Coyotes Avalanche preview 31317

AVALANCHE (19-45-3) at COYOTES (24-35-8)
10 p.m. ET; FS-A, ALT, NHL.TV

Avalanche team scope

The Colorado Avalanche will go for their third win in their past four games. Colorado has two wins in 16 games against the Pacific Division (2-12-2), but one was a 3-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 29. The Avalanche have won five of their past six games at Gila River Arena. Goalie Calvin Pickard is expected to start. He made 27 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Forward Matt Duchene has one goal in his past 24 games and has gone 10 straight games without a point. He was dropped to the third line against Ottawa but will play on a line with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Forward Sven Andrighetto has a point in three of four games since he was traded to Colorado from the Montreal Canadiens on March 1, including points in three straight.

Coyotes team scope

The Coyotes have four games in six days and will use the same lineup from a 5-4 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun had an NHL career-high three points against the Devils (one goal, two assists) and his six goals are tied for second among rookie defensemen. "I got on the scoresheet a few times but I also had a couple of turnovers that I'd like to have back," Chychrun said. "Defensively, I would have liked to have played better. But you learn from the mistakes and that's how you continue to develop. I'm not afraid to make mistakes, I just have to learn from them." Arizona rookies combined for six points in the win and have 88 this season, second-most in the League behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (249). Anthony DeAngelo, Chychrun's defense partner and former junior teammate with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League, had a goal and an assist. Each drew praise from coach Dave Tippett. "They move the puck well, they skate really well and can get up with the play," he said. "They also continue to learn some of the details of defending and structure, but they are both real good young players." Goalie Mike Smith will start and needs one shutout to break the franchise record of 21 he shares with Nikolai Khabibulin.

Avalanche projected lineup
Coyotes projected lineup
Status report

Burmistrov continues to skate on his own but Tippett said he is not close to returning. ... Richardson is back with the Coyotes but isn't close to returning.

Who's hot

Barrie has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two games. ... Comeau has a three-game point streak (three assists). ... Perlini has goals in back-to-back games. ... Rieder has six points (two goals, four assists) in his past five games. ... Martinook has three assists in his past two games.