Avs Take On Maple Leafs In First Game Of Road Trip

The Colorado Avalanche, who has won its last nine, looks to bring its recent success with them on the road as they open up a two-week road trip through Canada on Monday at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The matchup will be the second and final time of the 2017-18 season that the two clubs meet and the only time in Toronto this season.
The Avs are 40-29-10 all-time against the Leafs, including a 20-17-5 record on Toronto ice.

Last Time Out

The Avalanche closed out its three-game homestand with a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday in a matinee matchup. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Erik Johnson each recorded a goal and added an assist to help the Avs to victory. Jonathan Bernier turned out yet another solid performance between the pipes for Colorado, making 27 saves and posting a .964 save percentage to extend his win streak to a career-high eight games.
The Maple Leafs snapped a four-game losing skid on Saturday against rival the Ottawa Senators. After falling behind 3-1 through two frames, a three-goal third period propelled the Leafs to victory. Zach Hyman and Auston Matthews each recorded a goal and an assist and Mitch Marner and Connor Carrick added tallies of their own in the win. Jake Gardiner had three helpers and Frederik Andersen made 15 stops for the Maple Leafs in the comeback win.

Last Time They Met

Colorado took a 4-3 victory in overtime on Dec. 29 at Pepsi Center, the first win of their current nine-game win streak. Nathan MacKinnon had a three-point night (one goal, two assists) and J.T. Compher scored the overtime winner. The Avs also received goals from Mikko Rantanen and Alexander Kerfoot. Nikita Zadorov had a two assist night and Semyon Varlamov put aside 31 shots in the win. Toronto defenseman Roman Polak recorded a goal and a helper and former-Av Calvin Pickard made 24 stops in his return to Pepsi Center.

What to Watch

Going For Double Digits
Colorado's current nine-game win streak is the longest of any team in the NHL this season and matches the second-longest stretch in Avs franchise history, when Colorado had nine from Oct. 10 to 28, 2000. The Avalanche franchise record for consecutive wins is 12 which the team achieved Jan. 10 to Feb. 7, 1999.
Never Trailing
The Avs have yet to trail their opponent during their current nine-game win streak, the longest stretch of consecutive wins without trailing in Nordiques/Avalanche franchise history. Colorado has outscored its opponents 37-14 in its last nine contests.
Mack Attack
Nathan MacKinnon has found the scoresheet in nine straight outings, the longest active streak in the NHL. MacKinnon is also on a five-game goal streak and has a total of 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) during his nine-game point streak. MacKinnon recorded a goal and an assist in Saturday's victory over the Rangers, his 18th multi-point game of the season, the most by an Av since Matt Duchene had 21 in 2013-14. MacKinnon's 59 points on the season has him sitting second in league scoring, two points behind the leader.

Player to Watch

Colorado: Goaltender Jonathan Bernier
Jonathan Bernier has posted a 4-0-0 record with a .957 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average since the Avs returned from their league-mandated bye week on Jan. 13. Bernier has won his last eight consecutive starts, a career-high, putting up an impressive 1.46 goals-against average with a .958 save percentage and has only allowed 11 goals in the stretch. Bernier has only started one game against the Leafs in his career, a team he played for from 2013-16, winning his only start and posting a 2.00 goals-against average and .949 save percentage in that game.
Toronto: Center Patrick Marleau
In his last five season, Patrick Marleau has put up 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 13 games against Colorado. Earlier this season, Marleau picked up an assist in the 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche. In the 2016-17 season, Marleau recorded a natural hat trick and added another, scoring four goals in one period. However, he has been held off the scoresheet since New Year's Eve against the Vegas Golden Knights (one goal).
The Details
Tuesday's game between the Avalanche and Maple Leafs is set to begin at 5 p.m. MT. The game can be watched on Altitude 2 and the radio broadcast can be heard on Altitude Sports Radio AM 950 or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com.