AVALANCHE NOTES CENTRAL DIVISION/WILD CARD STANDINGS EJ REACHES 700: Erik Johnson appeared in his 700th career NHL game TEAM GP W L OT PTS on Friday night in San Jose, becoming the first defenseman from the 2006 Winnipeg Jets 65 39 22 4 82 NHL Draft class to reach 700 games and the 47th U.S.-born defenseman Nashville Predators 68 38 25 5 81 in NHL history to hit the 700 mark. St. Louis Blues 65 34 25 6 74 POWER UP: The Avalanche has scored a power-play in three straight WILD CARD games (3-for-9, 33.3%) and six of its last seven contests, going 7-for-26 (26.9%) over that span. Overall, Colorado’s power-play unit ranks eighth 65 33 27 5 71 in the NHL at 22.6%. The Avs are 10-0-0 when they score two or more Minnesota Wild 66 32 27 7 71 power-play goals this season. Arizona Coyotes 65 32 28 5 69 “Obviously 700 seems like a lot when you first break into the league when 66 28 26 12 68 you are 19. Every 100 games you play is a good milestone and it goes by Edmonton Oilers 66 29 30 7 65 fast, you got to enjoy it and appreciate it. You never know how many you Chicago Blackhawks 66 27 30 9 63 are going to be able to play, so you got to treat every day as a gift and a blessing.” Vancouver Canucks 66 27 30 9 63 —Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, who skated in his 700th NHL game on Friday night against the AVALANCHE LEADERS Category Player No. UPCOMING GAMES Goals 33 Tuesday, March 5 vs. Detroit Red Wings Nathan MacKinnon 33 Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 92.5 FM Assists Mikko Rantanen 54 The Avs host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, which begins a stretch in which Colorado plays three of four con- Points Mikko Rantanen 82 tests against the Eastern Conference. The Avalanche is 13-9-6 Nathan MacKinnon 82 against the East in 2018-19, going 6-4-2 at home. Power-Play Goals Mikko Rantanen 13 Thursday, March 7 at Dallas Stars Shorthanded Goals J.T. Compher 3 American Airlines Center, 6:30 p.m. MT, TV: Alt., Radio: 92.5 FM Carl Soderberg 3 The Avalanche makes a quick trip to Dallas to take on its Central Minutes Ian Cole 111 Division foe, the Stars, the first of two remaining games between two clubs fighting for a playoff spot. Colorado will travel to the Time on Ice/Game Erik Johnson 21:57 Lone Star State again on March 21 to wrap up the season series. Game-Winning Goals Gabriel Landeskog 9

Saturday, March 9 vs. Buffalo Sabres Goals-Against Average Semyon Varlamov 2.83 Pepsi Center, 1 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 92.5 FM Save Percentage Semyon Varlamov .911 Saturday’s game opens a four-game homestand for the Ava- lanche, as it hosts the Buffalo Sabres for a matinee tilt on Satur- day. Colorado is 4-4-2 in day games so far this season. The Avs PLAYER SPOTLIGHT won the first matchup against Buffalo, 6-1 on Oct. 11. Mikko Rantanen Position: Right Wing Monday, March 11 vs. Carolina Hurricanes Pepsi Center, 7 p.m. MT, TV: Altitude, Radio: 92.5 FM Height: 6’4” The Avalanche wraps up its two-game season series against the Weight: 215 lbs. Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Colorado took the first game, Shoots: Left 3-1 on Oct. 20 and has won 12 of its last 13 games against the Born: October 29, 1996 Hurricanes at home (12-0-1). Birthplace: Nousiainen, Finland

UPCOMING SCHEDULE Day Date Location Time Tuesday Mar. 5 Morning skate at Pepsi Center 10:30 a.m. Rantanen notched his 13th power-play goal of the season, a Game #67 vs. Detroit Red Wings 7 p.m. new career high, on Friday night against San Jose. He sur- Wednesday Mar. 6 Practice at Family Sports 11 a.m. passed his previous career best of 12 set during the 2017-18 Team flight to Dallas after practice campaign and is now tied for seventh in the league (Mike Thursday Mar. 7 Morning skate at American Airlines Center 10:30 a.m. Hoffman, Florida) in power-play markers and ranks sixth in Game #68 at Dallas Stars 6:30 p.m. points on the man advantage with 30. Rantanen is now one Friday Mar. 8 Practice at Family Sports 12 p.m. goal, one assist and two points shy of matching his personal Saturday Mar. 9 Game #69 vs. Buffalo Sabres 1 p.m. bests in each category (29g, 55a, 84pts last season). Sunday Mar. 10 Practice at Family Sports 11 a.m. Monday Mar. 11 Morning skate at Pepsi Center 10:30 a.m. Game #70 vs. Carolina Hurricanes 7 p.m. *All practice dates/times are subject to change, all times mountain