Jost_Steel

DUCKS (26-32-8) at AVALANCHE (40-18-7)
9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN

Colorado also can become the first team in NHL history to win seven consecutive games by a one-goal margin; the Avalanche are one of five teams to win six one-goal games in a row.
The Avalanche, who have outscored opponents 16-9 in the win streak, are 15-3-1 in their past 19 games and trail the St. Louis Blues by three points for first place in the division and Western Conference.
The Ducks have lost two straight and are 2-5-1 in their past eight games after going 4-1-2 in their previous seven.

Players to watch

Ducks forward Sonny Milano has four points (two goals, two assists) in four games since being acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 24.
Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz has won his past six starts with a 1.32 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.

They said it

"You never want to roll over. We've got pride in here and we'll try to bounce back and go back to the drawing board." -- Ducks forward Danton Heinen
"We want to keep this thing going. St. Louis is winning as well, but we're focusing on what we have in front of us and continuing this good run that we're on while the injured guys are getting healthy in the background." -- Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog

Ducks projected lineup
Avalanche projected lineup
Status report

The Ducks did not hold a morning skate. ... Hakanpaa, recalled from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Sunday, would make his NHL debut if Manson doesn't play. Manson, a defenseman, was injured in the first period of a 6-2 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. … Grubauer, a goalie, and forwards Kadri and Rantanen each skated Wednesday but remain week to week.

Stat pack

Rakell has 13 goals this season but has gone 15 games without one. … Anaheim is 1-26-4 when trailing after two periods. … Landeskog has five points (two goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak. … Colorado has killed 22 straight penalties in its past nine games.