This is second game of a three-game season series between the Ducks and Avs, which opened with a 5-2 victory for Anaheim on Oct. 26 at Pepsi Center. Ryan Miller turned aside 35 of 37 shots that night, while Hampus Lindholm established a single-game career high in assists (3) and tied a career best in points (third time). The Ducks are 44-35-13 all-time vs. the Avs along with a 24-16-6 mark at Honda Center. Anaheim has won the last three meetings against Colorado, including a 5-3 victory on March 15, 2019 at Pepsi Center and a 2-1 triumph on March 3, 2019 at Honda Center. Ryan Getzlaf paces active Ducks in career scoring vs. Colorado with 42 points (14g/28a) in 45 games.
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The Avs enter tonight's game in third place in the Central Division with 75 points (34-18-7). They've gone 6-3-1 over their last 10 games, including a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday. This is the opener of a two-game road trip, which concludes tomorrow in LA.
Nathan MacKinnon ranks seconds in the NHL with 84 points (33g/51a) in 59 games. He's reached the 50-assist mark for the third straight season, joining Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg as the only Colorado players to accomplish the feat. Pavel Francouz brings a 14-5-3 record, 2.44 goals-against average and .923 save percentage into tonight's game. This will mark his second career appearance against Anaheim (0-1-0, 4.06 GAA, .846 SV%).
Earlier today the Ducks acquired forward David Backes, defenseman Axel Andersson and Boston's first-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft from the Bruins for right wing Ondrej Kase. Backes, 35, has earned 554 points (245g/309a) with 1,138 penalty minutes in 944 career NHL games with Boston (2016-20) and St. Louis (2006-16). The veteran forward has also appeared in 82 career games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording 39 points (17g/22a) with the Blues and Bruins.
Andersson, 20, has earned 22 points (2g/20a) with a +16 rating in 41 games with Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. The 6-0, 180-pound defenseman ranked second among Moncton blueliners in assists and led in power-play assists (8). A native of Jarna, Sweden, Andersson was selected by Boston in the second round (57th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
