Colorado Avalanche (33-17-4, second in the Central Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (29-20-5, third in the Atlantic Division)
Tampa, Florida; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche visit the Tampa Bay Lightning after Artturi Lehkonen's two-goal game against the Washington Capitals in the Avalanche's 6-3 win.
Tampa Bay has a 17-5-3 record at home and a 29-20-5 record overall. The Lightning are fourth in the league with 183 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).
Colorado is 33-17-4 overall and 13-12-4 in road games. The Avalanche have scored 200 total goals (3.7 per game) to lead the NHL.
The teams square off Thursday for the second time this season. The Avalanche won 4-1 in the last matchup. Lehkonen led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nikita Kucherov has 34 goals and 56 assists for the Lightning. Brandon Hagel has six goals and eight assists over the last 10 games.
Nathan MacKinnon has 32 goals and 55 assists for the Avalanche. Mikko Rantanen has scored seven goals with six assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lightning: 7-3-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
Avalanche: 5-4-1, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.9 assists, four penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
INJURIES: Lightning: Mikhail Sergachev: out (lower body).
Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog: out for season (knee), Pavel Francouz: out for season (groin), Logan O'Connor: day to day (lower body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
