NHL Game Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks with Line Combinations 12/16/2024

Colorado Avalanche (18-14-0, 36 pts) at Vancouver Canucks (15-9-5, 35 pts)

Venue: Rogers Arena
Date: Monday, December 16
Time: 10:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN+/Altitude/SCRI/Sportsnet
Radio: 
Vancouver Canucks – Sportsnet 650 AM
Colorado Avalanche – Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM / 950 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Colorado Avalanche -1.5 ML -142
Vancouver Canucks +1.5 ML +120
O/U 6

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Colorado Avalanche News & Notes: 

The Avalanche saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday before picking up another win on Saturday. They are looking to pick up another two points as they try to distance themselves from the teams chasing them for a Wild Card spot.

Vancouver Canucks News & Notes: 

The Canucks have had the return of their goalie Thatcher Demko but he’s still working on getting back into game shape as he is 0-1-1 giving up nine goals on 53 shots on goal.

Colorado Avalanche Projected Lines: 

Lehkonen-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Colton-Mittelstadt-Nichushkin
Kiviranta-Kelly-O’Connor
Smith-Ivan-Wagner
Toews-Makar
Girard-Malinski
Middleton-De Haan

Wedgewood
Blackwood

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Vancouver Canucks Projected Lines:

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sasson
Garland-Miller-Boeser
Heinen-Suter-Sherwood
Joshua-Blueger-Hoglander
Hughes-Juulsen
Soucy-Myers
Forbort-Friedman

Demko
Silovs

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Vancouver Hockey

Players To Watch:

Colorado Avalanche

Mikko Rantanen has been on fire as of late recording a point in each of the last five games, in that stretch he has 11 points on three goals and eight assists. This season he has 46 points on 18 goals and 28 assists. In his career against Vancouver he has 29 points in 18 games on 14 goals and 15 assists.

Vancouver Canucks

Jake DeBrusk this season has 23 points on 14 goals and nine assists. Since the calendar flipped to December he has seven goals in seven games. In 12 career games against Colorado he has eight points on six goals and two assists.

Injury Report:

Colorado Avalanche

F Gabriel Landeskog – IR
F Jonathan Drouin – Out
D Tucker Poolman – IR
D Josh Manson – IR

Vancouver Canucks

D Filip Hronek – IR
D Derek Forbort – Out
G Kevin Lankinen – Out

Next game:

Colorado Avalanche – December 19 at San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks – December 18 at Utah Hockey Club

LOOK At Us Now – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad, Chris, and Jayd as they cover the expanded NHL Playoffs, the 2026 Winter Classic & Stadium Series in Florida, and the Eastern Conference Playoff Chaos: Ottawa, Detroit, Montreal, and Boston. NHL Trade Rumor Hub: Detroit circling Dylan Cozens? Are Bjorkstrand and Burakovsky available in Seattle? Is Ryan O'Reilly on his way out of Smashville? All of this and more! Please like & subscribe to the show to keep up-to-date on all your NHL news and trade rumors!

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