Game Preview: Avalanche vs. Sabres

COLORADO AVALANCHE (15-10-2) VS BUFFALO SABRES (13-14-2)
7 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH:ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche (15-10-2) are looking to build off of their two-game win streak as their homestand continues when they take on the Buffalo Sabres (13-14-2). Puck drop is set for 7 P.M. inside of Ball Arena.

LAST TIME OUT

The Avalanche defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 this past Tuesday. Defenseman Devon Toews, left winger Artturi Lehkonen and center J.T. Compher all tallied goals in Colorado's first game of a five-game homestand. Goaltender Pavel Francouz stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced.
The Sabres shut out the Los Angeles Kings 6-0 on Tuesday night thanks to goalie Craig Anderson turning away all 40 shots he faced. All six of Buffalo's goals were scored in the third period, with forwards Tage Thompson, Victor Oloffson, JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch and center Peyton Krebs all etching their names on the score sheet.

HISTORY

Colorado is 67-60-22 all time against Buffalo. Since the franchise relocated to Colorado, they are 23-10-4 against the Sabres, including a 12-5-2 record at home.

SCOUTING THE SABRES

Center Tage Thompson is the team's leader in points with 44, notching 23 goals and 21 assists in 29 games played. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is second on the team with 33 points, with nine goals and 24 assists.

CONNECTIONS

Center Tyson Jost was the Avalanche's first round pick (10th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft. Jost appeared in a total of 321 contests for the Avs, accumulating 45 goals and 58 assists.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche

Nathan MacKinnonUpper body
Gabriel Landeskog Lower body
Darren Helm Lower body
Bowen ByramUnknown
Shane BowersUpper body
Kurtis MacDermidLower body

Sabres

Vinnie HinostrozaUnknown
Ilya LyubushkinLower body
Eric Comrie Lower body
Henri JokiharjuLower body

DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon is the team's leader in career points against Buffalo with 21 (9G,12A) in just 14 appearances. Forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen are tied for second with 14 points apiece - eight goals and six assists for Landeskog and five goals and nine assists for Rantanen. Landeskog has reached his total in 15 games played, while Rantaten has done his in just 10 games played.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Tage Thompson also leads the Sabres in active points against the Avalanche, with six (4G/2A) in three games played. Jeff Skinner is second with five points, all assists.

NUMBERS GAME

4

The Avalanche scored their fourth shorthanded goal of the season on Tuesday, which is tied for second most in the league.

4x2

Left winger Artturi Lehkonen tallied two points on Tuesday, which was his fourth multi-point outing of the season.

4x2, again

Center J.T. Compher also recorded his fourth multi-point game of the season.

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"I think our leadership group has done a good job of teaching these guys what it takes day in, day out to be an NHL player, to be a pro, and to get the best out of each other each and every night. I think it's a good learning process for them to see a lot of these guys on a day-to-day basis on the ice, off the ice, how they recover, how they eat, all that. I think they're taking that in." - Defenseman Devon Toews on the team's chemistry