COLORADO AVALANCHE (19-15-3) AT EDMONTON OILERS (21-17-2)
8 PM MT | Rogers Place
WATCH:ALTITUDE
LISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. MT inside Rogers Place. The final two matchups will both take place at Ball Arena – on February 19 at 1 p.m. MT and April 11 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
LAST TIME OUT
Colorado suffered their fifth-straight loss with a 4-2 result to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night. Forward Mikko Rantanen got the game’s scoring started, his 26th of the season, before defenseman Samuel Girard added his third goal. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was in net again and stopped 39 of the 42 shots he faced.
Edmonton picked up a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday. Center Leon Draisaitl and forwards Zach Hyman, Dylan Holloway and Kailer Yamamoto all found the back of the net for the Oilers. Goalie Jack Campbell turned away 20 of the 22 shots that came his way.
HISTORY
The Avalanche are 80-76-13 all-time against the Oilers, including a 68-46-11 record since the franchise relocated to Denver.
SCOUTING THE OILERS
The Oilers are led by star center Connor McDavid, who has 75 points (33G/42A). McDavid’s point and goal totals are first among all skaters, along with being first in helpers. Second on the team is fellow center Leon Draisaitl with 60 points (22G/38A), which is good for second among all skaters. Draisaitl’s assist total is good for fourth leaguewide.
LINEUP UPDATES
Avalanche
Bowen Byram Lower body
Shane Bowers Upper body
Pavel Francouz Lower body
Gabriel Landeskog Lower body
Josh Manson Lower body
Valeri Nichushkin Lower body
Oilers
Evander Kane Upper body
Oscar Klefbom Upper body
Klim Kostin Lower body
Mike Smith Unknown
DOING THE MOST
Center Nathan MacKinnon is the team’s active leader in points versus Edmonton with 20 (6G/14A) in 19 contests. Forward Gabriel Landeskog is second with 19 (5G/14A) in 25 games played.
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Center Connor McDavid is Edmonton’s leader in career points against Colorado with 27 (11G/16A) in 16 appearances. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is second with 24 (11G/13A) in 26 outings.
NUMBERS GAME
26
Mikko Rantanen scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season. It was his fifth on the power play, tied for the most on the team. He is tied with Jason Robertson for fifth in the NHL in goals and tied for eighth in the league (Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Ovechkin) with 48 points.
35
Cale Makar registered an assist for his 35th point of the season and ranks fifth among NHL defensemen in points and sixth in assists (26).
QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK
“Regardless of the past five games, winning or losing, you have to go out and play your best hockey game, otherwise you can’t expect to win.” – Head Coach Jared Bednar on the team’s five-game losing streak