Avalanche vs. Oilers, Game 80: Lines, Starting Goalies & How to Watch

Anytime the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers meet, they usually give the fans a good show. I expect the same when the two teams play on Tuesday night.

With five of the league’s 100 point scorers ready to skate on one ice-surface, you should expect to see a lot of goals. The last time the two teams played each other at Ball Arena, the Avalanche pulled off a 6-5 come-from-behind win in overtime.

The Avalanche did not get any help on Monday, as both the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars won in regulation. They’ll need to continue winning if they plan to take first place in the Central and the Conference.

Bowen Byram will return to the lineup for the Avalanche after missing two games due to illness. He’ll replace Kurtis MacDermid on defense. Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen both took part in morning skate, but will not play on Tuesday night.

Alexandar Georgiev is expected to start in net.

The Oilers held an optional morning skate, in which all of their star players took the option and sat out. Connor McDavid has run away with the scoring title with 151 points through 80 games, while Leon Draisaitl is in second place with 124 points. Slowing those two down and staying out of the penalty box will be crucial for the Avalanche if they want to come away with two points.

With 105 points, the Oilers sit two points behind Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division. A loss for them in regulation, coupled with Vegas picking up any points in the final two games, would lock them into that second spot.

Stuart Skinner is expected to start in net for Edmonton.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Evan Rodrigues – Nathan MacKinnon – Mikko Rantanen

Denis Malgin – J.T. Compher – Valeri Nichushkin

Matt Nieto – Andrew Cogliano – Logan O’Connor

Alex Newhook – Lars Eller – Ben Meyers

Defense

Devon Toews – Samuel Girard

Jack Johnson – Bowen Byram

Brad Hunt – Erik Johnson

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Pavel Francouz

Expected Edmonton Oilers Lines, per DailyFaceoff.com

Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Hyman

Kane – Draisaitl – Yamamoto

Kostin – Bjugstad – Janmark

Foegele – McLeod – Ryan

Defense:

Ekholm – Bouchard

Nurse – Broberg

Kulak – Desharnais

Goalies:

Skinner

Campbell

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 25.1%, 5th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 79.1%, 16th in NHL

Edmonton Oilers Power Play: 32.5%, 1st in NHL

Edmonton Oilers Penalty Kill: 76.8%, 19th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: ESPN, ESPN+

Radio: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5

Game Time: 7:30 PM MST