Preview: Avs-Oilers
By Andrew Dill
February 2, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing Jordan Eberle (14) skates with the puck ahead of Colorado Avalanche right wing PA Parenteau (15) during the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche are finally back in action Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers. The Avs are coming off of a home-and-home against the Minnesota Wild last Friday and Saturday, winning both of them. The first game, Jan Hejda, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog would score, giving the Avalanche the 3-1 win. The second game in Denver would result in a shootout as Ryan O’Reilly would have the game-winning goal, 3-2 victory. The Colorado Avalanche come into this game at 19-6-0 with 38 points, third in the Central Division behind St. Louis (39 points) and Chicago (44 points). The Edmonton Oilers are in last place in the Pacific Division with a record of 9-18-2, with 20 points.
When: Thursday, December 5th
Time: 9:30 pm ET/7:30 pm MT
TV: Colorado – Altitude Sports.
Probable Starting Goaltenders:
Colorado – Semyon Varlamov (13-6-0), 2.12 GAA.
Edmonton – Devan Dubnyk (7-12-1), 3.38 GAA.
What To Watch For:
The Colorado Avalanche own the best road record in the National Hockey League at 9-2-0 but they haven’t played so well recently in Edmonton. In their last five meetings at Rexall Place, Colorado has just won one game. In their last visit February 16th, the Edmonton Oilers would get the victory, 6-4. Avalanche wing Gabriel Landeskog has been playing well of late, scoring four points in the last two games, while rookie Nathan MacKinnon has scored goals in back-to-back games. Edmonton’s foward David Perron scored two goals Tuesday for the Oilers and owns a three-game point streak. Colorado’s Matt Duchene has been one of the few gems against the Edmonton Oilers, as he has scored four goals, with eight assists in nine games in Edmonton.
Team Leaders:
Goals:
Colorado: Matt Duchene, 12.
Edmonton: David Perron, 11.
Assists:
Colorado: Gabriel Landeskog, 11.
Edmonton: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 15.
Points:
Colorado: Gabriel Landeskog, 20.
Edmonton: Jordan Eberle, 23.
Penalty Minutes:
Colorado: Cody McLeod, 62.
Edmonton: Luke Gazdic, 57.
Shots On Goal:
Colorado: Gabriel Landeskog, 73.
Edmonton: David Perron, 91.
Injury Wire:
Colorado Avalanche:
Probable: Semyon Varlamov, G. (Groin)
Out: Ryan Wilson, D. (Back). Alex Tanguay, F. (Knee).
Edmonton Oilers:
Out: Boyd Gordon, F. (Shoulder). Ilya Bryzgalov, G. (Concussion). Richard Bachman (Lower Body). Philip Larsen, D. (Back). Tyler Pitlick, F. (Knee).