Calgary Flames vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions March 14th 2025

Avalanche Fine-Tune Defense as They Face Flames in Calgary

The Colorado Avalanche head to Calgary on Friday night, looking to bounce back after a hard-fought 2-1 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Despite the defeat, Colorado remains in strong form, having won six of its last seven games while sharpening its defensive play ahead of the postseason push.

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Avalanche Emphasizing Defensive Growth

Even with their winning streak snapped, the Avalanche saw plenty of positives in their effort against Minnesota, especially on the defensive end.

• Prior to the loss, Colorado had won six straight, scoring 31 goals in that span.
• Head coach Jared Bednar is shifting the team’s focus to limiting chances against, particularly after roster changes at the trade deadline.

“Games are getting more important, so the players are digging in more on defense,” Bednar said. “Everybody is tightening up their details and structure. We did a nice job of suppressing chances (in Minnesota).”

Still, the Avs’ offensive firepower is undeniable. Their stars continue to shine, while Joel Kiviranta has stepped up, scoring in four consecutive games.

“He’s a strong two-way player,” Bednar added. “He’s showing more confidence with the puck, and I love the consistency he’s bringing every night.”

Flames Fighting for Playoff Position

Calgary, meanwhile, is coming off a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss to Vancouver—a game in which they led with just seven minutes left but couldn’t close out.

• Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar acknowledged the team let up in the third period.
• Calgary holds the second wild-card spot but is tied with Vancouver in points.

“We were physical, in their face, and I thought we were the better team for two periods,” Weegar said. “But in the third, we took our foot off the gas, and it cost us.”

Head coach Ryan Huska is keeping the team locked in as they fight for a playoff spot.

“Every game is a must-win from here on out,” Huska emphasized. “We can’t dwell on missed opportunities.”

Flames Face Key Absences

Calgary has some lineup concerns ahead of this matchup:

• Captain Mikael Backlund left Wednesday’s game with an upper-body injury. His status remains uncertain.
• Connor Zary is suspended for two games after a hit to the head on Elias Pettersson.

The Flames will need to adjust quickly as they wrap up a three-game homestand against a high-powered Colorado squad.

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Key Storylines to Watch

• Colorado’s Defensive Adjustments – Can the Avs continue to limit scoring chances while maintaining their offensive rhythm?
• Calgary’s Resilience – After blowing a late lead against Vancouver, will the Flames respond under pressure?
• Kiviranta’s Streak – Can the Avalanche winger extend his goal streak to five games?
• Playoff Implications – With the Western Conference race heating up, both teams need every point they can get.

With one team fine-tuning its defense and the other fighting to stay in playoff position, this matchup has all the makings of a thriller. Can the Avs get back in the win column, or will the Flames hold strong at home?