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
Bowen Byram has returned to the lineup, who was rehabbing a head injury prior to the postponements.
INJURY REPORT
Valeri Nichushkin is sidelined with an upper-body injury. Ryan Murray has been present at full team practice but is still out with his lower-body injury. Stefan Matteau is expected to continue to be out for weeks while he continues to rehab a lower-body injury.
SCOUTING THE BLACKHAWKS
Chicago has played two games since the league's holiday break where the club has dropped two games and a possible four points against the Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames. The Blackhawks own an 11-17-4 record. They are currently seventh in the Central Division and are 12 points behind the Avalanche.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Patrick Kane
Right-winger Patrick Kane who leads the Blackhawks roster in points has grabbed 26 points (seven goals and 19 assists) in 28 games for Chicago. 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
5
Darcy Kuemper has won his last five starts and is 10-2-0 since the beginning of November with a 2.65 goals- against average and a .912 save percentage.
10
Nathan MacKinnon recorded three assists, extending his point streak to 10 games, the longest active stretch in the NHL. He has collected 17 points (2g/15a) over that stretch.
29
The Avalanche's defensemen have scored a league-best 29 goals this season and rank first in the NHL with 95 points.
NOTEBOOK
Head coach Jared Bednar coached his 400th career regular-season NHL game…Erik Johnson skated in his 605th game as a member of the Avalanche, tying Steven Finn for the second-most games played by a defenseman in franchise history… Mikko Rantanen passes Adam Foote on the franchise assist leaderboard and is now 16th all time…
