GAME PREVIEW: Avalanche Host the Chicago Blackhawks to Close Out Six Game Homestand

Denver, Colo. – The Colorado Avalanche have an opportunity to earn all 12 possible points as they finish up their six-game homestand tonight at Ball Arena. The Chicago Blackhawks are in town to face off against Colorado, their third of four meetings this season.

The last time these two teams met was back on January 8th, where Colorado fell to Chicago 3-1. This was before the blockbuster trade that sent Mikko Rantanen to the Eastern Conference. The Avalanche acquired forwards Martin Necas and Jack Drury from the Carolina Hurricanes in the trade and has since made many more acquisitions that have changed the identity of this team.

Both Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle notched a point in their debut with Colorado on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Add Ryan Lindgren, who earned his first point (an assist) with the Avalanche since his first game with the team on March 4th.

And talk about a guy who was made for a system of play, forward Martin Necas has recorded a total of 16 points (5 goals/11 assists) since joining the organization and playing next to elite center Nathan MacKinnon. His speed and puck-handling ability mesh well on the top line and have made a positive impact on Colorado’s danger on offense.

Add in Jack Drury, who has been imperative in the faceoff dot for Colorado. In 15 games with the club, his face-off win percentage (FOW%) has been at 50% or higher for 10 games, and he has an average FOW% of 52.6 since joining the team.

Erik Johnson, Jimmy Vesey, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Scott Wedgewood… All of these additions, whether sentimental, skilled, or both, have been crucial additions both on the ice and in the locker room.

On Saturday night, MacKinnon became the first player in the league to reach 100 points (27 goals/73 assists) on the season. Tonight, he sits just one point away from 1,000 career points. In 855 games played, all with the Avalanche, he’s recorded 362 goals and 637 assists.

MacKinnon will become just the third player to hit the 1,000 point tally mark with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise. With a point tonight in any fashion, he will be the 24th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 points in 856 games or less.

He capped off last week with a 2-goal performance on Saturday and earned the NHL’s First Star of the Week.