Islanders at Avalanche
THE STORY: John Tavares and Matt Duchene will forever be linked as the Nos. 1 and 3 picks – and the first two forwards taken – in the 2009 NHL draft. They even have the same career point total. Their teams are in different conferences, though, so they don’t see each other much. Tavares will try to ignite the New York Islanders while Duchene will attempt to do the same with the Colorado Avalanche when the teams meet Thursday in Denver. Colorado, which has lost four straight games (0-3-1) and is 1-5-1 in its last seven, has lost five of its six home contests. New York is 0-3-1 on the road and is 1-5-2 after a 3-1-0 start. Tavares and Duchene both have 134 points. The two have met three times – all Islanders victories – as Tavares has two assists while Duchene has failed to notch a point.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New York), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (4-6-2): Al Montoya has compiled better numbers than Evgeni Nabokov and Rick DiPietro as all three goaltenders have started at least three games apiece. Montoya, who relieved Nabokov in New York’s 6-2 loss at Boston on Monday, is 2-2-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. Blake Comeau scored 24 goals last season, but hasn’t recorded a point in 2011-12 and twice has been a healthy scratch. The Islanders are second-to-last in scoring at 2.08 goals.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (7-7-1): Left wing Peter Mueller may return to the Colorado lineup. He missed 12 games this season and all of 2010-11 because of concussions or post-concussion syndrome. The Avalanche have allowed 11 goals in their last 27 shorthanded situations. Colorado, which is 4-18-1 in its last 23 home games, plays 10 of its next 12 in Denver - including eight straight beginning Nov. 18.
OVERTIME:
1. Tavares leads New York with eight goals and 13 points. For his part, Duchene tops Colorado with 12 points, including eight in his last six games.
2. The Islanders have won four straight over the Avalanche. The under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Colorado.