Game 6: Avalanche at Maple Leafs, Preview and Open Thread

Colorado Avalanche	5:30 MT / 7:30 ET	Toronto Maple Leafs
3-1-1	October 13, 2009	0-4-1
7 pts	Air Canada Centre	1 pt
t-3rd in West	Toronto, ON	Last

The surprising road trip continues. After dispatching the Boston Bruins yesterday, the Avalanche travel to Toronto for the second game of a back-to-back (and the first of two consecutive games in a building where they spell "center" wrong).

The Maple Leafs were also in action yesterday, if you consider getting shelled 7-2 as "action". The Leafs haven't been very good so far, with 15 players currently sporting a negative +/-. Vesa Toskala has a GAA above 5 at the moment. He is under fire in Toronto (Pension Plan Puppets called him the finished Finn this morning)...but we won't get to see him tonight. He's injured and so instead we'll face Joey MacDonald tonight. While we fans should certainly make fun of the Leafs, the Avalanche shouldn't get too cocky as this is a text book trap game. We especially want to watch out for Lee Stempaniak who has 8 points in 12 career games against the Avs.

We don't yet know who will be in net for the Avs. Peter Budaj is the presumed starter, but I wouldn't be shocked if Craig Anderson got the nod. Just a guess, but I wonder if Joe Sacco will want to build as much early momentum as possible. [Shocking Update: I was right. Anderson in net]. Both Milan Hejduk and Kyle Quincey have a point in every game so far this year.

Tonight's game is a field trip game. During the first period, we are all cordially invited to visit Pension Plan Puppets' game thread. During the 2nd period, the Leaf fans will stop by here (to crash our servers).

Media Game Notes (PDF)

Pension Plan Puppets

Avalanche vs Maple Leafs coverage

Today in Colorado Avalanche History: 2007. Joe Sakic scores his 15th and final NHL hat trick against Columbus