Goalie Jacob Markstrom will make his fourth straight start for the Canucks, who have won two straight after losing three of the previous four. Philipp Grubauer is expected to start for the Avalanche after starter Semyon Varlamov gave up six goals on 37 shots in a 6-5 loss against the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The Avalanche were up 4-1 after two periods and allowed five goals in the third. Colorado has lost three of its past four games after starting the season 6-1-2.
Players to watch
Colorado right wing Mikko Rantanen was held without a point for the second time in 13 games this season on Thursday, but leads the NHL in points (21) and assists (16). Canucks center Elias Pettersson leads NHL rookies in goals (seven) and points (10) in eight games this season.
They said it
"That's the beauty of hockey, right? You've got to forget about it. You've got to learn and move on. Vancouver's playing well so we've got to salvage this quick road trip." -- Colorado defenseman Mark Barberio after the loss in Calgary "I'm sure they are not happy that they lost last night. Usually you are going to get a bounce-back game and get their best whenever you have a game like that and that top line is as good as they come." -- Canucks coach Travis Green on the Avalanche
Colorado did not have a morning skate. … Chatfield was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League after Stecher, who will play Friday, left following a collision 5:20 into the third period of a 4-2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. ... Canucks defenseman Guillaume Brisebois was sent back to the AHL.
Stat pack
Landeskog has a goal in three straight games, and has 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in his past nine games. ... MacKinnon doesn't have a point in his past two games after 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in his first 11 games. … Virtanen had his first two-goal game in the NHL on Wednesday and has three goals in his past two games.
