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Vegas Golden Knights (14-6-2) @ Colorado Avalanche (12-9-0)

8pm MT | ball arena | Watch: Altitude, TNT, Altitude+, Max | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After a four-game road trip in which they went 3-1-0, the Avalanche will open the holiday season with a home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The two teams met on opening night in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights won 8-4, and will meet for the third time on April 8 in Denver.

Latest result (VGK): VGK 5, PHI 4 (SO)

Last result (COL): COL 2, TBL 8

Defeat in Tampa

The Avalanche lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-2 on Monday at Amalie Arena. Ivan Ivan scored two goals, making it his first multi-goal game in his career. After the Lightning took a 2-0 lead in the first period, Ivan scored on a rebound from the front door at 8:56 of the first frame. Ivan scored again at 1:08 of the third period, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to four before the Lightning responded with two goals to win 8-2.

Frequent use of leaderboards

Nathan MacKinnon is tied for first in the NHL in points (35) and first in assists (28).

Mikko Rantanen ranks fourth in the NHL in goals (14), tenth in assists (18) and fifth in points (32).

Cale Makar leads NHL defensemen in goals (8), assists (22) and points (30). He ranks fifth among all NHL skaters in assists and eighth in that group in points.

Story

The Avalanche have a record of 14-10-2 in their 26 previous regular season games against the Golden Knights.

Fight back on Broad Street

The Golden Knights defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in a shootout on Monday at the Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers took a 3-0 lead on goals from Morgan Frost, Sean Couturier and Emil Andrae. Vegas responded with two goals in the second period from Jack Eichel at 7:42 and Ivan Barbashev at 11:32. After Vegas’ answer, Philadelphia extended its lead to two when Matvei Michkov scored at 13:18 of the middle frame. The Golden Knights then tied the game with goals from Pavel Dorofeyev at 18:10 of the second minute and Tanner Pearson at 11:55 of the third minute before winning in the shootout.

Numbers against the Knights

MacKinnon posted 25 points (7g/18a) in 26 regular season games against Vegas, in addition to seven points (3g/4a) in seven playoff games.

In 16 regular season games against the Golden Knights, Makar recorded 12 points (4g/8a) and seven points (1g/6a) in seven playoff games.

Rantanen scored 18 points (9g/9a) in 23 regular season games against the Golden Knights, including a hat trick in the first meeting of the season. He scored eight points in seven playoff games against Vegas (4g/4a).

Brave Vegas scorers

Eichel leads Vegas in points (34) and assists (26).

Dorofeyev leads the Golden Knights in goals (11).

Barbashev is second on the team in goals (10) and second in points (24).

A numbers game

4

Ivan is fourth NHL rookie in goals (5).

10

Rantanen’s 10 goals in November are the most in the NHL.

15

MacKinnon’s 15 assists in November lead the NHL.

22

Even if Makar hadn’t scored a goal this year, his 22 assists would still be the tied leader among NHL defensemen.

Quote that left its mark

“But we don’t have time. (Tuesday is) a day off and we’re back at the rink playing Vegas. So we don’t have much time to deal with this issue.”

– Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar on the rest of Monday’s game