Colorado Continues Homestand Versus Arizona on Wednesday

The Colorado Avalanche looks to get back into the win column when it hosts the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. It is the second contest of a two-game set between the clubs at Ball Arena.
Colorado (13-8-2) fell 3-2 to the Coyotes on Monday, despite fighting back from an early 2-0 deficit. Valeri Nichushkin tallied a goal--extending his season-long point streak to three games--while Andre Burakovsky buried his third power-play marker of the campaign, a new career best. Mikko Rantanen collected his team-leading 25th point (12 goals, 13 assists) with a helper.

For the Coyotes, Clayton Keller registered two assists for the second-straight game, lengthening his point streak to a season-high five contests. Oliver-Ekman Larsson also added two assists with Derick Brassard, Jakob Chychrun and Johan Larsson notching a goal each. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped 17-of-19 shots before leaving the game in the third period with a lower-body injury. Antti Raanta entered the game in relief and fought off all 16 pucks he faced.

Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes

Ball Arena | Denver, Colo.
| Game Time: | 7:00 p.m. | | --- | --- | | TV: | Altitude (blackouts apply), Fox Sports-Arizona (ARI) | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, FM 92.5 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | AltitudeNow.com, Official app (blackouts apply to all) | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter |

COLORADO-ARIZONA CONNECTIONS

Colorado netminder Hunter Miska was a part of the Coyotes organization from 2017-2019… Arizona's Derick Brassard finished the 2018-19 season with the Avalanche… Arizona head coach Rick Tocchet was an assistant coach for Colorado from 2002-2004.

HISTORY

Colorado sports a 49-31-10 all-time record against the Coyotes (since 1995-96), including a 10-8-2 mark in the last 20 matchups it has hosted the club. Wednesday's meeting is the fourth contest of an eight-game season series between the squads. The Avs visit Arizona for the final time this year for a back-to-back set on March 22-23.
Mikko Rantanen leads the Aavalanche with one goal and four assists when facing the Yotes this campaign. His five points are tied for his most against any opponent so far this season (San Jose Sharks) and his three power-play points are more than he has registered versus any club. In 12 career regular-season meetings against Arizona, Rantanen has tallied four goals and 10 helpers-- equaling Claude Lemieux for the 11th-most points versus the Coyotes in Avalanche history.

ROSTER REPORT

The Avs had an optional skate on Tuesday with Nathan MacKinnon participating in a full-contact jersey. Head coach Jared Bednar said that he expects the forward to return to the lineup on Wednesday. Matt Calvert suited up in Monday's contest after missing six consecutive games with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is likely to start in his second straight matchup.

INJURY UPDATE

Forward J.T. Compher (upper body) and young defensemen Bowen Byram (upper body), Cale Makar (upper body) and Conor Timmins (upper body) are day-to-day with injuries. Pavel Francouz (lower body) and Erik Johnson (upper body) are both out long term with injuries. Dennis Gilbert skated in a red, non-contact jersey and a full face shield in Tuesday's optional practice after missing the past three weeks with an upper-body ailment.

SCOUTING THE COYOTES

On the road, Arizona has been on a tear as of late, winning five straight contests away from home for just the ninth time in team history. The club has tallied seven goals on the man advantage throughout the streak and currently own the fourth-best road power play in the league, converting on 31.0 percent of its opportunities. The Coyotes have outscored their opponents 16-11 over the stretch and has killed 17-of-20 shorthanded chances.
Arizona holds a 12-10-3 record overall, while improving to 5-3-0 on the road. With 27 points, the Coyotes sit in the fifth spot in the West Division, one point behind the Avalanche.

(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: JAKOB CHYCHRUN

Jakob Chychrun has scored a goal in two straight games and leads all defenseman on the Coyotes with seven tallies. His seven markers are the third-most in the NHL by a blueliner, trailing only the Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (nine goals) and Montreal Canadiens' Jeff Petry (nine goals). The defenseman has collected 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 25 contests this season, ranking third on the Arizona roster. All time, Chychrun has compiled 35 goals and 63 assists in 259 games with the Yotes.
In 13 meetings with Colorado, Chychrun has recorded one goal and two assists versus the club, with two of those points coming this season as the defenseman has notched a goal and an assist in three matchups this year.

NUMBERS GAME

7

The Avs sport a 7-2-0 mark in games after a loss this season, outscoring their opposition 34-19 in such contests.

18

The Avalanche has drawn 96 penalties and only taken 78, owning the best net penalties rating in the league with 18 more power-play chances than penalty-kill situations.

30

Colorado has allowed less than 30 shots in 13 consecutive matchups, tying the second-longest streak in franchise history. The squad has held teams under 30 shots in 19 of its 23 meetings this campaign and held the Coyotes to a season-low 14 shots on Monday.

NOTEBOOK

The Avs have started its nine-game homestand with a 1-1-1 record, owning a 6-4-1 mark at Ball Arena overall… Colorado has averaged 32.8 shots on net per game, the third-most in the league… The club has tallied a power-play marker in seven of their last eight contests, improving its man-advantage success rate to 23.6 percent… Samuel Girard has registered a point in two consecutive contests. In 10 games since returning to the lineup on Feb. 20, Girard has produced nine points (three goals, six assists). He ranks first among Avalanche defensemen in scoring with 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) and is tied for third on the team… Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is one assist away from his 50th in his career.