Samuel Girard is from Roberval, Quebec… Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon (Halifax) played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.
HISTORY
The Avalanche are 59-72 all-time when facing Montreal. At home, they are 39-28 while on the road they are 20-44.
The two teams have not matched up since December 2019. That contest resulted in a Colorado win on the road, beating the Canadiens 3-2. J.T. Compher, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar all took home a point that night.
ROSTER REPORT
Nathan MacKinnon, who last played on November 6, returned for the Avs last night against the Leafs, tallying two assists. Justus Annunen was recalled from the Colorado Eagles in wake of Kuemper's injury.
INJURY REPORT
Darcy Kuemper had a late scratch last night, dealing with an upper-body injury. Ryan Murray is out indefinitely with an injury sustained last week. Stefan Matteau continues to rehab a lower-body injury he suffered on Oct. 16 and will be out for weeks. Pavel Francouz is still operating on a week-to-week basis.
SCOUTING THE CANADIENS
Finishing off a two-game homestand, the Canadiens maintain a 6-16-2 record. They are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division, right ahead of Ottawa, and are five points behind the Buffalo Sabres. Most recently, the Canadiens hosted the Vancouver Canucks, falling by a score of 2-1. Montreal with travel the Nashville and face the Predators following their home matchup against Colorado.
(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Tyler Toffoli
Tied for first on the Canadiens roster in points, forward Tyler Toffoli has grabbed 15 points (five goals and 10 assists) in 24 games for Montreal. Against the Pittsburgh Penguins recently, Toffoli helped lead the team to a win with a goal and two assists.
NUMBERS GAME
200
With two goals scored in last night's contest, Nazem Kadri has reached a career 200 goals. Kadri has scored nine goals this season.
14
Cale Makar had 14 points in eight games in the month of November, an average of 1.75 points per game. The last defenseman to average 1.75 points per game in a single month was Ray Bourque with the Boston Bruins in 1994.
1,000
Last night was the Avs 1,000th road game since the team relocated to Denver in 1995.
NOTEBOOK
Nazem Kadri has been named one of the NHL's "Three Stars" for the month of November. Kadri posted 21 points (four goals and 17 assists) in 10 November games. He is the second player in Avalanche history to average 2 points-per-game in a single month, behind Joe Sakic in March of 2000... The last matchup in Montreal for the Avalanche occurred on Dec. 5, 2019, nearly two years ago to the day.
