Game Preview: Avalanche vs. Wild

COLORADO AVALANCHE (44-23-6) VS MINNESOTA WILD (43-22-9)
8 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH: TNTLISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche are set to face off against the Central Divison leading Minnesota Wild in a crucial divisional matchup. The Avalanche are 2-0 in the season series to date.
Colorado currently ranks second in Central Division Standings with 94 points - Minnesota leads with 95 points - but the Avalanche lead in points percentage (.644%).

LAST TIME OUT

The Avs defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 to conclude their two-game road trip on Monday night. Five different Avalanche players scored - defensemen Bowen Byram, Samuel Girard and Jack Johnson, center Nathan MacKinnon and forward Valeri Nichushkin. Goaltender Jonas Johansson stopped 29 of the 30 shots that came his way.
The Wild bested the Seattle Kraken also by a score of 5-1 on Monday night. Forward Matt Boldy recorded a hat trick, while defenseman Jake Middleton and forward Ryan Hartman also found the back of the net. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury turned away 35 of the 36 shots he faced.

HISTORY

Colorado is now 59-46-15 all-time against Minnesota.

SCOUTING THE WILD

Forward Kirill Kaprizov is the team's leader in both goals (39) and points (74) in 65 games played. Forward Mats Zuccarello is second on the team in points (65) and first on the team in assists (43) in 72 appearances.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche

Pavel Francouz Lower body
Gabriel LandeskogLower body
Artturi Lehkonen Upper body
Josh MansonLower body

Wild

Kirill KaprizovLower body
Gustav NyquistUpper body
Ryan ReavesUpper body
Brandon Duhaime Unknown

DOING THE MOST

Goalie Alexandar Georgiev is 2-0 all-time against Minnesota with a .939 sV% and 2.50 GAA. Center Nathan MacKinnon remains the team's active points leader versus the Wild with 49 (17g/32a) in 42 contests.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Defenseman Jared Spurgeon is the Wild's leader in active points against the Avalanche, with 20 (5g/15a) in 57 games played.

STATS FOR KEEPS

Name | GP | GS | Record (W-L-OT) | GAA
Colorado
Pavel Francouz | 15 | 15 | 7-7-1 | 2.53
Alexandar Georgiev | 54 | 54 | 34-15-5 | 2.54
Jonas Johansson | 3 | 2 | 2-0-0 | 2.10
Keith Kincaid | 1 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 2.15
Minnesota
Marc-Andre Fleury | 43 | 42 | 24-13-4 | 2.81
Filip Gustavsson | 34 | 32 | 19-9-5 | 2.01

NUMBERS GAME

700

Nathan MacKinnon played in his 700th NHL game Monday evening, becoming the eighth player in Quebc/Colorado history to dress in 700 contests.

24 and counting

The Avs have won 24 road games this season, tied for the third-most in the NHL and tied for the second-most in franchise history. Only the 2013-14 Avalanche (26 road wins) have more road victories in a season.

T-1st

Cale Makar tallied two assists on Monday for his 35th career multi-assist performance and 63rd career multi-point outing, matching Sandis Ozolinsh in both categories for the most by a defenseman in franchise history.

4th and5th

Makar has collected 181 career helpers to equal Ozolinsh for fourth place on the franchise's all-time list of assists by a defenseman. He has totaled 246 career points to surpass Erik Johnson and take over sole possession of fifth place on the Nordiques/Avalanche all-time list of scoring by a blueliner.

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"I thought we played a mature third period." - Defenseman Bowen Byram on the team's victory over the Ducks