GLENDALE, ARIZ. – Greetings from our neighbor state to the south, where the 8-24-5 Arizona Coyotes play host to the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night.

The Avs will play the next two games against the Coyotes, and, obviously, they want to win them both. Arizona is on pace to have an even worse year than last year’s Avs, but they are coming off an overtime victory over Washington Friday night.

With a 6 p.m. local start here for the game, there was no morning skate for the Avs, but we can tell you that Semyon Varlamov will get the start in goal. The Avs will also get Erik Johnson back in the lineup after serving his two-game suspension to George Parros and the Department of Player Safety.

Scott Wedgewood started in goal for the Coyotes in their win over the Capitals, but whether he’ll get the follow-up start, or whether it’ll be Antti Raanta, remains to be seen.

Will Jared Bednar go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, now that Johnson is back? I would suspect so, but we won’t know until the lineups come out.

Stay tuned to BSN Denver for postgame coverage, including a podcast with me and A.J. Haefele.