Avalanche @ Red Wings

Who will WIN this matchup?

Colorado Avalanche (15-6-5)

@ Detroit Red Wings (12-11-3)

Starting Goalies:

Semyon Varlamov(COL): Confirmed

Jimmy Howard (DET): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Colorado Avalanche: (-160)

Detroit Red Wings: (+140)

• Colorado’s high-powered top line had a quiet end to an otherwise loud month last time out and look to get back to business as the Avalanche attempt to extend their point streak to 11 games Sunday night against the host Detroit Red Wings. Mikko Rantanen had a goal, giving him an NHL-most 43 points, but linemates Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog were kept off the scoresheet in Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss to last-place St. Louis at home.

• The Avalanche, who are 8-0-2 in their last 10 contests, look to get their four-game road trip off to a good start when they take on a Detroit team that has totally turned around its season after opening with nine losses in 10 games (1-7-2). The Red Wings improved to 11-4-1 since that woeful start with a 4-2 victory over Boston on Saturday as Frans Nielsen scored the go-ahead goal – his first tally of the season – and Jimmy Howard made 38 saves.

• Dylan Larkin notched his 10th goal to maintain the team lead with 22 points, but fellow forward Gustav Nyquist recorded three (goal, two assists) to move within one of the speedy center. Detroit is starting to get more contributions from its defense as Mike Green boasts five of his 14 points in the last four games while Danny DeKeyser registered five assists in his past six contests. Special teams have a been a concern of late as the Red Wings are 2-of-20 on the power play, including 1-of-4 on Saturday in the past eight games and have killed only 11-of-17 in the past four contests after giving up one to the Bruins.

• Rantanen boasts a seven-game point streak and had 22 points in November while MacKinnon had 23 of his 41 and was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Month. Landeskog adds 28 points and leads the team with a plus-18 rating to round out a top line that has combined for 14 power-play goals on a unit that ranks first in the league (31.4 percent). Tyson Barrie (three goals, 20 points) could miss his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury and fellow defenseman Mark Barberio (upper body) was placed on injured reserve, giving Mark Alt a chance to make his season debut on the blue line Friday.

• Detroit D Trevor Daley (lower body) sat out Saturday’s game and is questionable for the Avalanche matchup.

• Colorado D Erik Johnson received a game misconduct Friday for his hit on Alex Steen, but will not face supplemental discipline.

• The Avalanche won both meetings last season, including a 4-3 overtime triumph at Detroit.