Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM EST (4:00 PM MST)
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
TV: ESPN+, ALT (Altitude Sports), CHSN (Chicago Sports Network)
A mismatched Central Division showdown sees the league-leading Colorado Avalanche hosting the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks in a Saturday evening contest. The Avalanche dominate the Western Conference standings, boasting the NHL’s top offense and a stellar home record, while the Blackhawks sit near the bottom, focused on development amid a tough road stretch post-Olympic break.
Team Context
- Blackhawks: 22-27-9 (53 points), 7th in Central / bottom-half Western Conference. Poor offensive output (2.6 GF/G, bottom-10 league), leaky defense (3.8 GA/G), weak road record (10-13-4 away). Negative goal differential reflects rebuilding phase.
- Avalanche: 38-10-9 (85 points), 1st in Central / 1st in Western Conference. Elite offense (league-leading 3.8-3.84 GF/G), strong defense (2.4 GA/G), dominant home form (21-4-4 at Ball Arena). +73 to +80 goal differential underscores their status as Stanley Cup contenders.
Recent Form
Blackhawks are struggling post-break, losing 2-4 at Nashville on Feb. 26 (first game back; Predators rallied with three third-period goals). They’ve gone 1-5-2 in their last 8 games overall, with inconsistent scoring and defensive breakdowns. Connor Bedard continues to produce (career-best 25 goals noted recently), but depth issues persist.
Avalanche remain powerhouse, with strong recent wins including a 4-2 victory over Utah on Feb. 26 (pre-break momentum carried over). They’ve been nearly unbeatable at home and show elite special teams and depth scoring. Nathan MacKinnon leads the league in goals (~40), fueling their attack.
Injury Report
Blackhawks
- Colton Dach (C) – Undisclosed, Day-to-Day (left recent game; questionable for Feb. 28).
- Wyatt Kaiser (D) – Lower-body, IR (retroactive to early Feb; out).
- Ryan Ellis (D) – Back, IR (long-term).
- Joey Anderson (RW) – Lower-body, IR.
Others like Jason Dickinson activated recently; focus on youth like Bedard and prospects.
Avalanche
- Logan O’Connor (RW) – Hip, IR (longer-term).
- Joel Kiviranta (LW) – Undisclosed, Day-to-Day (evaluation ongoing; questionable).
Core stars (MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, etc.) healthy and rolling post-break.
Key Player Matchups
- Goaltending: Arvid Soderblom or Spencer Knight (CHI – .874 SV% range, high GAA) vs. Alexandar Georgiev or backup (COL – .909-.916 SV%, strong support). Massive edge to Colorado’s netminding and defense.
- Top Centers: Connor Bedard (CHI – elite talent, 24G-30A pace) vs. Nathan MacKinnon (COL – league-leading scorer, dynamic playmaker). MacKinnon’s speed overwhelms Chicago’s transition.
- Scoring Wings: Tyler Bertuzzi (CHI – team-high goals) and depth vs. Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen, Valeri Nichushkin (if healthy), and high-octane attack. Colorado’s depth overwhelms.
- Defense: Chicago’s young blue line (struggles with mobility) vs. Cale Makar (elite puck-mover) and Devon Toews. Avalanche control possession and chances.
Special teams heavily favor Colorado: league-best PP (33-34%) vs. Blackhawks’ middling; strong PK (84%) vs. Chicago’s vulnerabilities.
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Avalanche lead the season series (e.g., 1-0 noted in Nov. 23 meeting: COL win). Colorado has dominated recent matchups against Chicago, winning convincingly in most games due to talent gap.
Betting Trends
- Total: Avalanche games trend high-scoring; Chicago allows ~3.8 GA/G. Recent Avs home games push overs.
- Other Trends: Avalanche strong SU/ATS at home; Blackhawks struggle on road (1-5-2 recent). Colorado covers big spreads vs. bottom teams.
The Avalanche’s star power, home-ice dominance, and post-break form make this a lopsided affair. Chicago may get opportunistic chances via Bedard, but Colorado should control and win comfortably (likely 5-1 to 6-2 range). Expect a showcase for MacKinnon and company in Denver.
Game Odds
Chicago Blackhawks 6.5
Colorado Avalanche – 345
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, February 27, 2026
