Eurolanche

Avs close out roadie in Toronto

The Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs clash on Sunday in their first meeting of the 2016-17 campaign. It's the final contest of a four-game road trip for the Avs and the first of a five-game homestand for the Maple Leafs.

Colorado is 15-12-3 against the Maple Leafs since the 1995-96 season and has won four of its last six matchups in Toronto.

Last Time Out

Both the Avs and the Maple Leafs enter the second half of a back-to-back set on Sunday. The Avs fell to the Montreal Canadiens 10-1 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, while the Maple Leafs earned a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

The Avs allowed five goals in a 5:45 span of the first period and was never able to recover, suffering their worst loss of the season at the hands of the NHL's top team. For Toronto, nine different players registered at least a point, and Frederik Andersen finished with 32 saves.

Last Time They Met

Toronto and Colorado last met almost a year ago, as the Maple Leafs secured a 7-4 win over the Avalanche on December 21, 2015 at Pepsi Center. Tyler Bozak netted a hat trick, and Leo Komarov added two goals and an assist.

What to Watch For

Looking to Make Moves

Both the Avalanche and the Maple Leafs enter tonight's game sitting in last place in their respective divisions. Toronto's 25 points rank eighth in the Atlantic Division, and Colorado sits in seventh in the Central. The Avs are 1-2-0 through the first three games of the current road trip, looking to finish .500 on the swing before heading back to the Mile High City.

Back-to-Backs

The Avs are playing back-to-back games for the fourth time this season. Colorado is 2-2-0 in the first game of a back-to-back this year and 1-2-0 in the second. The Avalanche will play 11 such sets this year.

The Maple Leafs are playing their sixth of 18 sets of back-to-back games in 2016-17. Toronto is 3-2-1 in the first game of back-to-backs and 0-3-1 in the second.

Player to Watch

Colorado: Center Nathan MacKinnon

With an assist on Blake Comeau's first-period goal, MacKinnon recorded his team-leading 12th assist of the season and extended his point streak to three games.

Toronto: Center Tyler Bozak

Bozak is currently tied for fourth among Maple Leafs skaters with 19 points and ranks second with 13 assists. He's been particularly effective against the Avalanche with 13 points in nine career contests, nine of which have come in his last four games against Colorado.

The Details

Puck drop between the Avalanche and the Maple Leafs is slated for 5 p.m. MT, and the game can be watched live on Altitude. Fans can listen to the action on Altitude Sports Radio AM950 or online at ColoradoAvalanche.com.

-- by Danielle Bernstein for ColoradoAvalanche.com --