Carolina Hurricanes (9-4-1, second in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (6-4-1, third in the Central Division)
Denver; Saturday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Colorado Avalanche after Andrei Svechnikov recorded a hat trick in the Hurricanes' 7-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers.
Colorado is 6-4-1 overall and 3-1-1 at home. The Avalanche have given up 31 goals while scoring 39 for a +8 scoring differential.
Carolina has a 9-4-1 record overall and a 5-2-1 record in road games. The Hurricanes have a +five scoring differential, with 44 total goals scored and 39 conceded.
Saturday's game is the third time these teams meet this season. The Avalanche won 7-4 in the previous meeting. Logan O'Connor led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mikko Rantanen has seven goals and nine assists for the Avalanche. Evan Rodrigues has five goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Sebastian Aho has seven goals and 10 assists for the Hurricanes. Svechnikov has five goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 6-3-1, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.9 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Valeri Nichushkin: out (ankle), Darren Helm: out (undisclosed), Gabriel Landeskog: out (knee), Bowen Byram: out (undisclosed).
Hurricanes: Ondrej Kase: out (concussion), Jake Gardiner: out (hip/back), Cavan Fitzgerald: out (undisclosed), Max Pacioretty: out (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
