Colorado and Vegas Open Round 2 at Ball Arena

After completing a four-game sweep versus the St. Louis Blues in Round 1, the Colorado Avalanche continues its quest for the Stanley Cup when facing off in Game 1 of its second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday at Ball Arena. Colorado defeated the Blues 5-2 in Game 4 a week ago, while Vegas won 6-2 in a win-or-go-home Game 7 versus the Minnesota Wild on Friday.
For the Avs, eight different players found the scoresheet in the their latest victory against the Blues, as Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon all finished with a goal and an assist to round out their first-round meeting.

The Golden Knights closed out their series two days ago behind Mattias Janmark's first career NHL hat trick and two-assist nights from Nicolas Roy, Chandler Stephenson and Shea Theodore.
Sunday's meeting marks the first postseason series between the Avalanche and Golden Knights in each of the franchise's histories. The Avs are well-rested following a week break after seeing their last game action on May 23, while Vegas played three games in that span and will look to take its momentum from Game 7 on Friday into the opening contest of this best-of-seven set.

Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Ball Arena | Denver, Colo.
| Game Time: | 6:00 p.m. MT | | --- | --- | | TV: | NBC, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, FM 92.5 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | NHL.tv, Official app, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app (blackouts apply) | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter |

COLORADO-VEGAS CONNECTIONS

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare played two seasons with Vegas after the team selected him in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft… Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden played three seasons with Colorado from 2013-2016.

HISTORY

The two top teams in the NHL during the regular season will square off for the first time in the postseason in a marquee matchup that almost seemed like destiny. Colorado and Vegas finished the 56-game schedule tied at the peak of the NHL standings with 82 points apiece, but the Avs won the eight-game season series with a 4-3-1 mark and clinched the Presidents' Trophy due to owning more regulation victories in the campaign (35-30). The squads began the regular-season series against each other with four games in a row from Feb. 14-22, including a matchup at the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe on Feb. 20 (Avs won 3-2), and the teams split that set with both skating away with a 2-2-0 record. The Avalanche proceeded to go 2-1-1 over the final four matchups and rounded out the series with a crucial 2-1 victory at T-Mobile Arena on May 10, one of five contests in the set to be decided by one goal.
Nathan MacKinnon (two goals, four assists) and Devon Toews (three goals, two assists) led the way offensively for Colorado when facing Vegas, while J.T. Compher potted two game-winning markers throughout the eight matchups--his only game-winners this year. Toews found the back of the net in three of the eight contests to lead the squad in tallies versus the Golden Knights and tied for the most tucks he had against any opponent during the season (also Los Angeles). Philipp Grubauer earned the most victories by a goalkeeper when facing the Golden Knights, recording a 4-2-1 mark, .935 save percentage and 1.86 goals-against average in seven starts.

ROSTER REPORT

The Avalanche held three full-team practices over its week break in between games, with two of those coming on Friday and Saturday. The club is expected to use the same lineup as it did in Game 4 of its first-round series, but head coach Jared Bednar said that rookies Sampo Ranta and Bowen Byram could be options to make their respective NHL postseason debuts in Round 2.

INJURY UPDATE

• Matt Calvert (upper body): Out long term after having surgery
• Pavel Francouz (lower body): Expected to return fully healthy next season after having surgery earlier this year
• Erik Johnson (upper body): Remains out long term but has been doing off-ice rehab work
• Logan O'Connor (lower body): Could return in the postseason as he is ahead of schedule in his recovery after having surgery, according to Jared Bednar

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Golden Knights will be seen in the second round of the postseason for the second straight season and third time in franchise history. The squad jumped out to an early 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Wild in Round 1 but couldn't close out the set until Game 7, the third consecutive postseason Vegas had been pushed to a decisive-final contest after owning a 3-1 lead in a series. Vegas' defense played a major role in its first-round victory, as the club ranks third in goals against per game (1.86) and tied for sixth on the penalty kill (81.8) during these Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Golden Knights have given up just two power-play goals in the postseason and allowed just one goal in two contests versus the Wild while also posting a shutout in Game 4.
When squaring off against the Avalanche this season, Vegas' man-down unit has been dominant, going 20-for-21 (95.2 percent) in the eight-game set. On the other hand, the team's power play will look to improve after converting on just 16.7 percent of its opportunities versus Colorado, tallying four markers on 24 man-advantage chances. Overall, the Golden Knights handed the Avs their only two shutouts this season and allowed 2.13 goals against per game in the season series while finding the back of the net 2.25 times per contest.

