Game 60 Preview: Canadiens @ Avalanche

It wasn't a pretty trip, but it was a successful trip. Despite finishing their three game trip with a 4-1 matinee loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the Avs return home with four more points and a four point lead in the wild card. The Avs will hope their success in the win column on the road will transfer into success at home as they make a quick one game visit back in Denver Wednesday night to take on the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens have had an intriguing season. When the Avs defeated the Canadiens back on November 14th with a huge 6-1 victory, it was shocking. The Canadiens were the best team in the NHL and rocking their opponents with goals and shutting the door defensively. They opened the season with nine straight wins and were looking like a cup contender until their Hart Memorial winning goaltender, Carey Price went down with an injury. While the Canadiens stayed afloat with offense for awhile, the offense went away and they have fallen hard and fast. After being the NHL's best team in the first two months, the Canadiens have been the NHL's worst in the last two months as they have fallen all the way out of the playoff picture with little signs of life for working their way back into it. The Canadiens will look to bounce back from another lopsided loss against the Coyotes as they come into Denver Wednesday night.

LINES

Grigorenko-Duchene-Iginla

Landeskog-Soderberg-Comeau

Tanguay-MacKinnon-Skille

Martinsen-Mitchell-McLeod

Beauchemin-Johnson

Holden-Barrie

Bigras-Bodnarchuk

Varlamov

Pickard

Scratches: Redmond, Wagner

NOTES

- The Avalanche are second to the Blackhawks in NHL in games played.

- The Avalanche have still not scored a 5-on-3 goal this year.

- The Canadiens have a 4.5 goals against average in their last ten games.

GAME INFO

Game time: 6pm MT

TV: ALT, SN