Game Preview: Avalanche vs Blues

COLORADO AVALANCHE (55-18-6) VS ST. LOUIS BLUES (49-20-11)
7:30 PM MT | BALL ARENA WATCH: ESPN +LISTEN: 92.5 AM
The Avalanche squad is returning back home tonight coming off of a three-game road trip. Colorado and the St. Louis Blues will face off at Ball Arena at 7:30 p.m. MT for the last time this season.

Colorado also begins its final games of the season this week, with the last home game on Thursday versus Nashville at 7:00 p.m. MT. The club will finish the regular season with a back-to-back set following Thursday in Minnesota on Friday night.
Following this week, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin on May 2, where Colorado has secured the home-ice advantage.

COLORADO-ST. LOUIS

Avalanche defenseman
Erik Johnson
was drafted No. 1 overall by St. Louis and played for the Blues from 2007-2011… Avs assistant coach Ray Bennett spent 10 seasons on the Blues' coaching staff (2007-2017)… Jared Bednar was the head coach of St. Louis' then-American Hockey League affiliate in Peoria for two seasons (2010-2012)... Blues center Ryan O'Reilly was the Avs' second-round selection (No. 33 overall) in 2009 and began his career in Colorado… Tyler Bozak skated at the University of Denver for two years (2007-2009)… Blues assistant coach Jim Montgomery spent five seasons as the University of Denver head coach (2013-2018).

HISTORY

The Avs own a 68-66-18 record over the Blues. Colorado and St. Louis faced off eight times in 2020-21 and the Avalanche finished with a 5-3-0 mark in the season series before sweeping the Blues in four games in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The two teams continue their division rivalry this season with both clubs moving back to the Central Division.

ROSTER REPORT

Mikko Rantanen has missed the last three games due to a non-COVID illness.
AVALANCHE VS BLUES
AVALANCHE ARTICLES
Game Recap: Avalanche Fall 4-1 to Winnipeg
Jack Johnson Nominated for Bill Masterton Trophy
Valeri Nichushkin's Impact
GAME EXTRAS
Avalanche 360
Avalanche Tickets

SCOUTING THE BLUES

St. Louis is currently on a 16-game point streak (14-0-2), extending the overall franchise record, and 10 game point streak while on the road (9-0-1). The Blues are 49-20-11 for 109 points and sit in third place in the Central Division.

NUMBERS GAME

17
J.T. Compher notched his 17th goal of the season, establishing a new career-high. He surpassed his previous best set during the 2018-19 campaign.
17
Erik Johnson recorded his 17th assist of the season, his most in a campaign since registering 18 helpers in 2018-19.
113
The Avs have scored 113 goals in the third period this season, a league-best and the club's most since Quebec had 124 in 1992-93.

NOTEBOOK

The Avs wrapped up their four-game season series against the Jets, finishing 3-1-0 against Winnipeg… Jack Johnson is the 2022 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee, as selected by the Colorado chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA)...