Artturi Lehkonen appears to be like to increase level streak for Avs vs. Blackhawks
Oct 31, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche heart Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) after a aim within the first interval in opposition to the Calgary Flames at Ball Area. Obligatory Credit score: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Photos The Colorado Avalanche have gained three of their previous 4 video games to proceed their climb up the Central Division standings.
Robust play from ahead Artturi Lehkonen continues to spark the surge.
Lehkonen enters Monday’s go to to the division rival Chicago Blackhawks on a nine-game level streak. He has collected 9 targets and 4 assists over that span. His two targets Saturday helped steer Colorado to a 5-2 dwelling win in opposition to the Calgary Flames.
To Lehkonen, the output is a product of his environment.
“(I am) taking part in with actually good gamers,” he mentioned. “Simply making an attempt to get to the quiet ice and discover openings within the offensive zone. And I imply, additionally with the fellows that I play with, they discover me as a rule. So, yeah, simply attempt to shoot and get it towards the online.
“I am simply looking for holes, and I imply, a few good bounces for certain.”
Lehkonen’s linemates, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, every contributed a aim and help versus Calgary. In the meantime, the lead defensive pairing of Cale Makar (4 assists) and Devon Toews (two) was lively within the assault.
Makar mentioned the highest line is “buzzing” as Colorado begins a two-game street journey.
“(Lehkonen is) discovering actually good spots offensively to place pucks within the internet after which facilitate for different guys, too,” Makar mentioned. “He is positively one of many hardest-working guys I do know, involves compete each single day, and he is getting rewarded proper now.”
Chicago returns to the United Heart amid a stretch that has the membership taking part in 5 of six on the street.
The Blackhawks have misplaced 5 of six general after Saturday’s 5-4 time beyond regulation defeat to the Bruins in Boston. Anton Frondell tallied two early targets and Ryan Greene and Connor Bedard scored within the third interval to offer Chicago a 4-2 lead. However the Bruins beat Arvid Soderblom twice within the remaining 7:54 to tie the sport, then netted the game-winner at 2:32 of OT.
“That was most likely our greatest sport of the 12 months,” mentioned Bedard, who added an help. “Simply the best way we have been battling, not shying away from something, taking hits, entering into the struggle possibly greater than we did in opposition to Detroit (a 4-1 loss on Thursday). It (stinks) to see the end result, the way it ends, and now we have to discover a method to win, however a lot of the sport we performed fairly properly.”
Chicago coach Jeff Blashill primarily echoed Bedard’s sentiment whereas praising the efforts of Frondell, whose multigoal sport gave him three targets this season.
Frondell scored on the ability play 6:04 into the sport and redirected a Tyler Bertuzzi shot for an additional aim at 3:31 of the second interval.
“I believed ‘Frondy’ performed nice,” Blashill mentioned. “I believed he performed an awesome sport. It was unlucky to not get the win out of it primarily based on when guys play pretty much as good as they play. However once more, that is the best way it goes.”
Patrick Kane earned the first help on Frondell’s first aim to turn out to be the primary American-born participant — and twenty first general — to register 900 profession assists.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar gained his 453rd profession sport on Saturday. That is the ninth-most all-time for a single membership whereas surpassing former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville’s 452 victories with Chicago.
–Area Degree Media
