Game 61 Preview: Tampa Bay Lightning (34-21-5, 73 points) vs. Colorado Avalanche (38-17-5, 81 points)
By Andrew Dill
Feb 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) reacts to his assist against the Phoenix Coyotes in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche defeated the Coyotes 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche (38-17-5, 81 points) are coming off of a win over the Phoenix Coyotes at home by the final score of 4-2 Friday night. Captain Gabriel Landeskog led the way recording all three of his point in the third period (1 goal, 2 assists) to push the Avs to victory. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov was stout in net, making big save after big save as he was 38-of-40 on save attempts, .952% save percentage.
What: NHL Preview: vs.
When: Sunday, March 2nd
Where: Pepsi Center
Time: 8:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
This is the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season as the Lightning currently have the upper hand as they came away with a win on Jan. 25th, 5-2. Rookie Tyler Johnson would have himself a game as he recorded a hat-trick in front of 19,204 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Sami Aittokallio would get the start as Jean-Sebastien Giguere was out due to injury. He would get pulled later in the game after giving up three goals on 18 shots as Varlamov came in and gave up two on 11 shots.
Speaking of rookies, Nathan MacKinnon continues to dazzle in his first-year as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. The rookie now is on a 10-game point streak while leading all rookies with 22 goals. He has 5 goals and 9 assists during the streak in which he recorded two assists against Phoenix on Friday night.
Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will be back in the lineup as he is now done serving his two-game suspension. Patrick Roy scratched d-man Andre Benoit to make room for EJ in the starting lineup.
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Tampa Bay Lightning: Ben Bishop: 29-9-4, 2.00 GAA, .933% save percentages.
Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov: 29-11-5, 2.47 GAA, .925% save percentage.