Colorado Avalanche Game Day: Avs head to Vegas for another exhibition

The Colorado Avalanche will be facing off in Vegas against the Golden Knights tonight at 8 PM. The boys in burgundy look to have a better showing against a team that blanked them 4-0 in the preseason opener. Tonight’s rosters will likely feature some young NHL hopefuls who will be looking to turn heads and earn some big league play.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

With just two preseason games left the Avs have started to come close to a final roster for opening day. That means there are only a couple more opportunities for players like Conor Timmins, Bowen Byram and Shane Bowers to show their stuff. I’d say Timmins is most likely to earn some NHL time having looked very fluid and controlled throughout the preseason. Great news considering how far he’s come since the massive hit he took in the OHL finals two years ago.

Byram on the other hand has looked young. We shouldn’t be worried though, he is young. At the ripe age of eighteen, he’s got all of the intangibles and skills to be a top D man in this league. It’s just gonna take time in the AHL. Ask Mikko Rantanen how beneficial a year in the AHL was for his development. While you have Mikko also ask him to take that team friendly deal so he we can get this show on the road.

After the game day skate, head coach Jared Bednar said the majority of the players for the game will come from the group in the second on-ice session this morning. Some notables from the group were forwards Shane Bowers, Sheldon Dries, A.J. Greer, Michael Joly, Vladislav Kamenev, Martin Kaut, Logan O’Connor and TJ Tynan as well as defenseman Bowen Byram, Jacob MacDonald, Dan Renouf and Calle Rosen.

VEGAS KNIGHTS

The Knights look poised to make another playoff appearance and seem to be as deep as any franchise in the league. This depth has been on display throughout Vegas’ undefeated streak during exhibition play. Let’s be honest. Preseason hockey is like that show Whose Line is it Anyway. “Everything is made up, and the points don’t matter.”

TENDERS

The Avalanche will likely give Philipp Grubauer one last tune-up start before the opening night matchup with Calgary on October 3rd. We’ve only seen him once this preseason against Dallas where he made twenty-three saves on twenty-five shots.

The Knights are likely to start either Malcolm Subban or Garret Sparks. Sparks and Subban seem to be competing for the backup role in Vegas.