Game Preview: Avalanche vs. Oilers

COLORADO AVALANCHE (49-24-6) VS EDMONTON OILERS (48-23-9)
7:30 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH: ESPN |ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche are set to face off against the Edmonton Oilers for the third and final time during the regular season. Colorado is up 2-0 in the season series so far, with the Avalanche winning 6-5 on February 19 at Ball Arena in a back-and-forth affair.

LAST TIME OUT

The Avs bested the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday 5-4 in overtime thanks to Nathan MacKinnon's second goal of the game, his 39th of the season. Forward Mikko Rantanen also scored twice while center J.T. Compher found the back of the net as well. Goaltender Pavel Francouz made his first start in nearly two months, stopping 19 of the 23 shots that came his way.
The Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 6-1 Saturday night in game that saw center Connor McDavid pass the 150 point mark thanks to a three-point (2g/1a) outing. Centers Derek Ryan and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, forward Zach Hyman and defenseman Philip Broberg all also scored for Edmonton. Goalie Stuart Skinner turned away 22 of the 23 shots he faced.

HISTORY

Colorado is now 82-76-13 against Edmonton all-time. Since the franchise relocated to Denver, the Avalanche are 70-46-11 versus the Oilers.

SCOUTING THE OILERS

Edmonton has three players that have surpassed the 100-point threshold - Connor McDavid (151, 64g/87a in 80 games played), Leon Draisaitl (124, 51g/73a in 78 games played) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (103, 37g/66a in 80 games played). McDavid leads the league in points, goals and assists. Draisaitl is second leaguewide in points and fourth in assists and goals.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche

Darren HelmLower body
Gabriel LandeskogLower body
Artturi Lehkonen Upper body
Cale MakarLower body
Josh MansonLower body

Oilers

Cody CeciUnknown
Oscar KlefbomUpper body
Ryan McLeodUpper body
Ryan MurrayUpper body
Mike Smith Unknown

DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon is the team's active leader in career points against the Oilers, with 25 (8g/17a) in 21 appearances. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is second with 19 (5g/14a) in 25 outings.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Center Connor McDavid paces Edmonton with 29 points (11g/18a) in 18 contests. Center Leon Draisaitl is second with 26 (6g/20a) in 19 games played.

STATS FOR KEEPS

Name | GP | GS | Record (W-L-OT) | GAA
Colorado
Pavel Francouz | 16 | 16 | 8-7-1 | 2.61
Alexandar Georgiev | 59 | 59 | 38-16-5 | 2.54
Jonas Johansson | 3 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 2.10
Keith Kincaid | 1 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 2.15
Edmonton
Jack Campbell | 36 | 34 | 21-9-4 | 3.41
Stuart Skinner | 48 | 46 | 27-14-5 | 2.80

NUMBERS GAME

100+

During Sunday's game at Anaheim Mikko Rantanen recorded four points (2g/2a) to reach 100 points for the first time in his career. Rantanen (102 points, 54g/48a in 79 games played) and MacKinnon (107 points, 39g/68a in 68 games played) became the second pair of Avalanche skaters to reach the century mark, joining Peter Forsberg (116) and Joe Sakic (120) in the 1995-96 season.

54

Rantanen's 54 goals are tied with Sakic (2000-01) for the most in the Avalanche history since the franchise relocated to Denver and for the fourth most in franchise history, trailing only Michel Goulet (57 in 1982-83, 56 in 1983-84 and 55 in 1984-85).

49

Colorado scored the first goal of the game for the 49th time this season on Sunday, the most of any team in the NHL.

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"It's a good spot to be with only three games left, but still there's work to be done." - Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar on the Central Division standings