Avs Host Ducks In Matinee On MLK Day

The Colorado Avalanche hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Monday afternoon for the second match of a three-game series between the clubs in the 2017-18 season.
The Avalanche looks to extend its season-high, six-game win streak as it begins a three-game homestand. A chain of six victories hasn't been strung together by an Avalanche team since March 25-April 5, 2014.

Colorado owns a 38-30-16 all-time record against Anaheim (since 1995-96), including going 21-16-5 at home. The Avalanche holds a 23-16-3 record this campaign and returns home for the first time since the five-day bye last week. The Ducks are 20-15-9 going into Monday's match, the last of five consecutive road contests for the club (Anaheim also had a bye last week).
The weekday contest has a special 1 p.m. start time in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday in the U.S.

Last Time Out

The Avs defeated the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Saturday behind a 4-for-4 penalty-kill performance and 27 saves from goaltender Jonathan Bernier in the crease. Colorado's Alexander Kerfoot netted his 11th goal of the season to open the scoring in the first period, but the Stars knotted the game at 1-1 in the middle frame for a tie going into the second intermission. Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winning goal 6:33 into the third, and Blake Comeau and Mark Barberio each found the back of the net in the final 100 seconds to seal the win.
The Ducks beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Saturday with two goals in both the first and final periods. With tallies from Ondrej Kase and Ryan Kessler, Anaheim led 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. The scoreboard remained unchanged going into the final frame until Kase lit the lamp with his second goal of the night. The Kings put up a pair of markers to close in within one in the third period, but the Ducks found back of the net again with less than two minutes remaining to seal the win.

Last Time They Met

Colorado hosted Anaheim for the first time this campaign on Oct. 13 and defeated the Ducks 3-1 at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche entered the first intermission with a 1-0 lead behind a power-play marker from Gabriel Landeskog. After a scoreless second period, the contest was tied 1-1 at the 2:14 mark of the third frame following a short-handed goal from the Ducks. Tyson Barrie found the back of the net on a man-advantage situation later in the stanza, and Nikita Zadorov netted a last-second tally before the horn to secure the victory.

What to Watch

A New "Bernie" In Town
Jonathan Bernier was the first star in Colorado's victory over Dallas on Saturday and has now won five contests in a row, matching a career high.
"He's been incredible," Kerfoot said of his goalie to the Associated Press. "You can just tell from watching him how much confidence he has. He just stepped in when Varly got hurt."
Bernier has a 1.33 goals-against average, .964 save percentage and one shutout during his winning streak.

No "I" in Team
With the win on Saturday, Colorado has officially put last year in the rear view by surpassing its win and point totals from the 2016-17 season. Different players from the Avs have found their stride each night, and Colorado's coach attributes part of this year's success to the bonds they have formed.
"They played the game with emotion tonight. They're starting to come together as a team," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said about the win on Saturday.

Player to Watch

Colorado: Center Alexander Kerfoot
Alexander Kerfoot recorded a goal and a helper in Saturday's match for his 10th multi-point game of the season, leading all rookies in the NHL. The forward is sixth in points (29) and assists (18) for first-year players in the league.

Anaheim: Right wing Corey Perry
Corey Perry netted the final goal in Saturday's tilt for his seventh marker of the season. The forward is third in team scoring for Anaheim with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 33 contests.

Lineup Notes

Bernier is expected to make his 18th start between the pipes this season, and his second versus his former team. Colorado will likely make no changes to its lineup. Injured forwards J.T. Compher (upper body) and Sven Andrighetto (lower body) are doubtful after skating on Sunday in red, non-contact jerseys.

The Details

Puck drop on Monday is set for 1 p.m. MT at Pepsi Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The game will be televised locally on Altitude and the radio broadcast can be heard on Altitude Sports Radio AM 950 or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com.