Avalanche Continues Homestand against Lightning

The Colorado Avalanche takes its homestand back to Denver to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday at Pepsi Center
The contest comes two days after the Avs fell 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2020 Stadium Series game at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Samuel Girard tied the contest late in the second period, energizing the crowd of nearly 44,000 at Falcon Stadium, but Colorado couldn't convert on its other 32 shots in the natural elements.
The Avalanche is 1-2-0 so far on this homestay and 8-3-0 in its last 11 games and has picked up at least a point in 10 of its last 13 contests (8-3-2).
Tampa Bay won its 10th straight on Saturday with a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, as Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos each had two points while Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves.

It is the second matchup of the year between the Avs and Lightning. Colorado won the first meeting 6-2 on Oct. 19 after Tyson Jost tallied his first career hat trick.

Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Pepsi Center | Denver, Colo.
| Game Time: | 7 p.m. | | --- | --- | | TV: | Altitude, Fox Sports-Sun (TBL), Sportsnet, TVA Sports | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, FM 92.5/AM 950 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | NHL.tv, AltitudeNow.com, ESPN+, Official App | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter | | Get Tickets | Altitude Tickets Account Manager | Pepsi Center | Parking |

COLORADO-TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS

Mark Barberio was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2008 (sixth round, No. 152 overall) and played his first two seasons with the Lightning from 2013-15… Avalanche assistant coach Nolan Pratt played five seasons with the Lightning, winning a Stanley Cup in 2004 … Lightning 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… Cameron Gaunce was also drafted by the Avalanche (second round, 50th overall in 2008) and made his debut with Colorado in 2010-11… Lightning goalie Curtis McElhinney played at Colorado College (2001-05).

HISTORY

The Avs beat the Lightning 6-2 on the road in the teams' last meeting, on Oct. 19, as Tyson Jost recorded his first career hat trick to propel Colorado to a 4-1 lead at the end of the second period. Colin Wilson added three assists and 10 Avalanche players tallied at least a point in the dominant outing.
Since 1995-96, Colorado owns an 18-13-5 mark against Tampa Bay. Joe Sakic had a five-point game (one goal, four assists) in an 8-1 win over Tampa Bay in November 1998. Then Gabriel Landeskog recorded five points (three goals, two assists) in a 6-5 loss to the Lightning, on Dec. 16, 2017, becoming the first player since 2009 to record five points in a losing effort.

ROSTER REPORT

The Avs recalled goaltender Hunter Miska from the Colorado Eagles on Sunday.

INJURY REPORT

Philipp Grubauer left Saturday's contest in the third period with a lower-body injury after colliding with Ian Cole near the net. Head coach Jared Bednar did not have an update on his status postgame.

SCOUTING THE LIGHTNING

The Lightning (39-15-5) has won 10 straight games and owns a 22-2-1 record since Dec. 23, earning at least 10 points more than any other team in that span. Anchoring that effort has been goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has not lost a game in regulation since Dec. 14. He boasts a 19-0-2 record in his last 21 starts with a .934-save percentage and a 1.98 goals-against average.
Offensively, Tampa Bay has scored 209 goals this year, the second most in the NHL, as reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov leads the way with 72 points (28 goals, 44 assists). And while the Bolts have struggled to convert on the power play in their last 25 games--scoring on just 15.2 percent of chances--Tampa Bay has fended off 87.3 percent of shorthanded situations during that stretch (69 of 79).
The Lightning acquired forward Blake Coleman from the New Jersey Devils on Sunday in exchange for Nolan Foote, who was born in Denver, Colorado, and Vancouver's first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired by Tampa Bay). Coleman is not expected to play as it is anticipated that he will join the Bolts in Las Vegas after the outing in Colorado.

(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Brayden Point

Brayden Point is on a 10-game point streak, coinciding with his team's winning streak, and is fourth in the NHL in points since Jan. 1 with 24 (six goals, 18 assists).
Point has four points (two goals, two assists) in seven career games against the Avalanche and was held off the scoresheet in the last meeting.

NUMBERS GAME

41

Colorado has allowed just 41 goals since the new year, the fourth-fewest in the NHL in that span.

81

Samuel Girard scored the Avs' 81st second-period goal on Saturday, the most goals for any team in one period this year.

150

Mikko Rantanen recorded his 150th career assist on Saturday, hitting the mark in 280 games. Rantanen is also one goal away from number 100.

NOTEBOOK

Monday will be the second meeting between the Avalanche and Lightning; Colorado won the first game 6-2 in Tampa on Oct. 19… The Avs are 16-6-3 against Eastern Conference teams…In addition to scoring an NHL-high 81 goals in the second period, Colorado has surrendered just 46 in the second frame, tied with Boston for the fewest.