The Colorado Avalanche (8-8-0) continue their homestand against the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings (9-5-3) in a nationally televised game. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT.
The Avs have won their last two games and three of four since Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup. They’re expecting to have more reinforcements this week as Valeri Nichushkin is confirmed for a return on Friday. Miles Wood and Jonathan Drouin are getting closer to returning, but neither will dress against the Kings.
In their last game, the Avalanche defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime to improve to 5-5 at home and 8-8 on the season. They had just nine regulation losses at Ball Arena last season so getting back to that type of dominance is crucial. Monday’s victory was the third straight win at home for Jared Bednar’s club.
Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev had yet another strong performance, his best of the season. He’ll get the nod again for Colorado, making his fourth consecutive start after playing just once in two weeks.
The Kings don’t have the best points percentage in the Pacific Division but they lead in points. This will be their 18th game of the season, of which 12 have already been played on the road. L.A. is 5-4-2 away from home.
Los Angeles made one of the more intriguing trades over the offseason, sending Pierre-Luc Dubois and his eight-year contract to the Washington Capitals for former Avs netminder Darcy Kuemper.
Kuemper is 4-2-3 and has a .903 save percentage as the Kings’ No. 1 goalie.
READ MORE: Avalanche’s Devon Toews Playing Through Nagging Injury: ‘It’s Not Going Away Anytime Soon’
Season Series
- Nov. 13 vs Los Angeles Kings
- March 27 vs Los Angeles Kings
- April 12 at Los Angeles Kings
Avalanche Injuries
- Miles Wood (upper body, IR)
- Ross Colton (foot, 6-8 weeks)
- Jonathan Drouin (upper body, day-to-day)
- Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)
- Valeri Nichushkin (suspended, Returns Nov. 15)
Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Joel Kiviranta— Casey Mittelstadt — Logan O’Connor
Ivan Ivan – Parker Kelly – Nikolai Kovalenko
Nikita Prishchepov — T.J. Tynan — Chris Wagner
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan — Sam Malinski
Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Confirmed: Alexandar Georgiev (COL)
- Unconfirmed: Darcy Kuemper (LAK)
Upcoming Milestones
- Mikko Rantanen – needs 3 power-play goals for 100
- Nathan MacKinnon — needs 5 power-play goals for 100
- Devon Toews — needs 5 assists for 200
- Josh Manson — needs 7 games for 600
- Cale Makar — needs 8 goals for 100
How to Watch
- TV: TNT
- Radio: 92.5 Altitude Radio