Arizona @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2018 ) Colorado 4, Arizona 6

It will be the NHL's version of March Madness, featuring a pivotal 8-9 matchup, when the surging Colorado Avalanche host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night. While the stakes are not as high as the elimination format of the NCAA Tournament, Colorado is holding a two-point edge over Arizona for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

Despite the absence of star forwards Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog due to injury, the Avalanche ran their point streak to six games (5-0-1) with a 4-3 win over Vegas on Wednesday night. "Obviously missing those guys is huge, but it's another opportunity for other guys to step up," goaltender Philipp Grubauer said. "The guys are doing a tremendous job." The Coyotes lost five straight to relinquish their hold on a wild-card spot but halted the slide with a 1-0 victory over Chicago on Tuesday to set up the showdown in Denver. "Friday night's the most important game in the last what, I don't know how many years," coach Rick Tocchet said. "This is something that we're looking forward to."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Arizona-Plus, Altitude2 (Colorado)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (37-33-7): Arizona needs to find a way to get untracked offensively after scoring only seven times in the last six games and take the pressure off netminder Darcy Kuemper, who is expected to make his 19th consecutive start. "It's fun. This is the time of year you want to be playing in, so it's fun to be a part of," said Kuemper, who is 3-1-1 with a 2.14 goals-against average versus Colorado. "We're all enjoying it and just have to keep pushing." Nick Cousins ended a 19-game drought with a power-play tally in the win over the Blackhawks.

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (35-29-13): Colorado received good news on the injury front when it was revealed that Landeskog could return to the lineup Friday after missing nine games due to a separated shoulder. The Avalanche went 6-2-1 during the nine games missed by their captain, who was expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks but will be back after three. "He’s exactly what you’d expect from our captain, putting in long, hard hours in the training room and in the gym and doing everything he possibly can to get ready,” coach Jared Bednar said.

OVERTIME

1. Grubauer is 5-0-1 during his run of six straight starts and 1-0-0 with five goals allowed in two starts versus Arizona this season.

2. Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson is one assist shy of reaching 30 for the second time.

3. Avalanche leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon has two goals and 14 points in 16 matchups against Arizona.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Coyotes 2