Avalanche Closes Trip in Tampa

The Colorado Avalanche finishes out its first road trip of the 2021-22 season against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday.
It is the final game of the Avs three-game road trip before they head home to take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Colorado started the trip by falling to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday and the Florida Panthers on Thursday. Against Florida, Mikko Rantanen scored a goal and Nathan MacKinnon tallied an assist.
The Avalanche and Lightning have not matched up since Feb. 17, 2020, when the Lightning secured a 4-3 overtime victory. The two teams will meet again on Dec. 18 for the last matchup of the season at Ball Arena.

Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning

Amalie Arena | Tampa, Fla.
| Game Time: | 5 p.m. | | --- | --- | | TV: | Altitude, Bally Sports-Sun (TBL) - blackouts apply | | Radio: | Altitude Sports Radio, FM 92.5/AM 950 (KKSE) | | Live Streams: | AltitudeNow.com, Official app, ESPN+- blackouts apply | | Online Audio: | Listen Live Here | | Follow: | @Avalanche, Official app, Gamecenter |

COLORADO-TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS

Left wing Pierre Edouard-Bellemare played two seasons with Colorado (2019-20 & 2020-21) before signing with the Lightning as a free agent... Tampa goaltender Brian Elliott was with Colorado in 2010-11… Lightning defenseman Cal Foote was born in Denver while his dad Adam was playing for the Avs. Adam won two Stanley Cups with Colorado and had his #52 jersey retired by the franchise… Avalanche assistant coach Nolan Pratt played five seasons with the Lightning, winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2004.

HISTORY

Colorado has posted a 23-18-6 record all-time against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The most recent meeting between the clubs occurred on Feb. 17, 2020, nearly a year and a half ago.

ROSTER REPORT

After Jonas Johansson was between the pipes on Thursday in Florida, goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start against the Lightning.

INJURY REPORT

Valeri Nichushkin is out on a week-to-week basis with an upper-body injury. Goaltender Pavel Francouz remains sidelined for three-to-four weeks after suffering a lower-body injury in a preseason contest on Oct. 5. Blueliner Devon Toews (upper body) continues as a non-contact participant at practice and is on Colorado's three-game road trip. Stefan Matteau will be out for "weeks" with a lower-body injury he suffered against the St. Louis Blues.

SCOUTING THE LIGHTNING

The Lightning sit at a 2-2-0 record through the first four games of the year. Both wins have come in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings and Capitals while the team has fallen to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Panthers.
Last season, the Lightning maintained a 36-17-3 regular-season record and eventually won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year.

(OPPOSING) PLAYER TO WATCH: Steven Stamkos

Steven Stamkos is the leading scorer on the Lightning roster, with three goals and four assists in four games. His seven points so far this year are tied for the seventh most on the league. Stamkos began the year on a three-game, multi-point streak but failed to find the scoresheet in Tampa's most recent outing. He is one point away from matching Vincent Lecavalier for second place among Tampa Bay's all-time scoring leaders.

NUMBERS GAME

+9

Nathan MacKinnon is a plus-9 through 14 games in his career against the Lightning, tied for the second best plus/minus rating among all Avalanche skaters against Tampa.

23

The Avs have not played on Oct. 23 since the 2010-11 season.

400

Ryan Murray is expected to appear in his 400th NHL game. He began his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets and played 48 games with the New Jersey Devils last year before signing as a free agent with the Avs on August 2.

NOTEBOOK

Mikko Rantanen has a point in all four games so far this season, including goals in each of the last two contests ... He shares the team scoring lead with four points (two goals, two assists)… J.T. Compher is tied for first on the Avalanche in both goals (two) and points (four) through four games… Nathan MacKinnon has 20 career points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 14 games againstt the Lightning, the second most among all Colorado skaters, trailing only Joe Sakic (32).