Colorado Avalanche (19-15-0) @ Anaheim Ducks (14-12-4)

8pm MT | Honda Center | Clock: Altitude, My20, Altitude+ | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After coming from behind to win on Thursday in San Jose, the Avalanche face the Ducks in California for the second consecutive game. The teams previously met in Denver on October 18th, when the Avs defeated the Ducks 4-3 in overtime, and they will play again in Anaheim on April 13th.

Last result (COL): COL 4, SJS 2

Last result (ANA): WPG 2, ANA 3

A big win in the Bay Area

The Avalanche defeated the Sharks 4-2 on Thursday at the SAP Center in San Jose. Joel Kiviranta scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves against his former team. The Avs opened the scoring on the power play at 3:40 of the first with Valeri Nichushkin’s ninth goal of the season from the right front door. The Sharks scored their next two goals on goals from Carl Grundstrom at 4:26 of the second frame and William Eklund at 9:29 of the second frame. The tide began to turn in the third period, starting with Mikko Rantanen’s 19th goal of the season via his signature one-timer in the right circle on the power play at 8:26 that tied the game. Kiviranta scored his first goal of the game with a wrist shot from the left circle at 13:06, shortly after the Avalanche converted a penalty. At 3:58 p.m., Kiviranta doubled Colorado’s lead with a one-timer off a pass from compatriot Artturi Lehkonen.

Show the way

Nate the Great

Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (52) and assists (39). He scored 11 points (4g/7a) in his last five games.

All greetings Cale

Cale Makar leads the NHL in points (40) and assists (31) among NHL blueliners. His nine goals are the second-most among NHL defensemen and his 31 assists are the fifth-most in the league.

Moose crossing

Rantanen ranks fourth in the NHL in points (48), sixth in goals (19) and ninth in assists (29).

Story

In 110 previous regular season games with the Ducks, the Avalanche are 55-35-20. Since the start of the 2021 season, the Avs are 14-2-2 against the Ducks, including 5-0-1 in their last six meetings.

Win against Winnipeg

The Ducks defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on Wednesday at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano scored first at 4:45 of the second period, but Gabriel Vilardi tied the game with a power play goal at 10:24 from midfield. Mark Scheifele gave the Jets a 2-1 lead with 4:13 left in the third period. However, the Ducks responded as Vatrano tied the game at 15:14 and Troy Terry scored the winning goal at 19:34.

Fly against the ducks

MacKinnon has 41 points (16g/25a) in 33 games against Anaheim, including 14 points (5g/9a) in his last seven games against them.

In 15 games against the Ducks, Makar has 15 points (1g/14a).

Rantanen has 31 points (15g/16a) in 28 games against Anaheim, including 11 points (4g/7a) in his last seven games against them.

Lead the herd

Terry leads the Ducks in assists (16) and points (25), while he is tied for first in goals (9).

Vatrano is tied for first in goals (9) and second in points (17).

Ryan Strome is second on the team in assists (11) and third in points (16).

A numbers game

11

With Thursday’s win, the Avalanche extended their winning streak against the Sharks to 11 games, the longest such streak against a franchise.

12

MacKinnon recorded the 950th and 951st points of his career on Thursday, becoming the 12th active player to reach 950 career points.

60

The Avalanche have scored 60 goals on the road this season, the sixth most in the NHL.

Quote that left its mark

“I think our boys did well. Not only did we work hard, we also fought hard. And then as the game went on we were able to take some of our chances, which was great to see.”

– Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar on the team’s performance on Thursday