The Avalanche could play a part in some history Thursday when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Pepsi Center, and not because they are attempting to win a third consecutive game for the first time since March 20 last season.
"We want to go .500 the rest of the season and create some positivity," Nathan MacKinnon said.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby needs two points to reach 1,000 for his career.
Here are the GAME NOTES.
Before I get to that: The Avalanche didn't have a morning skate, but I caught up with Tyson Barrie at the Penguins skate and he told me he won't play Thursday. He's missed six of the past eight games with a lower-body injury. No word on Matt Nieto (leg) will play.
Jeremy Smith will back up Calvin Pickard after getting recalled from San Antonio, with Spencer Martin going back to the Rampage.
Also:
Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell helped out at the NHL "Break the Ice" program on Wednesday. Here's my NHL.COM STORY on that.
Crosby, who leads the NHL in scoring with 60 points (30 goals, 30 assists) despite playing in just 46 games -- Edmonton's Connor McDavid has 60 points but 18 goals -- will eventually be the 86th player in NHL history to reach the milestone and would be the 12th fastest while playing in his 754th game.
He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) in nine games against the Avalanche, with five points (three goals, two assists) in four games at Pepsi Center. He didn't play Oct. 17 in the Penguins' 4-3 overtime loss to Colorado because of a concussion.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday that MacKinnon's line would get plenty of ice time against Crosby and Co.
MacKinnon and fellow Nova Scotia native Crosby are friends and train together in the offseason.
"He's been the best player in the world for 12 years now, he's been doing it forever," MacKinnon said. "He's had an unbelievable career, definitely one of the best players ever to play. He's like a grinder almost. He goes in the corners, he battles hard. That's what makes him so good; he can play any style of game. He can do it all.
"Anybody who plays with him, he makes them better. He gets involved, he’s a really good teammate and he doesn’t have a weakness. He’s such a complete player. Hopefully he doesn’t get his thousandth against us, but that’s quite a milestone.…
Jarome Iginla pointed out that Crosby's work ethic is second to none. Iginla played 13 regular-season games and 15 playoff games with Pittsburgh in 2012-13 after getting traded by Calgary for what turned out to be an unsuccessful run at the Stanley Cup. They've also been Team Canada teammates in the Olympics.
“His work ethic, it goes with all that talent that he has," Iginla said. "Everybody knows about his passes and how he can skate and his vision and all of that, but he also is really hard in the corners. It’s unique that he’s one of the better corner guys. He’ll battle in the corners and it's hard to get the puck away from him."
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (lower-body injury) skated Thursday morning, but coach Mike Sullivan said he won't play. He could be back Saturday against Arizona.
The Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS Mikhail Grigorenko-- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Matt Nieto Blake Comeau -- John Mitchell -- Jarome Iginla Andreas Martinsen -- Carl Soderberg -- Joe Colborne
DEFENSE Francois Beauchemin -- Nikita Zadorov Mark Barberio -- Cody Goloubef Fedor Tyutin -- Patrick Wiercioch GOALIES Calvin Pickard Jeremy Smith