Avalanche vs. Canucks, Game 44: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Colorado Avalanche are going streaking.

In a good way, I promise.

Down their best defenseman, the Avalanche put a beating on Calgary on Wednesday night, getting out to an early three goal lead and never looking back. They’ll look to extend their win streak to four games on Friday night, when they take on the Vancouver Canucks.

Alexandar Georgiev did his part in net, stopping 34 of the 35 shots that came his way. He had been back-up for the previous three games while Pavel Francouz held down the fort in net. Georgiev is expected to start in net again.

There was some good news out of morning skate: Cale Makar skated. The team announced he would not be playing, but a good sign the injury likely is not serious. He is an option to play tomorrow in Seattle.

The Canucks currently sit 12 points out of a playoff spot, and are entering “blow it up” mode. They’ve lost five of six, and appear to be headed towards a reset as an organization. Bo Horvat continues to be at the center of trade talks, and the Avalanche have shown interest. Whether they have the assets to pull it off, or even want too, is another question altogether.

One thing the Avalanche will look to avoid: being swept by Vancouver in the season series. This is the third and final meeting between the teams, and Vancouver has won the first two matchups.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Evan Rodrigues

Valeri Nichushkin – J.T. Compher – Mikko Rantanen

Andrew Cogliano – Alex Newhook – Logan O’Connor

Anton Blidh – Ben Meyers

Defense

Devon Toews – Erik Johnson

Samuel Girard – Brad Hunt

Kurtis MacDermid – Jacob MacDonald

Andreas Englund

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Pavel Francouz

Expected Vancouver Canucks Lines, per PuckPedia.com

Andrei Kuzmenko – Elias Pettersson – Brock Boeser

J.T. Miller – Bo Horvat – Conor Garland

Ilya Mikheyev – Sheldon Dries – Jack Studnicka

Dakota Joshua – Curtis Lazar – William Lockwood

Defense:

Quinn Hughes – Luke Schenn

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Tyler Myers

Kyle Burroughs – Ethan Bear

Goalies:

Colin Delia

Spencer Martin

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 24.2%, 12th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 75.5%, 21st in NHL

Vancouver Canucks Power Play: 24.5%, 10th in NHL

Vancouver Canucks Penalty Kill: 66.9%, 32nd in NHL

How to Watch

TV: ESPN+, Altitude TV, Sportsnet

Radio: 92.5 FM Altitude Sports Radio

Game Time: 8:00 PM MST