The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Vegas Golden Knights to start off after the break. The tale is very different for both of the clubs, though. Both teams are in first place in their respective divisions, but the Avalanche are setting records along the way. Colorado has only two regulation losses through 36 games, while the Golden Knights have 17 through 35 games. Vegas has played a good portion of their season without their captain, while Gabriel Landeskog has not missed a game. This game may just boil down to the goaltending and who can hold out the longest.

Colorado Avalanche (27–2–7, 61 pts)

The Avalanche have come out of the break with the most points at Christmas break since the 2006–07 Anaheim Ducks. They were also the second fastest team to reach 60 points behind the 1929–30 Boston Bruins. It took only one more game than the Bruins did. We are witnessing history. In the last game before the break, they played the Utah Mammoth and won 1–0. Samuel Girard had the only tally in the game, while Scott Wedgewood once again held firm in the net. It would sit as Wedgewood’s second shutout of the season and fourth for the Avs.

Projected Lines

Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Artturi Lehkonen – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly – Ross Colton – Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Samuel Girard – Sam Malinski

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Vegas Golden Knights (17–18–10, 44 pts)

Holding the lead in the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights have 44 points, not as hot as the Avs. And they are doing it without their starting goaltender Adin Hill, who is out with an injury. Their captain, Mark Stone, missed 15 games because of injury. He has still managed 21 points in 19 games played this season. Vegas’ last game on the 23rd against the San Jose Sharks was an utter blowout. The Golden Knights won 7–2 with Mitch Marner and Stone both scoring a pair of goals each.

Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone
Alexander Holtz – Tomas Hertl – Pavel Dorofeyev
Reilly Smith – Brett Howden – Braeden Bowman
Brandon Saad – Brandon Saad – Gavin Brindley Brandon Saad

Brayden McNabb – Kaedan Korczak
Noah Hanifin – Ben Hutton
Jeremy Lauzon – Zach Whitecloud

Carter Hart
Akira Schmid

Game Details

Time: 8:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, Scripps, ESPN+ (Out of Market Only)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950