Field Level Media
01 Dec 2021, 03:10 GMT+10
The Colorado Avalanche expect to have center Nathan MacKinnon back in the lineup Wednesday night when they open a five-game trip against the surging Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Avalanche were 7-1-0 -- averaging 5.4 goals per game -- while MacKinnon was out with a lower-body injury. He has one goal and nine assists in eight games this season.
"He's one of the best players in the world," said right winger Mikko Rantanen, who had three goals and an assist in a 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Saturday. "Getting one of the best players back to the team is only going to help us."
The Avalanche are getting healthy. Rookie defenseman Bowen Byram returned Saturday after missing six games with a concussion and scored what proved to be the winning goal.
The Maple Leafs defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Sunday to complete a sweep of a four-game trip and finish November with a 12-2-0 record.
Toronto set a club record for wins in a calendar month and matched the team record of seven straight road victories.
"We had good stretches last season ... that's why it's important to just focus on one day at a time and find consistency," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said before the team left Anaheim. "That's what we've talked about since Day 1. It has been a great November, (but) the calendar is going to turn here. We'll get back home after a long trip and have a really good team waiting for us."
The Avalanche also had a good November, going 7-2-1.
Byram has four goals and five assists in 12 games, and his return from a concussion was impressive.
"You see a lot of guys come back from that type of injury and sort of tip-toe around the ice and not be as assertive, and I thought he was the exact opposite (Saturday)," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "That's as good of a game as I've seen him play, and that's after missing six games. He was physical and he was engaged. He was just engaged from start to finish."
Colorado will face a hot goaltender in Toronto's Jack Campbell, who improved his record to 12-4-1 when he stopped 39 shots, 19 in the third period, against Anaheim. Toronto also had 10 blocked shots.
"They're just going above and beyond," Campbell said. "Everyone is doing what the game plan is and sacrificing their bodies and just committing to their roles and playing super hard for 60-plus minutes. If it takes more, they keep it going."
"Jack Campbell was great all the way throughout," Keefe said. "We gave up certainly a lot more volume than we would have liked, but I thought we defended pretty well and kept things to the perimeter and limited rebound opportunities and such."
"It's fun ... when you're winning hockey games," said left winger Michael Bunting, who had a goal and an assist on Sunday. "The mood in the room is upbeat, everyone is happy, so it's really fun to be a part of. It was a great road trip for us, and we have to head home and face a good team in Colorado."
Toronto right winger Ondrej Kase (upper-body injury) will miss his third straight game Wednesday. Joey Anderson will take his place.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Colorado Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Colorado Star.
More InformationAMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed cautious optimism that the European Union and the United States can strike...
OTTAWA, Canada: With Canada Post struggling to maintain operations amid labour unrest, rivals like FedEx and UPS are stepping in to...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
ATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...