Colorado Avalanche vs Arizona Coyotes Picks and Predictions December 12th 2024

Utah Hockey Club Seeks to Contain Avalanche’s Elite Attack

The Utah Hockey Club (12-9-4) heads to Denver on Thursday night to face a red-hot Colorado Avalanche (17-7-3) squad fresh off a successful road trip. The matchup pits Utah’s balanced scoring approach against Colorado’s star-studded lineup, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Avalanche Riding Momentum and New Faces in Net

The Avalanche are coming off a 4-1 road trip that concluded with a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In that game, Rantanen recorded his third hat trick of the season and finished with five points, as did MacKinnon, who leads the NHL in scoring with 46 points (10 goals, 36 assists). Rantanen sits fourth in the league with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists), making the duo one of the most dynamic pairs in hockey.

Nathan MacKinnon expressed confidence in the team’s recent form:
“Once we get (Jonathan Drouin) back, we’ll be even better.”

Colorado also shook up its goaltending corps, trading away Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen for Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Blackwood, acquired from San Jose on Tuesday, is expected to be the team’s primary starter. Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland highlighted Blackwood’s potential:
“We believe there’s some untapped potential in him. He’s athletic and stylistically fits well with how we play.”

The team’s focus on stabilizing the back end aims to complement their elite offense and sustain their championship aspirations.

Utah’s Recent Surge and Balanced Scoring

Utah comes into the game with a 4-1-2 record in its last seven outings, building momentum after a rocky start. Captain Clayton Keller leads the team with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists), while Dylan Guenther is close behind with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists). Utah’s depth has been key, with 10 players reaching double-digit points.

Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev has made a significant impact since joining the team in the offseason. Sergachev, acquired from Tampa Bay, has stabilized Utah’s blue line and leads the team in ice time with 25:27 per game. His all-around ability has drawn praise from teammates, including Ian Cole, who also played alongside Sergachev in Tampa Bay:
“He can do everything—score goals, run the power play, kill penalties. He’s the total package.”

Keys to the Game

Colorado Avalanche

• Maximize Star Power: Continue leaning on MacKinnon and Rantanen to generate offense and control the pace.
• Solidify Goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood or Scott Wedgewood must step up to provide consistency in net.
• Limit Utah’s Depth Scorers: Focus on neutralizing Utah’s balanced attack to limit scoring opportunities.

Utah Hockey Club

• Contain the Dynamic Duo: The defensive pair of Sergachev and Ian Cole must focus on limiting MacKinnon and Rantanen’s chances.
• Capitalize on Depth: Utilize scoring contributions from all lines to keep pressure on Colorado’s defense.
• Stay Disciplined: Avoid penalties that could give Colorado’s potent power play opportunities to take over the game.

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Outlook and Stakes

Colorado won the first meeting between these teams 5-1 in Salt Lake City on Oct. 24, but Utah’s improved form and growing confidence could make this a more competitive matchup. For the Avalanche, the game represents an opportunity to further solidify their position as a Western Conference powerhouse, while Utah looks to prove itself as a playoff contender by challenging one of the league’s elite teams.

With Colorado’s offensive stars in top form and Utah’s balanced scoring and defensive upgrades, this clash promises intensity and intrigue.