Avalanche Host Flames After Nichushkin's 2-Goal Game

Colorado looks to continue strong home play against struggling Calgary

Apr. 8, 2026 at 8:11am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action of a hockey game, with players and the puck fragmented into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Avalanche's high-powered offense looks to overwhelm the struggling Flames in a key late-season matchup.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche will host the Calgary Flames on Thursday night in Denver. The Avalanche are coming off a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues in which Valeri Nichushkin scored two goals. Colorado has a strong 51-16-10 record overall and a 24-9-5 mark at home this season. The Flames, meanwhile, have struggled with a 32-36-9 record and an 11-24-4 road record.

Why it matters

This game features a matchup between two teams heading in opposite directions. The Avalanche are one of the top teams in the NHL and are looking to secure home-ice advantage in the playoffs, while the Flames are near the bottom of the standings and are playing out the string. A win for Colorado would further cement their status as a Stanley Cup contender.

The details

The Avalanche won the previous meeting between these teams 9-2, with Nazem Kadri scoring two goals. Colorado has been led by the play of Nathan MacKinnon, who has 51 goals and 72 assists, and Martin Necas, who has six goals and eight assists in his last 10 games. Calgary has been paced by Morgan Frost, who has 21 goals and 20 assists, and Ryan Strome, who has four goals and three assists in his last 10 games.

  • The game will be played on Thursday, April 8, 2026 at 9 p.m. EDT.
  • The Avalanche and Flames previously met earlier this season, with Colorado winning 9-2.

The players

Valeri Nichushkin

An Avalanche forward who scored two goals in Colorado's previous game against the Blues.

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's leading scorer with 51 goals and 72 assists this season.

Morgan Frost

A Flames forward who has 21 goals and 20 assists this season.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play our game and not get caught up in the emotion of the rivalry. Our focus is on securing home-ice advantage in the playoffs.”

— Jared Bednar, Avalanche Head Coach

What’s next

The Avalanche will look to continue their strong play at home and clinch a top playoff seed, while the Flames will try to play spoiler and end their disappointing season on a high note.

The takeaway

This game features a stark contrast between the surging Avalanche, who are one of the NHL's elite teams, and the struggling Flames, who are near the bottom of the standings. Colorado's home dominance and offensive firepower should give them the edge, but Calgary will look to play the role of spoiler.