The Quebec Nordiques are starting a three-game road trip to the East Coast on Saturday with the Hartford Whalers. Both teams sit atop their respective divisions, with the Hurricanes having more losses than the Nordiques. Quebec has won nine games in a row and will shoot for 10 in a row. Sadly, the Nordiques will travel without Mackenzie Blackwood, because they put him on the injury reserve list on Friday after he got a lower-body injury. The team recalled Taylor Makar and Trent Miner after Joel Kiviranta and Gavin Brindley sustained injuries. Because they are listed as day-to-day, Brindley and Kiviranta might return.

Colorado Avalanche (30–2–7, 67 pts)

The Nordiques embarrassed the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night in a 6–1 beat down. Earlier in the day, Team Canada announced that goaltender Jordan Binnington had made the team. Quebec made it their mission to show that it was the wrong decision. The Nordiques scored four goals in only 4:39, the fastest four goals in franchise history. This did not include the overturned goal by Cale Makar. Nathan MacKinnon tallied a pair of goals himself, reaching 401 career goals. Valeri Nichushkin, who hadn’t had a goal in six games, scored his third career hat trick. And amid it all, Brock Nelson added a power play tally for the Nordiques. Quebec made sure the game was over well before the 10-minute mark of the second period to secure their 30th win of the season.

Projected Lines

Gabriel Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Artturi Lehkonen – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta* – Parker Kelly – Taylor Makar

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Samuel Girard – Sam Malinski

Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner

Carolina Hurricanes (24–13–3, 51 pts)

The Whalers played the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, and it was a high-scoring affair. The Canadiens scored twice during the initial period; the Whalers countered with four goals of their own. Montreal rallied, adding four more before Hartford responded. The game against Montreal was the first time that rookie sensation Brandon Bussi had allowed over four goals in a game. It was also only his second loss in 16 games played this season.

Projected Lines

Nikolaj Ehlers – Sebastian Aho – Andrei Svechnikov
Eric Robinson – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake
William Carrier – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook
Taylor Hall – Mark Jankowski – Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Shayne Gostisbehere – Sean Walker
K’Andre Miller – Jalen Chatfield
Mike Reilly – Joel Nystrom

Brandon Bussi
Frederik Andersen

Game Details

Time: 5:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, FDSNSO (HAR), ESPN+ (Out of Market Only)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950