The season of one-goal losses continued on Sunday when the Avalanche lost 3-2 against the Ducks for their seventh one-goal defeat this season. Luckily for the Avs, they take on a Canucks team tonight that they exploded for a 7-3 win over earlier this year.
The Canucks are coming off a loss to Nashville that ended a four game win streak. They currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division with an 8-4-0 record, good for 16 points. The Avs also saw their less than impressive point streak come to an end on Sunday when they lost to the Ducks. The loss put the Avalanche at a disappointing 3-5-5 so far this year.
For the Avs, it is about time to see them play a full 60-minute game like Patrick Roy keeps talking about. It'd be nice to see a repeat of the last time Colorado took on the Canucks but honestly, I'd be happy with any form of victory.
Canucks Spotlight: Radim Vrbata
The former Avalanche draft pick has fit in well during his first season in Vancouver. Vrbata so far this season has five goals and seven assists with the Canucks. He has been paired with the Sedin sisters for most of the season so that especially doesn't hurt when it comes to racking up stats. The 33-year-old had an assist in his last game against the Avs.
Avalanche Spotlight: Gabe Landeskog
With 23 seconds left in the match up against the Ducks on Sunday, Gabe Landeskog struck Corey Perry into the boards to kill any chance of an Avalanche comeback. The hit resulted in a two-minute boarding penalty but now Landeskog many now face a 1-3 game suspension from the league for the hit. It will be interesting to see if he is in the line up for the Avs tonight or if the department of player safety will have something to say. (UPDATE: Landeskog will not be suspended for his hit on Sunday)
Notes
- The Canucks average 31.8 shots per game, putting them at sixth in the league in that category. The Avs on the other hand, are allowing 35.4 shots per game so far this year, which is third highest in the league.
- Colorado has killed 25 straight penalties entering Tuesday's contest, including five kills against Anaheim on Sunday.
- Nathan MacKinnon has four goals in his last three games. Let's hope the kid can keep the scoring coming and maybe get a chance in a shootout if the Avs get another opportunity to lose one of those.
- How about Ryan O'Reilly right now? He has eight points so far this year but he is a minus-10. He also has doubled his penalty minutes from last year (Yes, it's only four minutes, but still). Time for him to play a better two way game for the Avs.
- For the fourth game in a row, Daniel Briere will not be in the line up for the Avs. A really encouraging sign that the Avs traded P.A. Parenteau for this guy.
Projected Lines
Landeskog - Duchene - O'Reilly Mackinnon
McGinn - Mackinnon O'Reilly - Iginla
Tanguay - Mitchell - Everberg
Mcleod - Cliche - Talbot
Hejda - Johnson
Stuart - Holden
Barrie - Guenin
Varlamov
Berra
Game Time
9 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. MDT
Shown on Altitude