ARIZONA

COLORADO AVALANCHE (35-22-6) VS ARIZONA COYOTES (23-32-10)
4 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH: ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche are taking on the Arizona Coyotes in a Central Division matchup. Saturday's game is the second of four matchups between the two teams, with the next one also at Ball Arena on March 24th at 7 p.m. MT and the regular-season finale at 1 p.m. MT at Mullett Arena.


LAST TIME OUT

The Avalanche fell to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night by a score of 5-2. Centers Nathan MacKinnon and Evan Rodrigues each scored for the Avs. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev turned away 26 of the 30 shots that came his way.
The Coyotes defeated the Nashville Predators Thursday night 4-1 in their second-straight Central Division matchup (also defeated the St. Louis Blues 6-2 on Tuesday). Centers Barrett Hayton, Jack McBain, Nick Schmaltz and forward Brett Ritchie all found the back of the net for Arizona. Goalie Ivan Prosvetov stopped 39 of the 40 shots he faced in his first game this season.


HISTORY

Colorado is 72-53-20 all-time against Arizona, including a 55-33-12 mark since the franchise relocated to Denver. In the first meeting this season the Coyotes got the better of the Avs 6-3 at Mullett Arena.


SCOUTING THE COYOTES

Forward Clayton Keller is the team's leader in both goals (26) and assists (39) in 65 appearances. Center Nick Schmaltz is second on the team in points with 46 (21g/25a) in just 49 games played.


LINEUP UPDATES
Avalanche

Pavel Francouz Lower body
Darren HelmLower body
Erik Johnson Lower body
Gabriel LandeskogLower body
Josh MansonLower body

Coyotes

Andrew LaddLower body
Jakub VoracekUpper body
Shea WeberLower body


DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado in career points against Arizona, with 30 (8g/22a) in 29 outings. Forward Mikko Rantanen is second with 28 (14g/14a) in 22 games played.


BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Forward Clayton Keller paces the Coyotes with 15 points (3g/12a) in 21 appearances against the Avalanche. Forward Lawson Crouse is second on the team with 10 (4g/6a) in 21 contests.


STATS FOR KEEPS

Name | GP | GS | Record (W-L-OT) | GAA
Colorado
Pavel Francouz | 15 | 15 | 7-7-1 | 2.53
Alexandar Georgiev | 46 | 46 | 27-14-5 | 2.64
Jonas Johansson | 1 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0.00
Keith Kincaid | 1 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 2.15
Arizona
Connor Ingram | 23 | 22 | 5-13-5 | 3.41
Karel Vejmelka | 43 | 42 | 17-19-5 | 3.36


NUMBERS GAME
8

With Nathan MacKinnon's goal on Thursday, he extended his home goal streak to eight games, matching the franchise record set by Michel Goulet from 11/26/83-1/3/84 and equaled by Joe Sakic from 1/26/01-3/3/01.

15

MacKinnon also has recorded a point in 15 consecutive home contests, the second-longest home point streak since the franchise relocated to Denver, trailing only Sakic's 23-game run to end the 2000-01 season.

1.48

MacKinnon now has a 1.48 point-per-game average, which is the third-best mark in the league, trailing only Edmonton Oilers teammates Connor McDavid (1.88) and Leon Draisaitl (1.52).


QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"For us right now, it's focusing on those habits and bringing them every single night regardless of our opponent." - Defenseman Cale Makar on Thursday's loss