Avs left wing J.T. Compher is from the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois…Chicago assistant coach Marc Crawford was the head coach of the Avalanche/Nordiques from 1994-95 to 1997-98 and won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996…. Blackhawks defensemen Caleb and Seth Jones' father, Popeye Jones, played for the Denver Nuggets in 1999-00 and is now an assistant coach with the NBA team.
HISTORY
Against Chicago, the Colorado/Quebec Nordiques franchise is 72-55-17 with a 56-32-11 mark since 1995-96. The teams are reuniting in the Central Division this year after competing in the Avs were in the West Division last season. With the expansion Seattle Kraken beginning play this year and joining the Pacific Division, the Central will now have eight teams with the addition of the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado will play 26 games against their division foes, meeting Chicago four times.
ROSTER REPORT
Valeri Nichushkin returned to the starting lineup after entering NHL's COVID protocol on Jan. 17.
INJURY REPORT
Ryan Murray left the game on Jan. 14 with an upper-body injury. Darren Helm is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Jacob MacDonald remains out with an upper-body injury he sustained on Dec. 12. Stefan Matteau is expected to be out for a few more weeks while he rehabs a lower-body injury from October 2021.
SCOUTING THE BLACKHAWKS
The Blackhawks rank fifth in the league - behind only the Canucks, Kings, Avalanche and Islanders - in goals against per 60 (2.36) since King took over Nov. 6. They're also 18th in scoring chances allowed and 14th in expected goals allowed under the Los Angeles Kings.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Patrick Kane
Right-winger Patrick Kane who leads the Blackhawks roster in points has grabbed 36 points (nine goals and 27 assists) in 37 games for Chicago. Kane is on a point streak having logged a point in nine contests in a row. The veteran is still providing a point per game in his career. The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Kane also represented the United States at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
NUMBERS GAME
4
Alex Newhook scored his ninth goal of the season, tied for fourth among NHL rookies.
3
The Avalanche played extra time for the third straight home contest. Overall, Colorado is 6-3 when playing beyond regulation.
3
Devon Toews matched his single-game career-best with three assists (3x - last: Dec. 10, 2021 vs. Detroit). He has 23 helpers this season to eclipse his previous career-best set in each of the last two campaigns: 2019-20 with the Islanders and last season with Colorado.
NOTEBOOK
Gabriel Landeskog scored his third game-winning goal of the season, tied for second (Alex Newhook) on the team. It was his seventh career overtime winner, moving him past David Jones and into a tie with Joe Sakic for third place on the franchise's all-time list of overtime goals…Colorado scored multiple power-play goals in a game for the eighth time this season, finishing 2-for-4 with the man advantage… The Avalanche's 23 shots in the first period is a season-high and the club's most shots in a period since March 18, 2021 vs. Minnesota (25). It's tied for the team's third-most in the opening frame of a game in franchise history…
