After finishing up a three-game road trip through Canada, the Colorado Avalanche return home tonight to take on the Detroit Red Wings. This will be the second and final regular-season matchup between these two teams, with Colorado winning the first one by a final score of 2-1 in the Motor City.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche come into this game off a shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens, securing another two crucial points in the standings. Brock Nelson was the one to ultimately end it in that game, scoring his third goal in the last three games.

Nelson, and the other new editions for that matter, look to finally be settling in and finding their footing with Colorado, which is exactly what you want and need to see from them at this time of year. With playoffs right around the corner, that runway for them to find their footing is running out bit by bit.

Defensemen Erik Johnson and Sam Girard missed practice yesterday and are questionable for tonight. Jacob MacDonald was called up from the Colorado Eagles as a precaution. Will the 49th player this season suit up for the Avalanche?

Projected Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Nathan MacKinnon – Valeri NichushkinArtturi Lehkonen – Brock Nelson – Martin NecasJoel Kiviranta – Charlie Coyle – Ross Colton

Miles Wood – Jack Drury – Jimmy Vesey

Devon Toews – Cale MakarRyan Lindgren – Sam Malinski

Keaton Middleton – Erik Johnson

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit comes into this game tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back after securing a big win over the Utah Hockey Club last night.

Despite the season starting to wind down and teams starting to secure playoff sports, the Red Wings remain alive a bit in the wild card race in the Eastern Conference, as they sit just three points back of the second spot. Just like Montreal, whom the Avs just played, every point matters for the Red Wings as well this time of year, and they’ll be eager to grab another two here tonight.

Projected Lineup

Michael Rasmussen – Dylan Larkin – Lucas RaymondAlex Debrincat – Marco Kasper – Patrick KaneElmer Soderblom – JT Compher – Vladimir Tarasenko

Austin Watson – Tyler Motte – Craig Smith

Ben Chiarot – Mortiz SeiderSimon Edvinsson – Jeff Petry

Albert Johansson – Justin Holl

Goaltenders

For the Detroit Red Wings, it will likely be Cam Talbot going in net tonight for them, as Alex Lyon got the start against Utah yesterday. For Colorado, Mackenzie Blackwood will likely get the start tonight.