Avs @ Canes: Game 44 Preview

After a disappointing loss in the nation's capital last night, the Avs have to bounce back fast against one of the league's worst teams thus far this season.

The Hurricanes have struggled offensively this season, with only the Buffalo Sabres having scored fewer goals this season than the Canes. Despite having miserable December in which they only won two games and only scored 19 goals in 14 games, the Canes have had a decent start to the new year. They come into the game Tuesday 3-1-1 in the new year and off the only consecutive games of 4+ goals they've had all year.

All signs point toward that new found Canes offense facing off against Calvin Pickard and the league's best save percentage. With Berra getting in some "conditioning" in Lake Erie, the young goaltending star has returned to the pro squad to relieve Varlamov of his duties for one night.

Hopefully Pickard will see some offense in front of him. After sparking for four and five in games against the Ottawa Senators and the former Ottawa Senators (the Dallas Stars), the Avs offense seemed a little off against the Capitals last night, missing on some key chances in the third period and wasting another strong outing by Semyon Varlamov. If the Avs want to keep moving up the standings, they will need to put some pucks in the net against the Canes.

LINES

Tanguay-O'Reilly-Iginla

Landeskog-Duchene-Rendulic

Talbot-Mitchell-MacKinnon

McLeod-Cliche-Briere

Hejda-Johnson

Gunein-Barrie

Stuart-Holden

Pickard

Varlamov

NOTES

- With a Power Play goal from Alex Ovechkin Monday night, the Avs penalty kill slipped to seventh in the NHL behind Montreal.

- Alex Tanguay scored his 13th goal of the season last night, putting him on pace for 25 for the season. That would be his highest goal total since the career high 29 he had in 2005-2006, his last season with the Avalanche before being traded to Calgary.

- The Avs are tied with Edmonton for the second fewest road goals in the NHL.

GAME INFO

Game time: 5pm, MT

TV: ALT