(AVS) PLAYER TO WATCH: GABRIEL LANDESKOG

Gabriel Landeskog enters the second-round bout on fire, as the captain has registered three multi-point efforts and at least a point in each of the four contests in the postseason. Landeskog has tallied two goals and six assists in the playoffs so far, ranking second on the Avs in scoring and tied for fifth overall in the NHL. Landeskog also collected a "Gordie Howe" hat trick (goal, assist and fight) in Game 1 of the opening round to become the first Avalanche player to accomplish the feat since Mike Ricci did so on April 16, 1997 versus the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at McNichols Arena.
Landeskog has tallied 14 goals and 26 assists in 43 postseason matchups, owning the 13th-most points (40, tied) in Avalanche history (since 1995-96). The 28-year-old has averaged 0.93 points per game in his playoff career, which ranks 10th in team history and 14th on the franchise's scoring list.

(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: MATTIAS JANMARK

Mattias Janmark, who was acquired by the Golden Knights in a three-team trade with the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks on April 12, has been the club's leading producer on the offensive end in the postseason, tallying three goals and three assists thus far. His six points pace the club, while his three goals rank tied for second and three assists are tied for third. In the postseason, Janmark's production has come at the most critical times as well, as the forward notched his first career hat trick in Game 7 of the first round, becoming just the second player in Golden Knights history to score three times in a playoff contest.
The Danderyd, Sweden, native is no stranger to the bright lights of the playoffs, as the skater appeared in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final with the Dallas Stars and is in his fourth postseason run. Janmark has compiled seven goals and 15 assists in 52 career playoff contests with Vegas and Dallas, which includes collecting one game-winning goal.

NUMBERS GAME

4

Mikko Rantanen has recorded a point in each of the team's first four games to begin a postseason in consecutive years (also first four games in 2020). The only other players in franchise history to accomplish the feat are Joe Sakic (1996 and 1997), Peter Forsberg (1998 and 1999) and Peter Stastny (1984 and 1985). The forward tallied one goal and six assists in the first round for the third-most points (seven) on the club.

11+19

Colorado has won 11 straight contests at Ball Arena--dating back to March 29--and has not fallen in regulation in 19 consecutive matchups on home ice, going 18-0-1 over the stretch.

10,500

For Game 1, the Avalanche will be able to host 10,500 fans for the first time this year, an increase from the maximum of 7,750 fans that were been in attendance at Ball Arena in the first round. The 10,500 members of Avs faithful will make up 57.3 percent of the overall venue capacity.

NOTEBOOK

The Avalanche enters the second round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive campaign. The club has lost in Game 7 in each of the previous two Round 2 series but looks to turn the tides this time around… Colorado is coming off completing its third sweep in a best-of-seven series in franchise history and first since the 2001 Western Conference Quarterfinals versus the Vancouver Canucks… The Avalanche holds a 2-1-1 mark when hosting Vegas this season and a 5-1-1 record all time at Ball Arena… The Avs outscored the Blues 20-7 in Round 1 and lead the NHL with a plus-13 goal differential. The club has won each of its four matchups by three or more goals, the first NHL team to win their first four playoff games by that margin since the New York Rangers did it in 1994.… Colorado's top line has combined for 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in the postseason, and MacKinnon (six goals, three assists), Gabriel Landeskog (two goals, six assists) and Rantanen (one goal, six assists) rank third (tied), fifth (tied) and 10th (tied), respectively, among all skaters in the postseason… Colorado's man-advantage unit is converting at a 50-percent clip (6-for-12) so far in the postseason, the best power-play percentage in the NHL. The squad has gone 100 percent on the power play in two different contests, including going 3-for-3 in its last matchup… Rantanen is currently on a 14-game playoff point streak, dating back to Game 3 of the 2020 first round. He has collected seven goals and 16 assists in that span.