Avalanche pose 'great challenge' for skidding Bruins

It has been tough sledding of late for the Boston Bruins, but a Saturday matchup with the visiting Colorado Avalanche is as good a time as any to break out of a six-game losing streak.

The game is Boston's third in a row at home and comes a week after Colorado dominated their first head-to-head matchup, winning 4-1 with a 38-14 advantage in shots.

"That's a great challenge," Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. "We're playing against the best team in the league. They come in here, it's a Saturday afternoon game, a lot of people are going to be watching this game. So, I mean, why not do it that day?"

Zadorov has been Boston's best blueliner amidst early-season injuries, posting three points, a plus-5 rating and a league-best 40 hits along with 20 blocked shots.

In Thursday's 7-5 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, though, a lack of depth showed as Hampus Lindholm missed his third straight game since a fleeting return from a lower-body ailment and Jordan Harris was placed on injured reserve.

Michael Callahan was summoned from AHL Providence and joined the lineup as Boston surrendered four third-period goals, including the final two after the Bruins erased a 5-3 deficit in a 25-second span.

"It happens every game, it seems. It's just embarrassing to the fans, everybody," forward Morgan Geekie said. "Everything is poor. Every guy's gotta look in the mirror and decide where this year wants to go. It's been all year. We threw a good start down the drain pretty quickly."

First-year coach Marco Sturm hopes to see more connectivity from his group -- and quickly.

"Every time you step on the ice, you're one unit. And right now, we're not. Let's face it," Sturm said. "Again, that's something we have to change. It's not just the mistakes. It's too easy for other teams. That's what we have to understand and correct."

Indeed, the Bruins are in for a challenge, but Colorado arrives having lost back-to-back games after regulation, including a 5-4 setback Thursday to the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout.

After overcoming what coach Jared Bednar called "soft defending" earlier in the game with a three-goal rally in the second and third periods, the Avalanche (5-0-3) remain one of just two teams without a regulation loss, joining the Vegas Golden Knights.

"For us, that point is huge," Colorado goaltender Trent Miner said after relieving Scott Wedgewood in net. "Obviously, we didn't have the greatest start, and for us to battle back in front of such a great crowd tonight is huge for the group."

Wedgewood allowed four goals on 11 shots.

Valeri Nichushkin's second goal of the night tied the game in the third period. It was just the fourth of the season for Colorado's power play, which is 4-for-34 overall.

Nichushkin's performance came in the first game after Bednar promoted him to the top power-play unit. Victor Olofsson also joined the group earlier in the week.

"I thought he was having a great game, maybe his best of the year," Bednar said of the recent bump. "He was doing it at 5-on-5, 4-on-4, 3-on-3, power play, penalty kill -- he was doing it all. I thought he was our best player (Thursday)."

--Field Level Media