Game 58 Preview: Colorado Avalanche (36-16-5) vs. New York Isalanders (22-29-8)
By Andrew Dill
Feb 3, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a game tying goal by Colorado Avalanche right wing P.A. Parenteau (15) during the third period at Prudential Center. The Avalanche defeated the Devils 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Avalanche-Islanders Preview
The Colorado Avalanche (36-16-5, 77 points) are playing their final game before the Winter Olympic break. They are just coming off of a loss where they couldn’t get any offense going against Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason. He would shut the door on the Avs as he stopped 38-of-39 shots, .974% save percentage. The lone goal he would give up was to rookie Nathan MacKinnon, who is having an outstanding rookie campaign as he collected goal number 21 on the season.
What: vs.
When: Saturday, February 8th
Where: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Time: 7:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
This is the second and final meeting between the two clubs this season as the Isles snuck away with the 2-1 victory over the Avalanche on January 10th at the Pepsi Center. Colorado would take the 1-to-0 lead late in the second period as Nathan MacKinnon scored his 15th but it was all Isles from that point on. Brock Nelson would strike quick in the third period as the game would head to overtime tied up at one a piece. Michael Grabner would be the hero for the Islanders striking just 1:46 into the overtime period for the 2-1 win.
Colorado started the New Year off right with a record of 12-3-1 but have lost two-straight games. The Islanders on the other hand are also struggling, losing six of their last seven games. Besides losing two-straight games, Ryan O’Reilly has recorded 13 points in the past 13 games for the Colorado Avalanche. Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy spoke about the struggles of Colorado’s offense of late.
"“Offensively we’re going to have to find a way to score goals,” coach Patrick Roy said. “On the trip we’ve got four goals in three games and it’s not enough in this league to win on the road.”"
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Colorado Avalanche: Jean-Sebastien Giguere: 8-4-0, 2.47 GAA, .917% save percentage.
New York Islanders: Evgeni Nabokov: 10-11-5, 2.73 GAA, .909% save percentage.
Team Leaders:
Points:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 48
New York Islanders: John Tavares – 65
Goals:
Colorado Avalanche: Two tied (MacKinnon, O’Reilly) – 21
New York Islanders: Kyle Okposo – 24
Assists:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 31
New York Islanders: John Tavares – 42
Plus/Minus:
Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog – +13
New York Islanders: Thomas Vanek – +7
Shots on Net:
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene – 173
New York Islanders: John Tavares – 183