COLORADO AVALANCHE NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME
COLORADO AVALANCHE (50-24-7, 107 PTS) at NASHVILLE PREDATORS (42-31-8, 92 PTS)
6:08 p.m. MT / 7:08 p.m. CT – Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Altitude / 92.5 FM
The Colorado Avalanche takes on the Nashville Predators in the 2022-23 regular season finale tonight at Bridgestone Arena… Tonight’s contest is the makeup date from Nov. 25, a game that was postponed when a water main broke here at Bridgestone Arena … The Avalanche are 15-2-1 in their last 18 games, 22-5-2 in their last 29 contests and 30-7-4 in their last 41 games … The Avalanche have won 10 consecutive road games, the longest road winning streak in franchise history… Colorado is 14-1-0 in its last 15 road contests and 17-2-1 in its last 20 away from the Mile High City … Colorado is 13-5-3 in its last 21 at Ball Arena.
ON THE CALL
Altitude: Marc Moser (play-by-play), Mark Rycroft (analyst), Katie Gaus (reporter)
Altitude Radio: Conor McGahey, Mark Rycroft
LAST GAME
April 13 – Colorado 4, Winnipeg 2 at Ball Arena
Evan Rodrigues and Artturi Lehkonen each had a goal and one assist to lead the Avalanche to a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in the 2022-23 home finale at Ball Arena … Mikko Rantanen scored his 55th goal of the season, breaking Joe Sakic’s Avalanche record set in 1995-96 …. Denis Malgin also scored for Colorado, Lars Eller had two assists and Alexandar Georgiev made 18 saves.
SF: 25 SA: 20 PP: 1-3 PK: 3-3
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Apr. 13 – Ben Meyers reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) …. Ben Meyers and Alex Galchenyuk recalled from the
Colorado Eagles (AHL)
Apr. 9 – Jonas Johansson reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL)
CURRENT INJURIES
Andrew Cogliano – upper body (April 14 – present)
Darren Helm – lower body (April 4 – present)
Gabriel Landeskog – knee (Oct. 12 – present)
Cale Makar – lower body (April 4 – present)
Denis Malgin – upper body (April 14 – present)
Josh Manson – lower body (March 4 – present)
Total Man-Game Lost: 457
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – NASHVILLE PREDATORS
The Avalanche and Predators wrap up the season series with the fourth and final meeting of 2022-23 … Tonight’s game was originally scheduled for Nov. 25 but was postponed due to a water main break that significantly impacted the event level at the arena … The Avs are 3-0-0 against Nashville this year and will attempt to sweep the season series for the first time in franchise history … The Avs were 1-1-2 against Nashville last season but swept the Predators in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs and have now won seven straight games against the Preds.
SCHEDULE vs. PREDATORS
Nov. 10 vs. NSH (W, 5-3)
Nov. 25 @ NSH *postponed rescheduled for April 14
Dec. 17 vs. NSH (W, 3-1)
Dec. 23 @ NSH (W, 3-2 OT)
Apr. 14 @ NSH
RECORD vs. PREDATORS
THIS SEASON 2021-22 ALL-TIME PLAYOFFS
Overall: 3-0-0 Overall: 1-1-2 Overall: 39-38-14 Series: 2 (1-1)
Home: 2-0-0 Home: 1-0-1 Home: 22-19-6 W-L Record: 6-4
Road: 1-0-0 Road: 0-1-1 Road: 17-19-8
GOING FOR THE CENTRAL TITLE
A victory of any kind tonight and the Avalanche will win their third consecutive division championship …. The Avs won the Central Division last year after winning the West Division in 2020-21 … This would be the second-longest streak of division championships in franchise history, trailing only the club’s league-record run of nine straight division titles from 1994-95 to 2002-03 … Overall, the Avs are aiming for their 14th division championship in franchise history and 12th since relocating to Denver …. The Avs are trying to join Carolina as one of only four teams to capture at least three consecutive division titles since the current divisions were formed in 2013 … Anaheim (4, 2013-17) and Washington (4, 2015-19) are the others.
FIFTY WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER
The Avalanche have posted back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time in franchise history, winning 50 games this year after notching 56 victories a year ago … This year marks only the fourth 50-win season for the franchise overall, joining the 2021-22 (56), 2000-01 (52) and 2013-14 (52) clubs.
GRAND CENTRAL
Colorado is 18-6-1 against Central Division teams this season, 10-2-1 at home and 8-4-0 on the road.
PLAYOFF BOUND
The Avalanche are heading to the playoffsfor the sixth consecutive year, tied for the third-longest active streak in the NHL… The Avs will appear in the postseason for the 19th time since relocating to Denver and 28th time in franchise history.
ACTIVE STREAKS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS
7 Boston since 2016-17
7 Toronto since 2016-17
6 Colorado since 2017-18
6 Tampa Bay since 2017-18
ROAD WARRIORS
The Avalanche have set franchise records for most road wins (28) and points (57) in a single season … Colorado has won a franchise-record 10 straight away games, the second-longest road win streak in the NHL this season (New Jersey 11)… The Avs are 14-1-0 in last 15 road contests and 17-2-1 in their last 20 …. Colorado’s 28 road wins are tied for second in the NHL.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS NOTES:
ALL-TIME vs. COLORADO
OVERALL (89 GP) 47-34-(5)-3
HOME (43 GP) 24-15-(3)-1
ROAD (45 GP) 23-19-(2)-2
PLAYOFFS (2x) Last: 2022 WCQ (L, 4-0)
− The Predators are 47-34-(5)-3 all-time against the Avalanche, including a 24-15-(3)-1 record at Bridgestone Arena.
