Vancouver is coming off a 2-3 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks at home. This matchup in Denver kicks off a three-game road trip, facing the Vegas Golden Knights and the Ducks once again to cap the trip off. The Canucks currently hold a 5-6-2 record.
COLORADO-VANCOUVER CONNECTIONS
Tyson Jost
played two-plus seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Penticton Vees (2014-2016) and spent three years in Kelowna at the Pursuit of Excellence Academy and Okanagan Rockets. Jost and Vancouver forward Brock Boeser played together at the University of North Dakota in 2016-17…
J.T. Compher
and Canucks forward Tyler Motte were teammates at the University of Michigan from 2013-2016… Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic is from Burnaby.
HISTORY
Colorado owns a 76-64-11 record against Vancouver all-time. The last time the Avs faced the Canucks was on March 6, 2020 in Vancouver, a match that ended in a 6-3 loss for Colorado.
ROSTER REPORT
J.T. Compher practiced with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen on the top line as Nathan MacKinnon was unavailable. Alex Newhook has been recalled from the American Hockey League affiliate Colorado Eagles and will be available for Thursday's contest.
INJURY REPORT
Nathan MacKinnon did not practice Wednesday and awaits testing results on a lower body injury. Cale Makar rejoined the group for practice after sustaining an upper-body injury on Oct. 30. Valeri Nichushkin took the ice and practiced after being out with an upper-body injury he sustained on Oct. 13. Both Makar and Nichushkin are considered probable for Thursday's contest. Devon Toews made his return to practice since rehabbing an upper-body injury. Martin Kaut is still being evaluated on a week-to-week basis with an upper body injury. Stefan Matteau continues to be out for weeks rehabbing a lower-body injury he suffered on Oct. 16th. Pavel Francouz remains on a week-to-week basis.
SCOUTING THE CANUCKS
After seven straight home games, the Canucks begin a three-game road trip, facing Colorado, Vegas and Anaheim. They will return home to rematch with Colorado after their trip concludes.
Vancouver stands at 19th in the league on power play percentage, converting at a 17.7 percent clip when they have the advantage on ice. When they are down a player, they hold a 65 percent penalty kill percentage, ranking 31st in the NHL.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: J.T. Miller
Center J.T. Miller leads his team in points, putting up at least one point each in his last five matches. He scored one of the two goals in their last game against the Ducks, and currently sits tied at fourth in the league for points tallied by a center at 15.
NUMBERS GAME
6
Nazem Kadri has tallied six points in his last four contests. He is also six goals away from 200 career goals.
5
Gabriel Landeskog is five games away from a career 700 games played with the Colorado Avalanche.
2nd
Rookie Bowen Byram is currently in a tie for second when it comes to goals made by all NHL defensemen.
NOTEBOOK
The last time the Avalanche and the Canucks matched up, Colorado was on a franchise record nine-game road winning streak, which ultimately ended in Vancouver... Andre Burakovsky, who scored two goals in his previous outing, needs 10 more points to reach 250 for his career and five more points to reach 100 in his time with Colorado... Mikko Rantanen needs 11 more assists to reach 200 for his career... On this day in 2007, Paul Stastny scored twice and had an assist to reach 100 points for his career, and the Avs improved to 9-1-0 on home ice with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild at Pepsi Center.
