The Avalanche will look to increase their win streak to 5 games, and Jamie McGinn will make his Avalanche debut tonight when the Avs take on the BJs for the third team this season. The Avs won the previous two meetings, and the teams will meet again in the Avs' second to last game of the season on April 5th. That next meeting could prove to be a huge game for the surging Avalanche who have won 4 straight in clawing their way to the forefront of the playoff race.
Lots of positives for the Avs right now as they're 7-2-1 in their last ten games, have averaged 4.25 goals-per-game during the current win streak, both Mueller and Hejduk have returned to the line up, Matt Duchene scored his first goal since 2010 2011 last game, and newcomer Steve Downie has meshed inconceivably well on a dangerously potent top line with young'uns Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog (who leads the team with 18 goals). Here's how coach Sacco feels about Mr. Downie:
"He unnerves people. "That's what I like about his game; he makes people nervous on the opposition." ~ quote courtesy of coloradoavalanche.com
And that's just the offense. The defense has been superb, allowing a combined 5 goals in the last 4 games, despite a changing line up as both Stefan Elliot and Matt Hunwick have been called in for full-time duty because of the departed Quincey and injured O'Byrne. Goalie Semyon Varlamov has also stepped up his game in a big way by winning his last three starts while posting a mind-boggling .67 GAA and .978 save%, and stopping 87 of 89 shots. That's worth at least 576 first-round picks.
Ryan O'Byrne (knee) and Chuck Kobasew (undisclosed injury from Wednesday's practice) are expected to miss the game with injuries. GO AVS!
Hey, DDC here. Just a reminder that tonight is the deadline for the TiqIQ contest for a $100 ticket voucher. Instructions are in the graphic below
