Game 44 Preview: New York Islanders (16-22-7) vs. Colorado Avalanche (27-12-4)
By Andrew Dill
Jan 8, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) (center) reacts to the game winner in overtime against the Ottawa Senators at the Pepsi Center. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche are playing exceptionally well on their seven game home stand despite a loss to the lowly Calgary Flames. The team is (4-1-1) and look to cap their home stand off with a win. They have the New York Islanders in town tonight who are on a two-game win streak of their own.
What: Game 44: New York Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche
When: Friday, January 10th
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
The Avs are coming off of a comeback win in their last game against the Ottawa Senators as they were down 3-2 heading into the third and scratched a goal late. Tyson Barrie would send the crowd home happy as he buried the puck in the net just 33 seconds into play with a 4-3 overtime win. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche power-play is on fire of late as the team is 7-for-14 in their last 14 chances, 50.0% percent. Here is what head coach Patrick Roy had to say about this teams last performance via ESPN:
"“A character win for us,” coach Patrick Roy said. ” … The last five minutes, I really liked what I saw. We played with urgency and I was very proud of our team.”"
Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is having an incredible stretch for the Avs, collecting a career-high 8-game point streak. On the other end of the ice, the Islanders have a special player in John Tavares. Tavares most recently collected three assists to stretch his point streak to seven games. He also has 16 points in his teams last seven games. In these teams last meeting which was on November 10th, 2011, Colorado came away with the win in overtime off of a Kyle Quincey power-play goal.
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
New York Islanders: Kevin Poulin: 7-12-0, 3.24 GAA.
Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov: 20-8–4, 2.37 GAA.
Last Ten Games:
New York Islanders: 7-3-0
Colorado Avalanche: 5-2-3
Team Leaders:
Points:
New York Islanders: John Tavares, 54.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 38.
Goals:
New York Islanders: John Tavares, 20.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 16.
Assists:
New York Islanders: John Tavares, 34.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 22.
Penalty Minutes:
New York Islanders: Matt Carkner, 86.
Colorado Avalanche: Cody McLeod, 80.
Shots on Goal:
New York Islanders: John Tavares, 139.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 129.