Avalanche Host High-Powered Oilers in Clash of NHL Elites

Two of the league's top offenses square off as Colorado looks to extend its lead atop the standings.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The NHL trade deadline has passed, and now the focus turns to the stretch run of the regular season as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. Both teams boast elite offenses, with the Avalanche leading the league in goals scored and the Oilers not far behind. However, the Oilers have struggled defensively of late, allowing an average of 5.5 goals in their last six losses. The Avalanche are coming off a pivotal weekend that helped secure their place atop the NHL standings, but they will be without injured forwards Artturi Lehkonen and captain Gabriel Landeskog.

Why it matters

This matchup between two of the NHL's top teams and highest-scoring offenses will have major implications in the standings as the regular season winds down. The Avalanche are looking to extend their lead atop the league, while the Oilers are battling for position in the tight Pacific Division race.

The details

The Oilers have the second-most goals in the NHL with 227, trailing only the Avalanche's 238. However, the Oilers have struggled defensively of late, allowing an average of 5.5 goals in their last six losses. The Avalanche, meanwhile, are coming off a pivotal weekend that saw them rally to win shootouts against the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, helping them extend their lead atop the standings. The Avalanche will be without injured forwards Artturi Lehkonen and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who is dealing with a groin injury.

  • The NHL trade deadline has passed.
  • The Avalanche and Oilers will face off on Tuesday night in Denver.

The players

Connor McDavid

The NHL's leading scorer with 108 points (35 goals, 73 assists).

Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers' second-leading scorer with 92 points (34 goals, 58 assists).

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's leading scorer with 104 points (43 goals, 61 assists), second only to McDavid in the NHL.

Martin Necas

The Avalanche forward has already tied his career high in goals with 28 and has 48 assists.

Jared Bednar

The Avalanche head coach, who praised his team's performance during a challenging stretch of games.

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What they’re saying

“We've been talking about packing it in the D-zone and just playing good defense. We're good enough that we're going to get chances no matter what, so if we take care of the puck at that end, we're going to be fine.”

— Connor Ingram, Oilers goaltender

“We've been really good. We're playing hard every night, and we're getting the results, too. That's not an easy stretch. The five (games) in seven (days) coming out of the break was a bear.”

— Jared Bednar, Avalanche head coach

What’s next

The Avalanche will look to continue their strong play and extend their lead atop the NHL standings, while the Oilers will aim to tighten up their defense and keep pace in the tight Pacific Division race.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the NHL's most potent offenses will be a must-watch game as the regular season winds down. The Avalanche's ability to maintain their defensive intensity and the Oilers' efforts to shore up their own end will be key factors in determining the outcome.