Morning Skate Report: Andrighetto To Make Season Debut

NEWARK, N.J.--Sven Andrighetto will make his season debut tonight when the Colorado Avalanche takes on the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
"Very excited, I mean it's been a while for me to suit up," Andrighetto said after morning skate. "Just watching the games from the stands, it was hurting a little bit. Obviously, I want to be out there with the team and help them win games. Even more excited right now to be able to be a part of it."

Andrighetto was hurt during the preseason in a game against the Dallas Stars on Sept. 26 at Pepsi Center. His first full-contact practice with the team on Wednesday.
He will replace rookie Sheldon Dries on a line with Vladislav Kamenev and Gabriel Bourque.
"I think he looks quick, he is in really good shape," Bednar said of Andrighetto following Wednesday's practice. "He has done a lot of hard work since he's been out. I'm excited to have a guy like him available again, adds some skill and some speed to our lineup."
The Zurich, Switzerland, native recorded 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) and skated in a career-high 50 games last season despite missing 28 games with injury.
Having watched his club's first six outings of the campaign from afar, Andrighetto has liked what he has seen from the group.
"Early in the season right now obviously there is still some stuff that we have to clean up, but I have been really impressed," he said. "Especially with the speed that we have through all four lines. I mean the whole team, we are playing a really fast game, some teams have trouble keeping up with us, which is exactly how we want to play.
"Now looking back at the last two games, they are really tight. I mean we lost the last two but it was in overtime and a shootout, it can go either way. I have really liked so far what I have seen, and I am excited to be part of it and jump in there and help even more."

LOOKING AT THE DEVILS

New Jersey has started the season strong, going undefeated (4-0-0) and only allowing three even-strength goals through its first four games.
"It's going to be tough, we have to expect it to be tough to create offense," said Bednar of the Devils. "We have to make sure that we are battling at the front of their net and our D is going to have to help us out getting some shots through tonight.
"On the defensive side of it, we know they are not giving up a lot of goals, so we have to stay out of the penalty box. We can't keep giving teams five or seven power plays a night and then expect to win this game because they are just not giving up goals. A little bit of extra commitment, and we have to match their work effort here tonight."

The Avalanche penalty-kill unit has allowed only two goals this season, finding success in 27-of-29 short-handed situations.
Colorado has scored 21 total goals this season and allowed 14 in six games, while the Devils have scored 17 times and held their opposition to four markers in four games.
"We looked at [the Devils] this morning, they obviously have a lot of skill up front," said Andrighetto. "They are playing a fast game. Pretty solid in their structure and they haven't allowed a lot of goals so far. It will be a good challenge for us, but we are up for it and we are excited for that."

WHO TO WATCH

Nathan MacKinnon has scored in all six Avalanche games this campaign, setting a franchise record for the longest goal streak to begin a season.
The stretch, which is a career high for the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native, is the longest by a Colorado player at any point of a season since Milan Hejduk scored in seven straight contests from Feb. 11-23, 2003.
Mikko Rantanen has recorded a helper in each of the first six outings as well--assisting on all seven of MacKinnon's goals--and is tied for the second-longest assist streak to begin a season in franchise history.
The duo of MacKinnon and Rantanen are the first set of teammates to record simultaneous season-opening point streaks of six or more games since 1993-94 when Joe Sakic and Mats Sundin had seven-game runs with the Quebec Nordiques.
Defenseman Tyson Barrie has also registered a helper in the last three Avalanche games. He needs one point to tie Sandis Ozolinsh (253) and one goal to tie Rob Blake (62) for third place among franchise defensemen in each category.