Boston Bruins (2-2-0) @ Colorado Avalanche (0-3-0)

7:30 PM MT | Ball Arena | Watch: TNT, TruTV, Max | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

The Avalanche continue their home stretch against the Boston Bruins and look to bounce back from their first three games. This is the Avalanche’s third straight game against an Eastern Conference opponent after taking on the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets. Colorado and Boston will meet one more time this season, facing off at TD Garden on January 25.

Final result (COL): NYI 6, COL 2

Last result (BOS): FLA 4, BOS 3

Avalanche vs. Islanders 10.14.24 Summary

The Avalanche fell to the Islanders 6-2 on Monday at Ball Arena. Avalanche forward Calum Ritchie opened the scoring 61 seconds into the game with his first career NHL goal. The Islanders took control of the match from then on, scoring with four consecutive goals. Colorado responded when Casey Mittelstadt scored his third goal of the season to make it a 4-2 game early in the third period. However, the Islanders scored the next two goals.

Avs performance

In addition to scoring his first NHL goal on Wednesday, Ritchie is third on the team with 10 shots on goal.

After being recalled by Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on Wednesday morning, Matthew Stienburg was able to make his NHL debut on Wednesday evening. Stienburg, who was selected No. 63 overall by the Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft, has posted two points (1g/1a) in two games for the Eagles this season.

Devon Toews missed Monday’s game with a lower-body injury. His next appearance will be his 400th career game. In 399 games he achieved 235 points (52g/183a). Since entering the league in 2018-19, Toews has the NHL’s best plus/minus, with a +154 rating.

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are tied for the team lead with five points each. MacKinnon has one goal and four assists, while Makar has five assists.

Mittelstadt and Mikko Rantanen are tied for the team lead in goals with three.

History

In 32 previous meetings, the Avalanche had a 26-14-2 record against the Bruins. In 2023-24, every team won on home ice, with the Avalanche winning 4-3 in overtime at Ball Arena and the Bruins winning 5-2 at TD Garden.

Fall to Florida

On Monday, the Bruins lost 4-3 to the Panthers at TD Garden. Boston opened the scoring early in the first period with a goal from John Beecher, but Florida responded with a pair of goals from Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart to take a 2-1 lead. Brandon Carlo tied the game for the Bruins early in the second period, but the Panthers responded with two goals from Reinhart and Lundell. Boston’s final goal of the game came from Mason Lohrei, who cut the Panthers’ lead in half, but they still fell short, losing 4–3.

A Denver champion returns

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery spent five seasons as head coach at the University of Denver from 2013 to 2018, winning the National Championship in 2017. At DU, he coached current Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor for three seasons from 2015-18, where he won the aforementioned National Championship.

Statistics to know

In 19 games against the Bruins, MacKinnon scored 14 points (6g/8a), including 12 points (5g/7a) in his last 11 games.

Makar scored six points (1g/5a) in eight games against Boston, including two assists in two games last season.

Bruins in numbers

Elias Lindholm and Mark Kastelic are tied for the team lead with five points, having each scored two goals and three assists so far.

David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in goals with three, while Lindholm, Kastelic and Charlie McAvoy are tied for second.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman has posted a 2-1-0 record, along with an .893 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average.

Numbers game

30

Colorado has recorded at least 30 shots in each of its three games in 2024-25, including 24 on Monday.

4

The Avalanche have four players averaging at least one point per game: MacKinnon, Makar, Rantanen and Mittelstadt.

Quote(s) that left a mark

“He had a great start to the match. He was rewarded for doing the right things.”

– Jared Bednar on Ritchie’s performance on Monday

“We score a goal and immediately give away a goal afterwards. Here’s what happened in the last three games. It’s a lot easier to play with the lead and we didn’t do that at all. You play against good teams and if you are two or three goals behind, it is difficult to come back.”

– Mikko Rantanen about the season so far