Game Preview: Avalanche at Predators

COLORADO AVALANCHE (18-11-2) VS NASHVILLE PREDATORS (14-13-4)
6 PM MT | BRIDGESTONE ARENAWATCH: ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche are playing the Nashville Predators for the third of four meetings this season. The final meeting will also take place in Nashville on April 14th.

LAST TIME OUT

The Avalanche defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in the last game of their five-game homestand Wednesday. Former Canadien Artturi Lehkonen scored against his former game to tie the game 1-1 in the third period before forward Mikko Rantanen buried the game winner in overtime. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced.
The Predators took down the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2, also this past Wednesday night. Four different Predators found the back of the net - Nino Niederreiter, former Av Matt Duchene, Roman Josi and Thomas Novak. Goalie Juuse Saros turned away 37 of the 39 shots that came his way.

HISTORY

After last Saturday's 3-1 victory against the Predators, Colorado now owns a 38-38-14 record against Nashville, including a 22-19-6 record at home.

SCOUTING THE PREDATORS

There is a three-way tie for first place in points on the team - forwards Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg and defenseman Roman Josi all have 25 points through 31 games played. Duchene and Forsberg each have nine goals and 16 assists, while Josi has seven goals and 18 assists. Josi recorded a goal and assist on Wednesday to become the Predators' all-time leading scorer, passing David Legwand. Josi became the franchise's all-time leading scorer in 791 games (567 points - 147G/420A) whereas Legwand had 566 (210G/356A) in 956 games.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnonUpper body
Gabriel Landeskog Lower body
Darren Helm Lower body
Bowen ByramLower body
Shane BowersUpper body
Predators
Mark BorowieckiUpper body

DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon is Colorado's active leader in career points against the Preds, with 29 points (10G/19A) in 30 appearances. Right winger Mikko Rantanten is second with 19 points (nine goals and 10 assists) in 19 games played.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Predators captain Roman Josi remains the franchise's active leader in career points against the Avs, with 39 points (14G/25A) in 40 games played. Left winger Filip Forsberg is second with 33 points (16G/17A) in 31 contests.

NUMBERS GAME

209

Cale Makar recorded an assist on Wednesday for his 209th career point, passing Rob Blake (208) to take over sixth place on the franchise list for scoring by a defensemen.

18

Rantanen's game-winning tally was his 18th even-strength goal of the season, tied with Jason Robertson for the most by a player in 2022-23.

16:21

Denis Malgin made his Avalanche debut after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade on Dec. 19 and recorded three shots and three hits in a season-high 16:21 of ice time, his most in a game since Feb. 1, 2019 vs. Nashville (17:08).

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"I feel like he's playing really well for us. I know it's not easy for a goalie if there's not a lot of shots, but he's been aggressive in the net and making big saves when the time comes." - Left wing Artturi Lehkonen on goalie Alexandar Georgiev's play