Game 36: Avs @ Blues

For the fourth time this year (second in St. Louis), the Avs will take on the Blues. Now is probably the best time the Avs could ask to take on last year's Central division powerhouse, as the Blues take a four game losing streak back home, including a 5-0 loss to the Avs last Tuesday. Jake Allen most certainly didn't have a Merry Christmas after getting pulled in the second last Tuesday, and I would expect the Avs to be facing future-hall-of-famer and hockey's newest Brett Farve, Marty Brodeur.

The Avs will be back to their normal goaltender duo after Calvin Pickard was reassigned. I understand the move, but I also don't see why you would have a goalie (Berra) on your roster that you clearly don't trust to play games. Though from the sounds of Patrick Roy, he likely won't be with the team for a whole lot longer...

Pickard wasn't alone on his trip back to Cleveland. Denis Everberg was also reassigned Sunday. From the sounds of things, Roy will have Holden play forward to replace Everberg's spot. Gotta play the guy you gave the extension to I suppose.

LINES

Talbot-Duchene-MacKinnon

Tanguay-Mitchell-Iginla

Landeskog-O'Reilly-Briere

McLeod-Cliche-Holden

Hejda-Johnson

Guenin-Barrie

Stuart-Redmond

Varlamov

Berra

NOTES

- After six goals in six games, Erik Johnson is now tied for the NHL lead among goals for denfenseman with ten. Not too shabby.

- The Blues are one of three teams that have yet to give up a shorthanded goal against.

- Matt Duchene hasn't scored in six games. MacKinnon just snapped a 16-game goalless drought. Can anyone imagine if those two got hot at the same time on the same line? Speaking of MacKinnon, did anyone catch that goal last game? Of course you did. Here it is again.

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GAME INFO

Game time: 6pm, MT

TV: ALT