Avalanche Battling Road Struggles and Playoff Hopes, Bruins Defensive Dominance

Colorado Avalanche vs. Boston Bruins: Preview and Prediction for Saturday Afternoon’s NHL Clash

On Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche (28-19-2) will head to Boston to face the Bruins (24-20-6) in a highly anticipated interconference matchup at TD Garden. Both teams are looking to secure valuable points in their playoff pushes, with Colorado coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Winnipeg and Boston most recently earning a 2-0 shutout victory against Ottawa. The Bruins hold a 6-2-2 advantage in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, having won both of their previous encounters, including a 5-3 victory earlier in the season.

Colorado Avalanche: Road Struggles Continue, Playoff Hopes on the Line

The Avalanche will aim to bounce back after a narrow 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. While Colorado is currently holding the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, they find themselves in a tight battle for playoff positioning. With a 4-4-2 record in their last 10 games, the Avalanche are hoping to turn their fortunes around on the road, where they’ve struggled to maintain consistency.

Offensively, the Avalanche continue to be one of the league’s top teams, averaging 3.29 goals per game, which ranks 8th in the NHL. However, their defense has been a concern, as they allow 3.10 goals per contest, placing them in the middle of the pack defensively. The team also struggles with special teams, sitting 19th in both power play efficiency (20.4%) and penalty killing (79.5%).

In their most recent game against Winnipeg, the Avalanche displayed strong offensive performances from star players Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. MacKinnon opened the scoring with his 19th goal of the season, and Makar tied the game with his 16th goal in the third period. Despite controlling possession and outshooting the Jets 27-25, the Avalanche were undone in overtime after allowing a game-winning goal just 17 seconds into the extra frame. With Scott Wedgewood likely starting in goal, Colorado will need to tighten up defensively and capitalize on their offensive opportunities if they want to snap their road losing streak.

Boston Bruins: Defensive Strength and Key Player Performances

The Bruins have been solid in recent games, picking up their fourth win in six games with a 2-0 shutout victory over Ottawa on Thursday. Despite struggling offensively, ranking 26th in the league with just 2.72 goals per game, Boston has been able to rely on their defensive play and goaltending to secure victories. They allow 3.14 goals per game, ranking 21st in the league, but their penalty kill (75.6%) and power play (13.4%) have also been below average this season.

Against Ottawa, Boston leaned on their strong defensive play, despite being outshot 29-26. Joonas Korpisalo posted a 29-save shutout performance, and Morgan Geekie’s second-period goal was all the Bruins needed for the victory. David Pastrnak sealed the win with an empty-net goal, his 21st of the season, showcasing his lethal scoring ability.

With Jeremy Swayman expected to start in net for Boston, the Bruins will look to continue their recent strong defensive play. They will need to be cautious against the high-scoring Avalanche but have the defensive depth to frustrate Colorado’s attack.

Conclusion

While both teams are vying for critical points in the playoff race, Boston’s ability to play sound defensive hockey and take advantage of their goaltending depth gives them the edge in this matchup. Colorado’s road struggles and defensive vulnerabilities are expected to be their downfall as they face a Bruins team that has proven difficult to break down at home.

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