AVALANCHE NOTES CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS HATS OFF: Mikko Rantanen tallied his second career hat trick on Satur- TEAM GP W L OT PTS day night in New Jersey. It was the third hat trick by an Avalanche player St. Louis Blues 43 26 10 7 59 this year (Joonas Donskoi, Tyson Jost), which is tied with Boston and Flor- ida for the second-most hat tricks among all teams behind Edmonton (4). Colorado Avalanche 43 25 14 4 54 Dallas Stars 42 24 14 4 52 MULTIPLICITY: Samuel Girard recorded three straight multi-point games, Winnipeg Jets 43 23 16 4 50 Dec. 31 to Jan. 4, which included a career-high, four-point night on Jan. Minnesota Wild 43 20 17 6 46 2 vs. St. Louis. Girard became the third Avalanche defenseman (fourth time) to record three straight multi-point games, joining John-Michael Li- Nashville Predators 41 19 15 7 45 les (Dec. 23-29, 2008 and Oct. 10-14, 2005) and Sandis Ozolinsh (Feb. Chicago Blackhawks 43 19 18 6 44 16-23, 1996).
CAREER YEARS: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has matched his single-sea- AVALANCHE LEADERS son career highs in goals (7) and points (16). He is one assist shy of equal- ing his personal best (2017-18 with Vegas). Joonas Donskoi has tied his Category Player No. career high with 14 goals (also 2018-19 and 2017-18 with San Jose). Ian Goals Nathan MacKinnon 25 Cole is one goal shy of tying his career high (done three times). Assists Nathan MacKinnon 39 Points Nathan MacKinnon 64 STADIUM SERIES CREDENTIAL APPLICATION The National Hockey League has made available the media accredi- Power-Play Goals Nathan MacKinnon 8 tation application for the 2020 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadi- Shorthanded Goals Matt Calvert 2 um Series™ at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium. Media can Matt Nieto 2 use the following link to apply for event credentials: http://nhl-cre- Penalty Minutes Nazem Kadri 60 dentials.com/. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. Time on Ice/Game Samuel Girard 21:44 Game-Winning Goals Cale Makar 4 UPCOMING GAMES Mikko Rantanen 4 Tuesday, Jan. 7 at New York Rangers Goals-Against Average Pavel Francouz 2.32 Madison Square Garden, 5:30 p.m. MT, TV: NBCSN, Radio: 92.5 FM Save Percentage Pavel Francouz .929 The Avs wrap up their eighth back-to-back set of the season against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Colorado is 3-3-1 in the second half of consecutive-night sets this season. This is the first of two meetings between the Ava- PLAYER SPOTLIGHT lanche and Rangers, as New York will make its lone trip to the Mile High City on March 11. The Avs went 1-0-1 against New York last Nathan MacKinnon Position: Center campaign, falling 3-2 in a shootout on the road and winning 6-1 in Height: 6’0” Denver. Weight: 200 lbs. Shoots: Right Friday, Jan. 10 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Born: September 1, 1995 Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 92.5 FM Colorado closes out a stretch of four-straight games against the Birthplace: Halifax, Nova Scotia Eastern Conference on Friday, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pepsi Center. This will wrap up the two-game series between the clubs. Pittsburgh won the first meeting in overtime on Oct. 16. The MacKinnon was named the NHL’s First Star for the week game is also the first of a five-game homestand, one of two such ending Jan. 5, his third Three Stars of the Week award of the stretches the Avs have this campaign. The other is Feb. 11-19 and season and the seventh of his career. MacKinnon tied for the includes the Stadium Series game at the Air Force Academy’s Fal- league lead in scoring last week with the Winnipeg Jets’ Mark con Stadium. Scheifele, producing eight points (3g/5a) in three games. He is expected to appear in his 500th career game against the Rangers, becoming the sixth draft pick in Avalanche history UPCOMING SCHEDULE (since 1995-96) to play 500 contests with Colorado, joining Day Date Location Time Gabriel Landeskog (606), Alex Tanguay (598), Matt Duchene Tuesday Jan. 7 Game #44 at New York Rangers 5:30 p.m. (586), Paul Stastny (538) and John-Michael Liles (523). Wednesday Jan. 8 No practice Thursday Jan. 9 Practice at Family Sports 11 a.m. Friday Jan. 10 Morning skate at Pepsi Center 10:30 a.m. Game #45 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 7 p.m. Saturday Jan. 11 No practice Sunday Jan. 12 Practice at Family Sports 11 a.m. *All practice dates/times are subject to change, all times mountain unless otherwise noted