% L5 · Cooling
Avalanche
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Hurricanes
L1
Artturi Lehkonen · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Gabriel Landeskog · Brock Nelson · Nazem Kadri
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Jaden Schwartz · Fedor Svechkov · T.J. Hughes
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Devon Toews · Cale Makar
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
Brett Kulak · Sam Malinski
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Josh Manson · Brent Burns
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
T.J. Hughes · Gabriel Landeskog · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas · Cale Makar
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Jaden Schwartz · Nazem Kadri · Artturi Lehkonen · Devon Toews · Brock Nelson
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy · Devon Toews · Brent Burns
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Brock Nelson · Artturi Lehkonen · Josh Manson · Cale Makar
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
AvalancheProjected lines
L1
Artturi Lehkonen · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas
L2
Gabriel Landeskog · Brock Nelson · Nazem Kadri
L3
Jaden Schwartz · Fedor Svechkov · T.J. Hughes
L4
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy
D1
Devon Toews · Cale Makar
D2
Brett Kulak · Sam Malinski
D3
Josh Manson · Brent Burns
PP1
T.J. Hughes · Gabriel Landeskog · Nathan MacKinnon · Martin Necas · Cale Makar
PP2
Jaden Schwartz · Nazem Kadri · Artturi Lehkonen · Devon Toews · Brock Nelson
PK1
Parker Kelly · Nicolas Roy · Devon Toews · Brent Burns
PK2
Brock Nelson · Artturi Lehkonen · Josh Manson · Cale Makar
HurricanesProjected lines
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
Bailey Curtis · Oct 3 · 7:41 PM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
Avalanche
INJURY REPORT
Hurricanes
Zachary L'Heureux
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Logan O'Connor
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Trent Miner
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Georgii Merkulov
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 7
AvalancheInjury report
Zachary L'Heureux
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Logan O'Connor
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 7
Trent Miner
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Georgii Merkulov
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 7
HurricanesInjury report
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Bailey Curtis · Oct 3 · 7:41 PM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Avalanche have won 2 straight and are 2-0-0 in their first 2 games. The Hurricanes won their last game and are 1-1-1 in their first 3 games.

Matchup Intel

The man to watch is Nathan MacKinnon: 10 points in his last 4 against Carolina. But Mackenzie Blackwood has not had an answer for Nikolaj Ehlers: 4 goals on 20 shots.

The numbers behind it
Player
Nathan MacKinnon has 10 points in his last 4 games against Carolina. See the games →
(Colorado)
10 pts, last 4 vs CAR
Player
Martin Necas has 7 points in his last 4 games against Carolina. See the games →
(Colorado)
7 pts, last 4 vs CAR
Matchup
Nikolaj Ehlers has 4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood (20 shots).
(Carolina)
4 goals on Mackenzie Blackwood
Matchup
Andrei Svechnikov has 15 shots on Mackenzie Blackwood without a goal.
(Carolina)
0/15 vs Mackenzie Blackwood