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The Avalanche: (26-9-4)
The Opponent: Anaheim Ducks (12-21-7)
Puck drop: 8:00 p.m. MT
Watch: ALT2, KCOP-13, BSW+
Listen: [Radio] Altitude 92.5, AM 950
****UPDATE****
Per the Avalanche PR,
No morning skate today.
“The Avalanche will not hold a morning skate today in Anaheim as a precaution due to one positive test from yesterday’s COVID-19 testing. The person is in isolation and all other staff/players have been negative.”
The #Avs will not hold morning skate today. There was a positive COVID-19 test yesterday. The player who tested positive is in isolation. The team is saying this is a precautionary measure.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 9, 2021
The Avs and Ducks are scheduled to play tonight.
Original post:
Well, that was a fun streak wasn’t it?
The Avalanche (finally) ended up in the regulation loss column since the 8th of March, during that time racking up points in 15 games played in that time. Tonight, they look to return to their winning ways in Southern California vs. the Anaheim Ducks.
Colorado Avalanche
Although it is not another rivalry game vs. one of Avalanche nation’s biggest foes, Colorado will play its second to last game against Anaheim this season. With a record of 4-1-1 this season against the Ducks, things look promising to begin another point filled month heading into the home stretch of the season.
Nathan MacKinnon has goals in the last 4 games, while also collecting points in the last 7. Andre Burakovsky has also seen a good stretch of points come recently, picking up a point in 4 of his last 5 games (four goals, two assists). Kyle Burroughs was able to collect his first NHL point with an assist last game vs. the Wild on Wednesday.
Jacob Macdonald will not play after being handed down a 2 game suspension for hitting Minnesota forward Ryan Hartman in the head last game. There is a chance that Bowen Byram could return to the lineup tonight, while Matt Calvert & Logan O’Connor are both out week-to-week.
Forwards
Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen
Brandon Saad - Nazem Kadri - Andre Burakovsky
Valeri Nichushkin - Tyson Jost - Joonas Donskoi
J.T. Compher - Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - Liam O’Brien
Defense
Devon Toews - Sam Girard
Ryan Graves - Cale Makar
Kyle Burroughs - Bowen Byram?
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are coming off a 5-1 win vs. the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. John Gibson played well in that game stopping 34 of 35 shots. Max Comtois leads the Ducks in points with 11 G 12 A for 23 points in 39 games played. David Backes played in the last game for the Ducks with Ryan Getzlaf (DTD) uncertain to play tonight. Backes had a goal and assist in his limited role these days for the team. Ricard Rakell, Anaheim’s second top point producer is also on IR, adding to the uncertainty regarding the lineup in the upcoming games.
Forwards
Danton Heinen - Adam Henrique - Jakob Silfverberg
Maxime Comtois - Isac Lundestrom - Alexander Volkov
Max Jones - Sam Carrick - Troy Terry
Nicolas Deslauriers - Derek Grant - David Backes
Defense
Cam Fowler - Jani Hakanpaa
Jamie Drysdale - Josh Manson
Ben Hutton - Kevin Shattenkirk
GOALTENDERS
Philipp Grubauer is expected to man the crease for the Avalanche, as there has been no move made recently before the trade deadline to give him a rest. Jonas Johansson will continue to back him up. John Gibson will also make the start and hope to contain the Avalanche offense with Ryan Miller to back him up.
GO AVS!