Eurolanche

Last Time Out

Colorado Avalanche

Colorado started their current trip with a 5-2 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. Gabriel Landeskog and Erik Johnson each scored in the first 20 minutes of the contest but Florida scored two more times before netting an empty-net goal to seal the win. Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov each found the back of the net and had two helpers in the contest. Semyon Varlamov was in net for Colorado and made 27 saves in the outing.

Florida Panthers

Vincent Trocheck scored twice and Jonathan Huberdeau tallied three assists in the Panthers 6-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. James Reimer faced 18 shots in the third period and finished the contest with 35 saves. Florida was shorthanded seven times in the contest and only allowed the Jets to score one power-play goal.

Last Time They Met

The Panthers defeated the Avalanche 3-1 when the teams last met on Dec. 16 at Pepsi Center. Fedor Tyutin netted Colorado's only tally and Florida had three different goal scorers. The Panther's penalty-kill unit held the Avs scoreless on seven man-advantage opportunities and scored a shorthanded marker. Calvin Pickard was in the crease for the Avalanche and made 22 saves. Reimer was between the pipes for Florida and stopped 30 shots.

What to Watch

Busy Holiday Season

Colorado is currently in a stretch of 11 games in 20 days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 18. The Avs will play 15 games this month, the second consecutive December that Colorado will play 15 total contests in the last month of the calendar year. Eleven of those outings will come against Eastern Conference opponents. Colorado is 7-6-1 against Metropolitan and Atlantic Division teams so far this season.

Florida Likes To Shoot

The Panthers have averaged 35.03 shots per-game, ranking them fourth in the NHL. Florida has outshot its opponent 12 times this season, however it has only won three of those outings. Although the Cats are fourth in shots, they have been outshot by their opposition 16 times and have emerged victorious in eight of those games.

Player to Watch

Colorado: Defenseman Tyson Barrie

Blueliner Tyson Barrie leads all Avalanche defensemen with 20 points so far this campaign and is second overall on the team with 18 assists. The 26-year-old defenseman has played against Florida seven times throughout his career and has six points (two goals, four assists) in those outings.

Florida: Center Aleksander Barkov

The 22-year-old center Aleksander Barkov is riding a three-game point streak, totaling four points (two goals, two assists) in his last three outings. He is second among Panthers in scoring with 10 goals and third on the team in points with 27. He had an assist in the last matchup between Colorado and Florida last December.

The Details

The matchup between the Avalanche and the Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT on Saturday. The game will be televised on Altitude and the radio broadcast can be heard on Altitude Sports Radio AM 950 or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com

-- by Callie Parmele for avalanche.nhl.com --