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Avalanche Youngsters Rally Late to Top Utah 5-3 in Rookie Showcase

The Colorado Avalanche rookies skated to a 5–3 win over the Utah Mammoth prospects Friday night at the South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch.

The first period unfolded at a brisk pace, before the tempo eased in the second. The final frame, however, reignited with a surge of offense as Utah took an 3-2 lead but the Avalanche prospects rallied late with goals from Christian Humphreys and Sean Behrens to grab a 4-3 lead and eventually Colorado sealed the 5–3 victory. Here’s a closer look at the standouts from the showcase opener:

Asan Sarkenov stole the spotlight with a pair of goals for Colorado. The 19-year-old Kazakh forward, who tallied 27 points in 52 games with the Spokane Chiefs last season, entered the Rookie Showcase on an invitation rather than a contract. On Friday, he made a compelling case to change that. Sarkenov struck twice in the opening frame, first by slicing through the Mammoth defense to bury the opener, then by wiring a shot from the high slot to double the lead. While his game remains a work in progress, this performance was an impressive step forward and a potential springboard toward earning a deal.

Gavin Brindley delivered the kind of performance that has come to define his game. He consistently used his speed to push play through the neutral zone, battled relentlessly for pucks against opponents twice his size, and showed creativity in generating offense—whether by setting up teammates or finding ways to manufacture his own scoring chances. Colorado acquired him in the offseason from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the trade for Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. And it appears so far, at least from a long-term prognosis, that Colorado serves to win the trade.

Nikita Prishchepov capped the night with an empty-netter to secure the win. While he didn’t flash the same constant spark as Brindley, he was nevertheless an important presence. The two worked well in tandem, and one sequence in particular highlighted Prishchepov’s team-first instincts: rather than taking a clear scoring chance himself, he fed Brindley for a one-timer. The attempt went awry, but the creativity and vision were undeniable. Once dubbed Colorado’s version of “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 217th and nearly final pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, Prishchepov is quickly proving he may be anything but irrelevant as his development continues.

Chase Bradley made a strong case for himself as well. Though he didn’t find the scoresheet, his impact was felt in the effort he brought every shift. Whether a chance fizzled on a broken play or was denied by the goaltender, Bradley never hesitated to re-engage. Like Brindley, he showed no fear in challenging bigger, stronger opponents, and his persistence provided a glimpse of a solid foundation to build on.

The Avalanche rookies returned to the ice for practice Saturday morning at the South Suburban Sports Complex before facing the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at 1 p.m.