Flames at Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche attempt to avenge a recent setback and move closer to a playoff spot in the Western Conference when they continue their four-game homestand Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. Colorado began the string at Pepsi Center with a triumph over Vancouver on Monday - just two days after suffering a 5-1 loss in Calgary.
Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals to increase his team-leading - and career-high - total to 28 and added an assist in the 3-1 win over the Canucks for the Avalanche, who are three points out of the second wild-card spot in the West and trail Minnesota by eight for third place in the Central Division. Colorado owns an impressive 21-8-1 home record and has won 11 of its last 12 at Pepsi Center as it prepares to host Calgary, which remained behind Los Angeles for the second wild card after dropping a 2-0 decision at Dallas on Tuesday. The Flames have lost four of their last seven road games after going 15-5-5 over their first 25 away from home. Mikael Backlund recorded a goal and two assists in Saturday's victory by Calgary, which trails Anaheim by one point for the second wild card and Los Angeles by two for third in the Pacific Division.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet360 (Calgary), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (32-23-9): Chris Stewart made his debut with Calgary on Tuesday and finished with one shot and a minus-1 rating in just over 13 minutes of ice time one day after being claimed off waivers from Minnesota. The rugged 30-year-old right wing, who was drafted 18th overall by Colorado in 2006, recorded nine goals and four assists in 47 games with the Wild this season. Nick Shore, who was acquired from Ottawa prior to Monday's trade deadline for a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, was not in the lineup against the Stars.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (33-24-5): Anton Lindholm appears to be close to returning from the upper-body injury that has sidelined him for four games thus far, as he participated in an optional practice on Tuesday. "I did some extra contact after practice, tested it out," the 23-year-old Swedish defenseman, who has notched three assists in 43 games this season, told the team's website. "I think the medical staff first needs to make a decision and maybe re-evaluate after the practice I had with contact. I feel ready." Fellow blue-liner Mark Alt also took part in Tuesday's optional practice, one day after being claimed off waivers from Philadelphia, but is unlikely to be in the lineup against Calgary.
OVERTIME
1. The Avalanche are expected to recall G Spencer Martin from San Antonio of the American Hockey League to serve as Semyon Varlamov's backup on Wednesday as Jonathan Bernier and Andrew Hammond recover from concussions.
2. Calgary assigned LW Andrew Mangiapane, who failed to record a point over 10 games in his first NHL campaign, to Stockton of the AHL.
3. Colorado LW Matt Nieto is one point shy of 100 for his career, but is mired in a seven-game drought and has notched just one over his last 17 contests.