Preview: Colorado Takes on Vegas in a Halloween Matinee Matchup

Key Highlights

  • The Colorado Avalanche aim to carry their recent win momentum into a Halloween matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.
  • This will be the first of three regular-season matchups between these two teams.
  • The game is set for 2:00 p.m. MT on October 31, 2025, in a matinee showdown.
  • Colorado Avalanche have seen improvement in their powerplay after struggling earlier this season.

Colorado Avalanche’s Recent Performance

The Colorado Avalanche managed to break out of their losing streak on October 30, 2025, with a decisive victory over the New Jersey Devils. The Avs scored eight goals while allowing four, demonstrating their offensive prowess. A notable highlight was the powerplay, which converted at a high rate despite a few defensive lapses in the second period.

Despite losing to the Florida Panthers 3-0 just prior to this matchup, the Vegas Golden Knights remain in first place in the Pacific Division. Their recent setbacks suggest they may be looking for redemption against their divisional rivals.

Key Players and Lineups

The Colorado Avalanche are set to field a lineup that includes:

  • Martin Nečas – Nathan MacKinnon – Artturi Lehkonen
  • Nathan MacKinnon – Jack Drury – Valeri Nichushkin
  • Brock Nelson – Ross Colton – Gabriel Landeskog
  • Cale Makar – J.T. Compher – Parker Kelly

Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to start for the Avalanche.

The Vegas Golden Knights, on the other hand, will present a formidable challenge:

  • Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Alexander Holtz
  • Tomas Hertl – Mitch Marner – Pavel Dorofeyev
  • Brandon Saad – William Karlsson – Reilly Smith
  • Brett Howden – Keegan Kolesar – Cole Reinhardt

The Golden Knights are likely to have Jeremy Lauzon in net.

Prediction and Analysis

With both teams eager to capitalize on home ice advantage, the Colorado Avalanche will need to maintain their momentum from Tuesday’s game. The powerplay has shown promising signs, but the defense remains a concern as they face a strong offensive line led by players like Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel.

The Vegas Golden Knights are expected to bounce back after their recent loss against the Florida Panthers. With their depth and talent, they pose a significant threat to any team in the league, making this an exciting matchup for fans of both teams.

As Halloween approaches, this matinee game promises to be not just another regular season contest but a thrilling battle between two highly skilled hockey teams. The outcome could shape the early part of their season and set expectations for upcoming encounters.