Avalanche at Blackhawks
Nathan MacKinnon has inserted his name into the Hart Trophy discussion in the midst of a career season with the Colorado Avalanche. Named the NHL's First Star of the Week for the second time this season, MacKinnon aims to keep the conversation going in his favor on Tuesday as the Avalanche open a two-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks.
MacKinnon collected six goals and as many assists during his five-game point streak to boost his league-best average to 1.35 points per contest. The 22-year-old Nova Scotia native has already set a career high for both goals (31) and points (77) for the Avalanche, who are 4-1-2 in their last seven to reside one point behind Los Angeles for the final postseason slot in the Western Conference. MacKinnon scored two goals and set up another on Oct. 28 in a 6-3 win over the Blackhawks, who have plummeted to the cellar in the Central with losses in 12 of their last 16 games (4-11-1). "We have some good stretches where we play pretty good, but then (there's) a little breakdown or something that's in the back of the net. It seems like every little mistake we make is costing us," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (35-24-6): Mikko Rantanen is enjoying a feverish surge by scoring in back-to-back games to increase his point streak to four games (three goals, five assists) and his point total to 40 (13 goals, 27 assists) in his past 35. The 21-year-old Finn joined his linemate MacKinnon by scoring two goals and setting up another in the first meeting with Chicago. Matt Nieto has answered a 17-game stretch in which he recorded just one point by scoring in his third straight game in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to Nashville.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (28-30-8): Nick Schmaltz tallied in the first encounter versus Colorado and increased his point total to five (four goals, one assist) in his last five games overall by scoring twice in Sunday's 6-3 setback against Anaheim. Patrick Kane boosted his team-leading totals (24 goals, 38 assists, 62 points) with three goals and six assists in his past eight contests. Fellow forward Vinnie Hinostroza has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last nine outings after amassing 15 in his previous 26.
OVERTIME
1. Chicago G Anton Forsberg, who was blitzed for four goals in just over 30 minutes on Sunday, permitted five on 20 shots in under 27 minutes in the first encounter with Colorado.
2. Avalanche D Tyson Barrie, who had an assist in the first meeting versus the Blackhawks, has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his last seven contests.
3. Chicago's 28th-ranked power play is just 2-for-16 in the last seven games after scoring at least once in seven of its previous eight.