Game Preview: Islanders at Avalanche

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (15-12-4) AT COLORADO AVALANCHE (18-9-6)
9 PM | PEPSI CENTER
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS
GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES

Video: Morning Skate: NYI vs. COL 12/17

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Mathew Barzal is riding a four-game point streak (1G, 5A). Barzal turned in an electric performance on Saturday night, with a power-play goal, highlight-reel assist and the shootout winner vs Detroit. Barzal also set career highs for TOI (23:53) and shots (7) in Saturday's win.
  - Anthony Beauvillier is riding a three-game goal streak. He is currently second on the Islanders with 10 goals this season.
  - The Islanders are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The win was the Islanders first when trailing after two periods, but they played a dominant game throughout the night, as they outshot the Wings 48-21.
  - Monday's game marks the start of a four-game, Western Conference road trip for the Islanders, who also play Arizona, Vegas and Dallas on their pre-Christmas swing.
  - The Islanders power play went 1-for-6 on Saturday night, converting on their sixth opportunity of the game. The goal wasn't the prettiest, as a blocked shot in front squirted over to Barzal, but Barry Trotz hopes the hard-working goal is what gets the power-play back on track. Over the past 13 games, going 2-for-34 over that span.

AVALANCHE NOTES:

• Mikko Rantanen (56 points) and Nathan MacKinnon (52 points) are first and second in NHL scoring this season - the only two players in the league over 50 points.
  Rantanen broke out with an 84 points last year, but has taken a step forward this season. Not only does the 22-year-old winger lead the NHL in points, but he's currently riding a 14-game point streak, recording 27 points (8G, 19A) over that span.
  MacKinnon has picked up where he left off last season. After recording 97 points and earning a Hart Trophy nomination, MacKinnon is second in league scoring this season. MacKinnon has nine points (2G, 7A) in his last five games.
  - The Avalanche are third in the NHL in goals-per-game (3.67) - making them the most potent offensive team in the Western Conference.
  - Colorado boasts the league's third-best power play, converting at 29.8%. The Avalanche power play went 3-for-7 on Saturday vs Dallas, marking the third time they'd scored three power-play goals in a game.
  - The Avalanche are currently third in the Central Division, six points ahead of the fourth-placed Minnesota Wild and two points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, who occupy the first wild card berth.