The Colorado Avalanche lost their third straight preseason game, this time at the hands of the Utah Hockey Club. The game featured the first time both teams met on the ice. But it was Utah that got the best of the Colorado Avalanche after the full 60 minutes.
Dylan Guenther led the way for Utah with two goals. Clayton Keller, Josh Doan, Cameron Hebig and Jack McBain added the other goals for Utah.
Meanwhile, Sam Malinski, Calum Ritchie, and Miles Wood responded for the Avs. Justus Annunen went the distance, giving up five goals on 37 shots for the Colorado Avalanche.
With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the three major takeaways from the Colorado Avalanche’s 6-3 loss at the hands of the Utah Hockey Club.
3 major takeaways from Colorado Avalanche's preseason loss vs Utah Hockey Club
#3. Colorado’s prospects were outmatched by Utah’s regulars
Utah iced a lineup featuring mostly regulars, while the Colorado Avalanche dressed mostly prospects and non-roster players.
While the Avs hung tough in the first, the second period was Colorado’s undoing. Utah scored three times to take a 4-2 lead into the dressing room after 40 minutes.
The Avs pushed into the third, but could not overcome the deficit. In the end, Utah added an empty-netter to seal the win.
#2. Annunen did not look sharp
Top goaltending prospect Justus Annunen did not look sharp on Sunday night. While he faced 37 shots, he gave up five goals. Annunen ended the night with an underwhelming .865 SV%.
Annunen is expected to back up starting netminder Alexandar Georgiev this season. But judging from this outing, Annunen may need to prove this performance against Utah was a one-off situation.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Avs defense gave up far too many shots, trailing 28-19 after 40 minutes. Moving forward, the Avs will need to play a more defensively-responsible game to keep the shot count in check.
#1. Calum Ritchie stood out again
On the bright side, Calum Ritchie, the Avs’ first-round pick from 2023, continues to make a case to stay on the roster. He scored another goal in this game, giving him two goals in two preseason games.
While Ritchie is not expected to make the team, at least not this season, his consistent performance is building an argument for the Avalanche to bring him with the big club. Perhaps Colorado may consider giving Ritchie a nine-game tryout before sending him back to Junior.
Perhaps Ritchie may get another chance to play on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. If that’s the case, Ritchie could cement his case to be on the opening night roster.