AVALANCHE (20-50-3) at OILERS (40-25-9)
10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, ALT, NHL.TV
Avalanche team scope
The Colorado Avalanche are on a four-game losing streak and have lost six of their past seven games (1-6-0). Colorado is last in the Central Division and are 42 points out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup playoffs from the Western Conference. The Avalanche lost 7-4 to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at Pepsi Center. Colorado took a 2-0 first-period lead and were up 4-2 going into the third period. "We know what the standings look like, we have nothing to lose, it's about going out there and playing with pride and really getting ready for next year," captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "For the guys that are going to be here, to go out and start learning how to finish those games, because if we start like this next year, it's not going to be pretty again. We have to make sure we do some of the little things right and finish off some of those games." Calvin Pickard will start. He has played in 42 games this season, taking over for starter Semyon Varlamov, who was ruled out for the season because of a groin injury. "[Pickard] was really good at the start of the year when we had [Varlamov], then as he started to play every night, he was in and out of his game a little bit," coach Jared Bednar said. "I think he's worked through that and he's been doing a good job, but this is the most games he's ever played, he's going to double his total from previous years."
Oilers team scope
The Edmonton Oilers are two points behind the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks play the Nashville Predators on Saturday; the Ducks play the New York Rangers on Sunday. Edmonton is on a four-game home winning streak and has won five of its past six games (5-1-0). The Oilers scored five goals in the third period against the Avalanche on Thursday after trailing 4-2. "We have to be ready to go right off the hop," captain Connor McDavid said. "We just weren't ready to go [Thursday]. There were a few different elements with the travel and [playing] the night before and all that, we can make all the excuses we want, but we just weren't ready to go. We'll fix that." McDavid leads the NHL with 87 points (26 goals, 61 assists) ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, who has 82 points (42 goals, 40 assist). Edmonton is playing the first game of a four-game homestand. The Oilers are trying to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006. Laurent Brossoit will start for the first time since losing 4-1 at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 21. Brossoit entered in relief of Cam Talbot at Colorado and in a 4-3 loss at the Ducks on Wednesday. "It's always nice to get a start," Brossoit said. "I've been patient and working hard, so anytime I can get one, I'm happy."
Avalanche projected lineup
Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Matt Nieto
Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Rene Bourque -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Mikhail Grigorenko -- J.T. Compher -- Joe Colborne
Anton Lindholm -- Francois Beauchemin
Calvin Pickard
Scratched: John Mitchell, Cody Goloubef, Patrick Wiercioch
Injured: none
Oilers projected lineup
Patrick Maroon -- Connor McDavid -- Leon Draisaitl
Milan Lucic -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Jordan Eberle
Benoit Pouliot -- David Desharnais -- Zack Kassian
Drake Caggiula -- Mark Letestu -- Jujhar Khaira
Darnell Nurse -- Matthew Benning
Laurent Brossoit
Cam Talbot
Scratched: Eric Gryba, Iiro Pakarinen, Matt Hendricks, Anton Slepyshev
Injured: none
Status report
Khaira will be in the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the past eight games. He will replace Pakarinen on the fourth line. Brossoit is 2-1-0 in six games this season. … Grigorenko will return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Thursday and will replace Mitchell on the fourth line.
Who's hot
Draisaitl had 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) on a six-game multipoint streak. McDavid has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in his past six games. Lucic has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past eight games. Maroon has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past six games.
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