Game Preview: Avalanche at Nashville

COLORADO AVALANCHE (11-6-1) VS NASHVILLE PREDATORS (9-9-2)
12 PM MT | BRIDGESTONE ARENAWATCH:ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche enter Friday afternoon's contest with a record of 11-6-1, while the Nashville Predators are 9-9-2. Puck drop is at noon MT inside of Bridgestone Arena.

LAST TIME OUT

Colorado dropped their last game against the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. Right winger Mikko Rantanen found the back of the net twice, both in the first period, including once on the power play. Defenseman Cale Makar also scored on the power play. Goaltender Pavel Francouz drew the start and stopped 21 of 25 shots he faced.
Nashville enters Friday's contest coming off a 3-0 shutout loss at Detroit on Wednesday night. Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves on 28 shots in the loss.

HISTORY

Colorado has historically struggled against Nashville. In 88 meetings, the Avs are just 36-38-14. The divisional foes have faced off twice in the postseason, most recently with the Avalanche sweeping the Predators in the first round of the 2022 playoffs.
AVALANCHE VS PREDATORS
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From the Ivy League to the Big Leagues
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GAME EXTRAS
Avalanche 360
Avalanche Tickets

CONNECTIONS

Center Matt Duchene played for the Avalanche from 2009 to the beginning of the 2017 season, appearing in 586 games. Duchene would total 178 goals and 250 assists during that span. Duchene still holds multiple franchise records. His 178 goals and 29 game-winning goals are both ninth all time in franchise history.
Nashville assistant coach Dan Hinote was originally selected in the seventh round of the 1996 NHL Draft (167th overall) by the Avs. Hinote would play for the Avalanche from 1999-2007, compiling 27 goals and 38 assists in 353 outings.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is sidelined for at least 12 weeks after undergoing surgery. Veteran center Darren Helm is still sidelined after undergoing offseason surgery but has been skating. There is no timetable for his return. Forward Valeri Nichushkin is out at least a month after undergoing surgery. Defensemen Bowen Byram and Samuel Girard are out with undisclosed injuries. Center Shane Bowers made his NHL debut on November 10 but suffered an upper body injury in less than two minutes of ice time. Kurtis MacDermid suffered a lower body injury November 12 and is out four to six weeks. Forward Evan Rodrigues suffered a lower-body injury in the first period against Vancouver and did not return, there is no update on his status or timeline.
Defenseman Mark Borowiecki was placed on IR on Halloween after being stretchered off in Nashville's game against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 22. There is no timetable for his return.

DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon leads all Avalanche skaters with 27 career points (10G/17A) against Nashville in 29 games
played. Fellow center Gabriel Landeskog is second with 18 points (12G/6A) in 31 games played.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Captain Roman Josi leads the team in career points against Colorado with 39 (14G/25A) in 39 career appearances. Left winger Filip Forsberg is second with 33 points (16G/17A) in 30 games played.

NUMBERS GAME

178
With Rantanen's two goals on Wednesday, the forward moved into a tie with Matt Duchene for ninth place on the franchise's all-time goals list and tied with Duchene for sixth since the team moved to Denver.
7:02
Right winger Oskar Olausson made his NHL debut Wednesday night, recording seven minutes and two seconds of ice time.
21
With Cale Makar's third-period goal on Wednesday he moved into a tie with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for third place for points among defensemen (21 - 6G/15A).

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"It shuffles the lines a little bit, which can throw off some chemistry. For the most part, we're professionals. Guys can fill spots and that's part of stepping into the lineup." - Defenseman Josh Manson on the Avs' injuries