Game Preview: Avalanche vs Golden Knights

COLORADO AVALANCHE (19-13-3) VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (25-12-2)
7 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH:ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights for the second time this season. Colorado won the first matchup 3-2 in Vegas, with the final two matchups at Ball Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. MT.

LAST TIME OUT

The Avalanche were bested by the Toronto Maple Leafs on New Year's Eve 6-2. Center J.T. Compher and defenseman Devon Toews both scored for the Avs, while center Nathan MacKinnon made his return to the lineup after missing the past 11 contests with an upper-body injury. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev turned away 19 of the 24 shots that came his way. Goalie Jonas Johansson made his season debut in relief of fellow goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, recording seven saves.
Vegas defeated the Nasvhille Predators 5-4 in overtime, with defenseman Nicolas Hague netting the game-winner. Centers Chandler Stephenson and Michael Amadio and forwards Keegan Kolesar and Reilly Smith also scored for the Golden Knights. Goalie Logan Thompson stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced.

HISTORY

The Avs are 12-7-1 against the Knights all time, including a 5-2-1 record at home.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

The Golden Knights' leader in points is center Chandler Stephenson, with 39. Stephenson is also the team's leader in assists with 29. Forward Reilly Smith paces the team with 18 goals.

LINEUP UPDATES:

Avalanche
Bowen ByramUnknown
Shane BowersUpper body
Pavel FrancouzLower body
Darren Helm Lower body
Martin KautUpper body
Gabriel Landeskog Lower body
Josh MansonLower body
Valeri NichushkinLower body
Golden Knights
Paul CotterUpper body
Pavel DorofeyevUnknown
Jack EichelLower body
Brett HowdenUpper body
Robin Lehner Lower body
Jonathan MarchessaultLower body
Alec MartinezLower body
Daniil MirmanovLower body
Nolan PatrickUpper body
Shea TheodoreLower body
Zach WhitecouldLower body

DOING THE MOST

Center Nathan MacKinnon is the team's leader in career points against the Golden Knights, with 18 (5G/13A) in 20 appearances. Center J.T. Compher is second with nine points (4G/5A) in 19 outings.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Forward Jonathan Marchessault leads the Knights in career points against the Avalanche with 13 (8G/5A) in 20 contests. Forwards William Karlsson and Mark Stone are tied for second with 10 points apiece - Karlsson has three goals and seven assists in 20 games against Colorado, while Stone has one goal and nine assists in 12 games.

NUMBERS GAME

216

J.T. Compher finished the month of December with 216 faceoff wins, the most by any player in the league last month and the first Avalanche player to win over 200 draws in a single month since Joe Sakic (223) in November 2002.

24

The Avs wrapped up the month of December with a 7-6-2 record, posting a .500 record or better for the 24th consecutive month going back to February 2019.

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"It's great. It's good to get guys back. You know, we have got to put it all together with those guys in and without Nate and right now it's just not good enough." - Defenseman Devon Toews on Nathan MacKinnon's return