Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
Identical records and points (24 each) set up a tight interconference clash. Colorado ranks near the top of the Central (strong offensive output), while Ottawa sits in the Atlantic mix. Broadcasts include TSN5, RDS2, ALT, and ESPN+ (U.S.).
Current Rosters & Projected Key Contributors
Avalanche (key forwards/defense/goalies from recent usage and stats):
Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon (C, ~10 G, 20 A, 30 P in 19 GP), Artturi Lehkonen (LW, team-high ~13 G), Martin Necas (~10 G, 14 A, 24 P), Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson, Jaden Schwartz, T.J. Hughes, Nicolas Roy, Parker Kelly, Fedor Svechkov, Logan O’Connor.
Defense: Cale Makar (~5 G, 18 A, 23 P), Devon Toews, Brett Kulak, Sam Malinski, Brent Burns, Noah Juulsen.
Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood (primary, ~10-3-1, 2.63 GAA, .901 SV% in 15 GP); Scott Wedgewood (backup).
Typical recent lines lean Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Necas (top), Landeskog-Kadri-Roy, Schwartz-Nelson-Hughes, with Makar paired high (often with Kulak or Toews).
Senators (key forwards/defense/goalies):
Forwards: Tim Stützle (C, ~9 G, 14 A, 23 P), Drake Batherson (~9 G, 9 A), Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens, Claude Giroux, Fabian Zetterlund, Ridly Greig, Michael Amadio, others filling depth.
Defense: Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, Artem Zub, Jordan Spence, and supporting pairs.
Goalies: Linus Ullmark (returning starter, strong early numbers: 7-1-0, 1.33 GAA, .945 SV% in 8 GP before injury); Samuel Ersson has handled recent starts.
Injury Reports
Avalanche:
Josh Manson (D, lower body/ankle) – out (LTIR, expected multi-week absence into December).
Zachary L’Heureux (LW, upper body) – out (IR/long-term).
Senators:
Linus Ullmark (G, lower body) – activated and confirmed to start after missing nine games.
Nick Cousins (C/F, upper body) – out (expected 7–10 days).
Andre Burakovsky (LW, lower body) – out (IR, multi-week).
Warren Foegele (LW, knee) – out (IR, ~3–4 weeks).
William Eklund (LW, ankle) – out (longer-term post-surgery).
Depth forwards are thinned for Ottawa; Colorado is missing physical defense and some wing depth but retains its core scorers.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Nathan MacKinnon vs. Tim Stützle: Elite centers with high production and playmaking. MacKinnon’s speed and shot volume (team paces the NHL in goals/game at ~4.11) test Stützle’s two-way game and Ottawa’s top defensive attention.
Cale Makar vs. Thomas Chabot / Jake Sanderson: Makar’s offensive blue-line impact (points near team lead) against Ottawa’s top pair mobility and shutdown ability.
Artturi Lehkonen / Gabriel Landeskog vs. Ottawa defensive forwards and net-front: Lehkonen’s goal-scoring form and Landeskog’s physical net presence vs. Senators’ structure and Ullmark’s positioning.
Drake Batherson / Shane Pinto vs. Avalanche secondary defense: Ottawa needs secondary scoring against Colorado’s depth pairs.
Goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood vs. Linus Ullmark: Blackwood has been steady in recent wins; Ullmark’s elite early-season numbers (and home return) give Ottawa a potential edge in a lower-event game.
Special teams: Colorado’s power play (~22.6%) ranks solidly higher than Ottawa’s struggling unit (~12.7%); penalty kills are closer (Avs ~78.6%, Sens ~76%).
Recent Team Forms
Avalanche (last 10: 6-3-1): Points in six of last seven (5-1-1). Recent results include a 4-0 shutout of Detroit and 6-3 win at Toronto (Landeskog two goals). High-event offense (league-best GF/GP) but occasional defensive lapses. Road record is more mixed.
Senators (last 10: 5-3-2): Competitive at home (strong home mark overall). Wins over Buffalo and Utah, followed by a 3-2 OT loss to Washington. Offense more modest (~3.05 GF/GP); structure and goaltending have kept them competitive. Ullmark’s return is a major boost after Ersson’s stretch.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026-27 season (they meet again in Colorado in January). Colorado has dominated recent history (won seven of the prior eight overall in one report; strong long-term edge, e.g., 26-15-2-2 in 45 prior regular-season games cited in team notes). Ottawa’s last home win in the series came in January 2026 (5-2). MacKinnon, Makar, and Necas have strong career numbers vs. the Senators.
Betting Trends
Colorado’s elite offense vs. Ottawa’s home structure and Ullmark’s return keeps it tight. Trends favor the more consistent scorer (Avs) but respect Ottawa’s home points and recent competitiveness. Overs have hit in some recent high-event Colorado games; under could play if Ullmark stabilizes.
Colorado’s top-end talent (MacKinnon, Makar, Lehkonen, Necas) and recent offensive surge should generate enough against a depleted Ottawa forward group, but Ullmark’s return and home ice keep the Senators competitive in a one-goal game. Expect a competitive, moderately high-event contest decided by special teams or a late goal.
Game Odds
Colorado Avalanche 6.5
Ottawa Senators – 109
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Wednesday, November 11, 2026
