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Top Handicapper 
Avs Aim to Halt Inconsistent Stretch in Clash with Flames
The Colorado Avalanche (31-18-4, 66 points) continue their up-and-down stretch as they prepare to face the Calgary Flames (26-22-5, 57 points) on Thursday night in Calgary. With both teams battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, this matchup carries significant weight.
Avalanche Struggling to Find Stability
Despite sitting in a wild-card spot, the Avalanche have been unable to string together consistent performances. Their 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday marked their seventh defeat in 10 games, leaving head coach Jared Bednar frustrated with his team’s lack of execution.
“For me, this is a borderline playoff game in February, right? And I just didn’t like the way we competed,” Bednar said. “We did some good things, but in the trenches, we weren’t hard enough.”
Key Issues for Colorado:
✔ Scoring Droughts: Colorado was shut out despite ringing three shots off the post in the first period.
✔ Inconsistent Effort: The Avalanche managed only four shots in the third period against Vancouver.
✔ Special Teams Issues: Short-handed play in the final frame hurt their chances of mounting a comeback.
Colorado has now lost seven of its last 10 games (6-7-1 overall) and will need to sharpen its play to avoid sliding further in the standings.
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Flames Looking to Rebound After Costly Mistakes
The Flames enter the matchup following a 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Calgary led 1-0 and was tied 2-2 at the midway point but struggled with turnovers and penalties, allowing Toronto to capitalize.
“We forced offense and got ourselves into trouble,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “When you’re in a 2-2 game, you just want to trust your structure. We didn’t do that, and it cost us.”
Key Flames Storylines:
🔥 Power Play Surge – Calgary has 10 power-play goals in its last nine games, marking a turnaround from its early-season struggles.
🔥 Joel Farabee’s Impact – The recent acquisition scored his first goal with the Flames on Tuesday and is expected to bring added depth.
🔥 Playoff Pressure – The Flames currently hold the second wild-card spot but need wins to fend off chasing teams.
Farabee, acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers, admitted the goal was a relief but emphasized winning is the priority.
Key Matchups to Watch
⚔️ Cale Makar vs. Flames Defense: Makar continues to be a game-changer, but can he help break the Avs’ offensive slump?
⚔️ Nathan MacKinnon vs. Jacob Markstrom: MacKinnon is one of the league’s top scorers, but Markstrom has shown he can steal games for Calgary.
⚔️ Colorado’s Defense vs. Calgary’s Power Play: The Flames’ red-hot man advantage could prove to be a decisive factor.
With both teams needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt, this game will be a battle of who can correct their mistakes and execute under pressure.
