Avalanche Weekly Update - Dec. 20

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Tuesday, December 20 at Minnesota Wild

Xcel Energy Center, 6 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude 2, Radio: 950 AM
The Avs and the Wild meet for the third of five matchups this season and the second of three in Minnesota. Colorado is 2-0-0 against their Central Division rival this season with a 1-0 win at home on Nov. 5 and a 3-2 road victory on Nov. 19. This is the last tilt between the two teams until April 2 at Minnesota.

Thursday, December 22 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 950 AM
Colorado closes out a two-game season series with the Maple Leafs on Thursday night, just 11 days after beating Toronto on the road 3-1. Semyon Varlamov carried the Avalanche to victory in the first meeting, making 51 saves, the third 50+ save game of his career.

Friday, December 23 at Chicago Blackhawks

United Center, 6:30 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 950 AM
The Avalanche plays the second half of a back-to-back on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. It's the fifth back-to-back set for the Avs this season and their final game before the holiday break. Colorado is 2-2-0 in the first game of a back-to-back this year and 2-2-0 in the second. This will be the second of five games against the Blackhawks. Colorado lost 4-0 in Chicago on Nov. 3.

Community Highlights

The Avs Better Halves hosted their annual Holiday Tree Auction at Friday's game against the Florida Panthers. Each tree was individually decorated by the Avs Better Halves and featured a different theme. The auction raised $23,000 with proceeds benefitting the community programs of the Avs Better Halves.

Prospect Spotlight

AJ Greer had a five-point weekend, as the San Antonio Rampage earned three of a possible four points in a weekend back-to-back set against the Tucson Roadrunners. Greer registered two goals and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss to Tucson on Friday night, and he helped the Rampage to a 4-2 victory in the second game of the weekend, recording a goal and an assist.
JT Compher returned after missing 14 games with an injury and also recorded a goal and an assist in the win. It was his first appearance since Nov. 9.

Quotable

"I was proud of him. I thought especially the second half of the first period when we had our breakdowns there, he was big in goal for us. The chances we gave up, I don't know how many there were, but we gave up too many good ones, and he came up big on a lot of them." - Head coach Jared Bednar on Calvin Pickard's performance in his first NHL start in his hometown of Winnipeg

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