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 goal 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 Dallas Stars 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 Colorado Avalanche 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 San Jose Sharks AVALANCHE LEADERS Category Player No. UPCOMING GAMES Goals Gabriel Landeskog 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 Penalty 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