Vegas @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2019 ) Vegas 0, Colorado 3

The Golden Knights are running out of games to overhaul the slumping San Jose Sharks for second place in the Pacific Division, their momentum stalled by back-to-back losses in the wake of a sizzling stretch. Trailing San Jose by five points with six games remaining, the Golden Knights wrap up a two-game road trip with a visit to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

Vegas has been limited to a combined three goals in losses to Detroit and at St. Louis and also was held off the scoreboard in its last trip to the Mile High City -- a 3-0 setback on Feb. 18. The Golden Knights, who play three of the final six away from home, had won 10 of their previous 11 contests and scored 18 goals during a three-game span before the offense hit a dry spell. The Avalanche, who are clinging to the second wild card in the Western Conference, had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 2-1 overtime loss at Chicago on Sunday. Earning a point in the back end of a home-and-home versus the Blackhawks "still puts us in a position where we control our own destiny," defenseman Tyson Barrie said. "We just have to move on. We have some big games coming up."

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (42-28-6): Starting netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was among a number of players missing at Tuesday's practice, likely putting Malcolm Subban in line for a sixth consecutive start. Max Pacioretty, who is third on the team with 22 goals and was sidelined the past two games, also did not practice along with fellow forwards Brandon Pirri and Tomas Nosek and defenseman Shea Theodore. William Karlsson, who had a career-high 43 goals last season, has scored four times in four games to boost his total to 23.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (34-29-13): Backup Philipp Grubauer got the call for each of the past four starts, including a back-to-back over the weekend against Chicago, and allowed six goals while going 3-0-1. "It was a tough decision, it's no question, but the way Grubauer has been playing lately and what he's been able to do and bailing us out in different situations ... made the job a little easier," coach Jared Bednar said. Forward Mikko Rantanen, second on the team in scoring with 87 points, will be sidelined for a third straight game.

OVERTIME

1. Golden Knights F Jonathan Marchessault had six points in three meetings in 2017-18 versus Colorado but has zero in two matchups this season.

2. Avalanche leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon is five points shy of last season's career high of 97.

3. Subban turned aside 35 of 38 shots in the 3-0 loss at Colorado last month.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Golden Knights 2