Avalanche Continues Road Trip in Anaheim

Coming off its first regulation loss since March 8 to end its 15-game point streak, the Colorado Avalanche heads to Southern California to begin its final two-game set against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
The Avs (26-9-4) closed out their regular-season series versus the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, falling 8-3. Nathan MacKinnon extended his goal streak to four games and point streak to seven contests (five goals, seven assists) with a goal and an assist--his fifth multi-point outing in his last six matchups. Mikko Rantanen (one goal, one assist) and Cale Makar (two assists) each registered multi-point efforts, while Makar collected a point for the fourth straight game.

Anaheim (12-21-7) defeated the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday by a score of 5-1, snapping its three-game losing streak as five different players found the back of the net. Nicolas Deslauriers and David Backes both finished with a goal and an assist, while Adam Henrique and Max Comtois both tallied their 11th of the season--tied for the team lead. Goaltender John Gibson stopped 34-of-35 for his eight win this campaign.
Friday's contest is the seventh meeting between the clubs this year and the third at Honda Center. It is also the third contests of a four-game road trip for the Avalanche.

Avalanche vs. Anaheim Ducks

Honda Center | Anaheim, Calif.
| Game Time: | 8:00 p.m. MT | | --- | --- | | TV: | Altitude 2, Bally Sports West, KCOP-13 (ANA), Sportsnet (CAN) | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, AM 950 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | AltitudeNow.com, Official app (blackouts apply to all) | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter |

COLORADO-ANAHEIM CONNECTIONS

Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was Colorado's first-round draft choice in 2007 (No. 14 overall) and began his career with the Avalanche in 2010-11… Anaheim forward Danton Heinen played at the University of Denver from 2014-16… Ducks forward Troy Terry was born in Denver and also skated at the University of Denver from 2015-18.

HISTORY

The Avs have faced off against the Ducks six times through its first 39 contests, owning a 4-1-1 mark after taking the last matchup on March 29 by a score of 5-2. Although the club has won four of six, the contests have been tight with three games going beyond 60 minutes. Mikko Rantanen has registered six goals and one assist in six meetings versus the squad, tallying a goal in three consecutive matchups. Rantanen has found the back of the net more times against Anaheim than any other opponent this year. Philipp Grubauer has also been solid in between the pipes when facing the Ducks, sporting a 4-1-0 record, .927 save percentage and 1.70 goals-against average.
All time, Colorado boasts a 46-35-19 mark versus Anaheim with a 3-2-0 record over its last five at Honda Center. This season, the Avs are 1-1-0 when visiting the Ducks and have yet to give up a power-play goal, going eight-for-eight on the kill.

ROSTER REPORT

The club traveled to Anaheim on Thursday and did not practice, so its exact lineup likely will be unknown until after morning skate. Colorado will make a change to its defensemen as Jacob MacDonald was suspended for two games after an illegal check to the head on Wednesday. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is likely to get his fourth straight start in net.

INJURY UPDATE

Bowen Byram (upper body) is day-to-day, while Logan O'Connor (lower body) and Matt Calvert (upper body) are both out week-to-week with ailments. Pavel Francouz (lower body) and Erik Johnson (upper body) are both out long term with injuries.

SCOUTING THE DUCKS

Anaheim holds the eighth spot in the West Division with 31 points (12-21-7), including a 5-12-4 mark at home. The club is currently on a three-game losing streak at home (0-2-1) and has dropped six out of its last seven at Honda Center. On special teams, the Ducks have scored three goals on the man advantage on home ice and own a 74.6 penalty-kill percentage.
Against the Avs this season, Adam Henrique (three goals, five assists) and Rickard Rakell (two goals, four assists) have been the main producers on the offensive end as Henrique has registered at least a point in five of the six contests and Rakell has collected a point in four of five matchups versus Colorado. Henrique's eight points and Rakell's six are the most both players have collected against any opponent so far this campaign.

(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: JAKOB SILFVERBERG

Jakob Silfverberg is in his eighth season with the Ducks and has compiled 135 goals and 151 assists in 550 games with the club. Since joining the organization in 2013-14, the forward ranks third in goals, fourth in points (286) and fifth in both assists and power-play markers (20). When facing the Avs, Silfverberg is tied for the team lead with 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 27 games and ranks first in goals.
This season, Silfverberg has recorded seven goals and seven helpers in 40 games, tied for sixth on the roster. In six meetings with Colorado this campaign, the veteran has collected two goals and one assist.

NUMBERS GAME

2

Colorado has registered 52 goals in the second period, the second-most tallies in the stanza behind the Washington Capitals' 57 markers. Along with scoring 52 goals in the second frame, the club has given up just 27 goals for a plus-25 goals differential--the best in the period in the NHL.

7

Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen have each potted seven power-play goals this season, the most on team. Their seven tallies on the man advantage are tied for the 10th most in the league.

46+25.5

The Avalanche has given up 46 goals against on the road this campaign, the fourth-fewest in the NHL. As well, the club has held its opponents to 25.5 shots per game away from home, the lowest in the league.

NOTEBOOK

Colorado owns a 9-5-2 record on the road, including a 3-1-1 mark in its last five away from home… Kyle Burroughs notched his first career NHL point with an assist on Wednesday… Nathan MacKinnon's 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) rank tied for sixth in the league, while Mikko Rantanen's 46 points (22 goals, 24 assists) are tied for the eighth most in the NHL. The two slot in at first and second, respectively, in scoring on the Avalanche's roster… Andre Burakovsky has registered a point in four of his last five games (four goals, two assists) and has a goal in two straight contests and three out of the last five… The Avs' 56 point this year are tied for the third most and their 26 wins are the fourth most in the league (tied). They are four points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights (52) for the top spot in the West Division… The club's 140 goals this year are the most in the NHL, three more than the Tampa Bay Lightning who have registered 137… The Avalanche's 15-game point streak that came to an end on Wednesday is the best stretch in the NHL this campaign and the second-longest points streak in franchise history.