The young season continues for the Colorado Avalanche, as their three-game winning streak is on the line on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. Tuesday night’s matchup sees them take on a Central Division rival, the newly christened Utah Mammoth.

This is the second time this season the Avs will see the Mammoth, as they’ve already hosted the “new” franchise on Opening Night at Ball Arena. Colorado took that game, 2–1, and will look for another divisional win.

Colorado Avalanche (5–0–1)

The Avalanche have continued their winning ways, taking Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins, 4–1. All four goals came unanswered after giving up the first goal on the first shot of the game.

The home win was backed up by another outstanding performance by Scott Wedgewood, the NHL’s Third Star of the Week. Injured goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (lower-body/knee) is not traveling with the team for this quick, one-game road trip, but is close to returning to the Avalanche.

Meanwhile, the forward group will have to move forward without Joel Kiviranta for the first road game since his injury. Zakhar Bardakov will continue slotting in his place, with Gavin Brindley perhaps getting an advanced look on the power play. All of them, led by Martin Nečas and Nathan MacKinnon, look to extend the Avs’ winning streak to four games and avoiding their first regulation loss of the season.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov – Gavin Brindley

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson  – Brent Burns
Ilya Solovyov  – Sam Malinski

Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner

Utah Mammoth (4–2–0)

The Mammoth have had a successful start to their second season in Utah, sitting third in the Central Division with a winning record. They faced the Bruins the night after the Avalanche did, also coming out victorious, and creating a three-game winning streak of their own.

Nick Schmaltz leads the way for Utah this season with nine points in six games; all three goals coming in a hat-trick performance against the San Jose Sharks. Clayton Keller isn’t too far behind with seven points, made up of two goals and five assists.

Meanwhile, the Mammoth have a solid pairing in the crease with Karel Vejmelka and Vitek Vanacek. No matter who takes the net against the Avs, they’ll look to chase them atop the division in this young season.

Projected Lines

Clayton Keller – Barrett Hayton – Nick Schmaltz
Dylan Guenther – Logan Cooley – JJ Peterka
Lawson Crouse – Jack McBain – Michael Carcone
Liam O’Brien – Kevin Stenlund – Brandon Tanev

Mikhail Sergachev – Dmitri Simashev
Nate Schmidt – John Marino
Ian Cole – Olli Maata

Karel Vejmelka
Vitek Vanacek

Game Details

Time: 8:00 p.m. MT

Watch: ESPN

Radio: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM

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Originally published on Hockey Mountain High, part of the Mile High Sports network.