The Vancouver Canucks (36-29-13) close out the road portion of their schedule when they face the Colorado Avalanche (48-27-4) at Ball Arena in Denver.
The Canucks are playing out the string with four games remaining after officially being eliminated from playoff contention last night.

What we know

It will be interesting to see how the Canucks approach tonight’s game knowing they no longer have anything to play for in terms of a playoff chase. Also, how will they follow up the greatest comeback in franchise history in Tuesday’s 6-5 overtime victory in Dallas?
Kiefer Sherwood’s 18th goal of the season at 3:44 of overtime capped the remarkable rally from a 5-2 deficit with 60 seconds remaining in regulation time. Aatu Räty scored his fifth goal in seven games to cut into the Dallas lead, and then Pius Suter scored twice in the final 31 seconds to tie the game. 
Suter now has 24 goals on the season and has 19 points in his last 20 games.
Jake DeBrusk scored a third period power play goal, giving him 25 goals on the season and a share of the team lead with Brock Boeser. DeBrusk has scored 18 of his 25 goals this season on the road, and 13 of his goals have come with the man-advantage.
Captain Quinn Hughes didn’t come off the ice in overtime, logging 3:44 in the extra session. His 31:28 on the night was just 10 seconds off the career high he established in New Jersey two weeks ago. Hughes needs three points over the final four games to pass Alex Edler for the all-time franchise record for points by a defenceman. 
With no extra healthy bodies on the road trip, the Canucks will use the same 18 skaters they did on Tuesday in Dallas. Kevin Lankinen is the confirmed starter in goal after backing up Thatcher Demko against the Stars. Lankinen last played last Sunday in a 3-2 loss to Vegas. He has dropped four straight decisions (0-2-2).
While the Canucks are playing in Colorado at 6 pm Pacific time, Tom Willander, Aidan Celebrini and the Boston University Terriers are facing Penn State in a semi-final at the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Louis. This could be Willander’s final game in college hockey.

The opponent

The Avalanche are coming off a 3-2 shootout win over Vegas on Tuesday night. Val Nichushkin and Jimmy Vesey helped Colorado erase a 2-0 deficit, and then Charlie Coyle scored the only goal of the shootout to deliver the victory. Scott Wedgewood got the win against the Golden Knights, however MacKenzie Blackwood will get the start tonight.
Nathan MacKinnon had his league-leading 84th assist on Tuesday. He and Nikita Kucherov are tied for the NHL scoring lead with 116 points apiece. The Avs appear to be shutting the star centre down for the regular season. MacKinnon will not play tonight and is expected to sit out the team’s final two games as well. The Canucks and Washington are the only two teams in the league MacKinnon did not record a point against this season.
Cale Makar is second on the team in scoring and leads all NHL defencemen with 30 goals and 91 points. He is eighth in overall league scoring and has opened a 16-point lead on Zach Werenski in the defenceman scoring race. With Makar’s exploits, it should come as no surprise that the Avs lead the NHL in goals and points from the blueline this season.
Since February 26th, Colorado is 15-3-2 and second only to St. Louis in points gained in the standings. The Avs have also won 11 straight and are 12-1-2 in their last 15 games on home ice. Tonight is the team’s final home game of the regular season. The Avalanche will wrap up its schedule with weekend games in Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Colorado is all but locked into third spot in the Central Division and, as such, will most likely start the playoffs on the road in Dallas.
The Canucks have taken the first two games of the season series against the Avs by scores of 3-0 and 3-1. Both games were played in Vancouver. Colorado is 15-5-1 this season against Pacific Division opponents, but two of those outright losses have come against the Canucks.
Today’s referees: Kendrick Nicholson & Jake Brenk
Today’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse & Dave Tomlinson
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