Denver, Co. – The Colorado Avalanche finish up their first homestand of 2025 against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions tonight. The Florida Panthers come to Colorado off of a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shootouts seem to be the theme lately as the Avalanche head into tonight off of a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Not pertaining to the game tonight, Avalanche Captain Gabe Landeskog hit the ice on Monday morning, this time joined by Ivan Ivan and Valeri Nichushkin (both wearing red no-contact jerseys). Though the latter two went back down the tunnel following the session, Gabe stayed to participate in morning skate. This is the second consecutive morning skate where he’s joined in on the team’s drills. He still has not joined special teams scenarios, and likely will not until he’s slated to rejoin the lineup.
Before today’s morning skate at 10:30, Gabe Landeskog is back on the ice, this time with Ivan Ivan and Valeri Nichushkin (both in red no-contact jerseys).
Don’t let the video fool you, Gabe was skating really well before this, complete with a short right-side stop. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/LxW19ZKl1S
— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) January 6, 2025
Heading right into it, here are the three keys to the game for Monday night’s matchup for the Avalanche.
1.) The Lumber Yard vs. A Guy Called Bob
Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood and Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky occupied each team’s respective starter’s creases Monday morning. The question has been asked: with the offensive prowess both of these teams possess, could this become a goaltender battle? Florida Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice’s answer? “God, we hope not, but possibly. Probably.”
It’s an honest answer, as both teams possess some of the greatest offensive and defensive players in the league, with MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar on one side and Barkov, Reinhart, and Forsling on the other. Take into account some of the depth behind them and it becomes a matchup of skill and grit.
Also take into account the last ten games for each team. For the Panthers, they’ve gone 6-4-0 in their last ten, but the Avalanche? They’re 7-2-1. Impressive for a team that was 5-5-0 through their first ten games. Coincidentally or not, the difference has been goaltending and the ripple effect that has had on the team.
Related: Avalanche Complete Goalie Swap With Sharks; Acquire New No. 1 Goalie
While the Panthers may not be at the top of the Eastern Conference, having a goaltender…