Avalanche at Hurricanes
If the Colorado Avalanche hope to qualify for the postseason, they'll have to step up their game on the road. Colorado seeks just its second win in its last seven on the road when it continues a three-game trek Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Avalanche, who are two points behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, began their trip Thursday with a 6-1 setback in St. Louis that dropped them to 1-4-1 away from home since defeating Toronto on Jan. 22. Carolina is continuing a season-high, eight-game homestand during which it is 3-2-1 after Friday's 4-1 triumph over Vancouver. Sebastian Aho and defenseman Brett Pesce each recorded a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who are one point behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card in the East and trail New Jersey by three for third in the Metropolitan Division.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude2 (Colorado), FS Carolinas
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (29-20-4): Mikko Rantanen, who is second on the team with 50 points, returned to the lineup Thursday after missing one game with a lower-body injury but was kept off the scoresheet in just over 17:38 of ice time. Colin Wilson needs one goal to reach 100 in the NHL but has scored just once in his last 19 contests. Blake Comeau, who is the only member of the team that has appeared in every game this season, could miss Saturday's matchup after sitting out the final period of the loss to the Blues with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (25-21-9): Aho now has reached the 20-goal plateau in both of his NHL seasons and is tied with fellow Finn Teuvo Teravainen for first on the team with 42 points. The 20-year-old Aho, who scored 24 goals as a rookie last campaign, has tallied in nine of his last 12 contests. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin celebrated his 200th NHL game on Friday by registering an assist - his first point in eight games.
OVERTIME
1. Hurricanes LW Phillip Di Giuseppe, who scored his first goal of the season Friday, is one game shy of 100 in the NHL.
2. Colorado G Jonathan Bernier is 11-3-1 over his last 15 contests.
3. Carolina C Marcus Kruger and RW Josh Jooris both cleared waivers and were assigned to Charlotte of the American Hockey League.