− This is the second of four matchups between Nashville and Colorado in 2022-23; it is the first of two at home.
− Nashville is 0-1-0 vs. Colorado this season after dropping the first meeting between the two, 5-3, on Nov. 10.
− The Predators are 3-2-0 in their last five games against the Avalanche; they are 4-6-0 in their last 10; and 2-3-0 in their last five at home.
− Nashville went 3-1-0 vs. Colorado last season, going 1-1-0 in two road contests, including a 5-4 overtime win in the second-to-last game of the regular season.
− Nashville has won 15 of its last 21 regular-season games against Colorado, including an 11-game win streak from April 5, 2016-Nov. 7, 2018. During the win streak, Nashville posted 4.2 goals per game and held Colorado to two-or-fewer goals seven times.
− Nashville and Colorado have met twice in the postseason, with the Predators earning a 4-2 series victory in the 2018 first round; Nashville was swept for the first time in franchise history in the 2022 first round.
NOTABLES vs. COLORADO
− Matt Duchene was drafted third overall by the Avalanche in the 2009 NHL Draft. He recorded 428 points (178g-250a) in nine seasons with Colorado from 2009-17. Duchene has nine goals and 10 points in 10 career games against his former team.
− Roman Josi recorded a 12-game point streak vs. Colorado (5g-11a) from March 28, 2016-Jan. 21, 2019. He’s recorded a point in 28 of his 39 career games against the Avalanche, tallying 14 goals and 38 points.
− Colton Sissons posted a career-high three assists on Dec. 16, 2021 vs. the Avs. He has 14 points (8g-6a) in 20 career regular-season games vs. Colorado.
− Filip Forsberg notched his fourth career hat trick on Feb. 23, 2017 vs. the Avalanche. He’s averaged more than a point per game in his career against Colorado, recording 33 points (16g-17a) in 30 games, including five game-winning goals.
− Mikael Granlund skated in his first career NHL game and scored his first career NHL goal on Jan. 19, 2013 vs. Colorado.
− Predators Assistant Coach Dan Hinote won the 2001 Stanley Cup as a player for the Avalanche.
− Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard was selected by the Predators in the second round (47th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He skated in five games for Nashville in 2017-18, tallying three points (1g-2a).
LAST TIME OUT
− Nashville Predators 0, Detroit Red Wings 3 – Nov. 23 (Little Caesars Arena)
− NSH goals:
− DET goals: Larkin – GWG (9), Hronek – PP (5), Rasmussen – ENG (3)
− Goaltenders: NSH – Lankinen (L, 26/28); DET – Husso (W, 26/26)
− Power plays: NSH 0-3; DET 1-2
− Notes: Nashville moved to 3-6-0 on the road in 2022-23… The loss brought Nashville’s six-game win streak against Detroit to an end… The Predators were shut out for the second time this season (Oct. 29 vs. Washington)… Nashville owned a 64-48 advantage in shot attempts… The Predators forced the Red Wings into 17 giveaways… Nashville won a season-low 39.5 percent of its faceoffs… Roman Josi had five shots, eight shot attempts and two hits in a game-high 26:05 of ice time… Kevin Lankinen made his first start since Nov. 10 at Colorado.
INJURY REPORT
Player Designation Dates Missed Games Missed
Mark Borowiecki Upper body – IR Oct. 27-Nov. 23 13
Yakov Trenin Lower body – day-to-day Nov. 17-23 4
Total man-games lost: 23
Borowiecki – 14; Trenin – 5; Jankowski – 2; Glass – 1; McCarron – 1
4-0-1 HOMESTAND
− The Predators went 4-0-1 during their season-long five-game homestand from Nov. 12-21, picking up wins over the NY Rangers, Minnesota, NY Islanders and Arizona and earning a point in an OT loss vs. Tampa Bay.
− Nashville’s power-play went 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) during the homestand, converting twice on Monday vs. Arizona.
− Roman Josi led the Predators in points (8) and assists (7) during the homestand; he also recorded a +5 rating.
− Nino Niederreiter and rookie Juuso Parssinen shared the team lead in goals with three.
− Juuse Saros started all five games for Nashville and went 4-0-1 with a 2.34 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. He stopped 155 of 167 shots faced.
QUICK HITS
− Predators defensemen have taken 431 shot attempts, the seventh-most among all NHL teams.
− Nashville’s 199 shots on goal from blueliners are tied for the seventh-most in the NHL.
− The Predators are fifth in the NHL in face-off percentage (53.1 percent).
− Among NHL players who have taken at least 300 faceoffs, Ryan Johansen is second at 62.5 percent.
− Johansen won at least 50 percent of his faceoffs in a franchise-record 23 consecutive games, a streak that came to an end Wednesday at Detroit. The previous record was held by current Predators Assistant GM Scott Nichol, who did so in 17 straight games during the 2006-07 season.
− Colton Sissons is second in the NHL in shorthanded faceoffs won (42).
− Mark Jankowski was selected by Calgary in the first round (21st overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. That pick was initially held by Nashville but was traded to Buffalo on Feb. 27, 2012 for Paul Gaustad and a fourth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, with which the Predators used to select Juuse Saros. To close the pick history, Buffalo traded the 21st overall choice in the 2012 NHL Draft to Calgary with a second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (Patrick Sieloff) for the 14th overall pick (Zemgus Girgensons).
