Avalanche Weekly Update - April 4

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RANTANEN TAKES TEAM LEAD:Mikko Rantanen scored his 18th goal of the season at Minnesota on Sunday, taking over the team lead in goals in 2016-17. His 36 points on the season rank third on the Avalanche.

Upcoming Games

Tuesday, April 4 vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude 2, Radio: 92.5 The Wolf
The Avalanche and the Blackhawks meet for the fifth and final time this season, and the second matchup between the Central-Division foes at Pepsi Center. The Blackhawks lead the division with 107 points and are 3-1-0 against Colorado this season.

Thursday, April 6 vs. Minnesota Wild

Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 950 AM
Colorado plays its last home game of the 2016-17 campaign on Thursday, closing out a five-game season series against Minnesota, the second tilt between the division rivals at Pepsi Center and the first since Nov. 5. Minnesota won the last meeting 5-2 on Sunday to even the season series at two games apiece.

Saturday, April 8 at Dallas Stars

American Airlines Center, 6 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 950 AM
The Avalanche continues a six-game Central-Division stretch against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, the first game of a back-to-back set that will close out the 2016-17 campaign. Colorado is 1-3-0 against the Stars this season.

Sunday, April 9 at St. Louis Blues

Scottrade Center, 4 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude 2, Radio: 92.5 The Wolf
The Avalanche closes out the 2016-17 campaign at the St. Louis Blues, the fourth time these Central-Division opponents will have faced each other since March 5 and the second in 10 days. Colorado won 2-1 in a shootout on March 31.

Avs In The Community

Last week, J.T. Compher joined 60 sixth graders at Rocky Heights Middle School for a Future Goals Hockey Scholar demonstration. Future Goals is an NHL program that takes students on an educational journey, helping concepts learned in school come to life through real hockey examples and demonstrations.

Prospect Update

University of Denver captain Will Butcherwas named one of three Hobey Hat Trick finalists for the 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He is the first defenseman to be named a finalist since Hobey winner Matt Gilroy in 2009. Butcher, 22, has helped lead the Pioneers to the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four, where they will meet Notre Dame on April 6 at United Center. Colorado's fifth-round pick (123rd overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, Butcher ranks second in the nation in scoring by a defenseman with 36 points (7g/29a) in 41 games.
Cam Morrison (Notre Dame) will also compete in the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four. Morrison, 18, scored two goals for the Fighting Irish in their 3-2 overtime victory over UMass Lowell in the Northeast Regional final. A second-round pick (40th overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft, the left winger has 23 points (11g/12a) in 39 games during his freshman campaign.

Quotable

"It was awesome. It was nice to get that win too, in the shootout. It was a great game, and it was everything that I expected. It was a pretty surreal experience. It was great to come up with these guys and get used to everything and also to have my family in the crowd, too. It was everything I dreamed of, even more." - Avalanche center Tyson Jost on making his NHL debut on March 31 against the St. Louis Blues

More Links

• Standings

• Player Statistics

• Practice Schedule via @AvsPR