Game 34 Preview: Edmonton Oilers-Colorado Avalanche
By Andrew Dill
Dec 5, 2013; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nick Holden (2) and Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle (14) battle for a loose puck during the third period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche look to get back into the win column Thursday night as they host the Edmonton Oilers. The Avalanche would fall to the Dallas Stars Tuesday night 3-2 as Matt Duchene would pick up a power-play goal scoring his 15th goal of the season and Erik Johnson would pick up his 4th.
When: Thursday, December 19th
Where: Pepsi Center. Denver, Colorado.
Time: 9:30 PM ET, 7:30 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
Last Meeting:
The Edmonton Oilers would rout the Colorado Avalanche 8-2, as Taylor Hall would complete the hat-trick late in the third quarter. Semyon Varlamov would have a rough game, allowing 8 goals on 28 shots. He would allow three goals in the third period and here is what Paul Stastny had to say about the play of the team via ESPN.
"“What happened in the last five minutes, we have to look at each other and play for our goaltender there,” Avalanche assistant captain Paul Stastny said. “Those last two goals are on us. We can’t quit on our goaltender like that. He has been our best player all year. Hanging him out to dry like that is unacceptable.”"
Now: Ever since the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Avalanche on December 5th, Edmonton has gone 1-4-1 while Colorado has gone 3-4-1. The Avalanche look to improve on their power-play as they snapped their 0-for-31 streak that lasted 11-games against the Dallas Stars Tuesday night as Duchene picked up the goal. The Colorado Avalanche are currently ranked 24th in the National Hockey League on the power-play at 14.0% percent and 21st in the NHL on the penalty-kill. Good news for the Avalanche is Paul Stastny broke out of his slump Monday scoring two goals and adding two assists in the home-and-home against the Stars.
Updated Central Division Standings:
[table id=4 /]
Team Leaders:
Points:
Edmonton: Jordan Eberle, 29
Colorado: Matt Duchene, 28
Goals:
Edmonton: David Perron, 14
Colorado: Matt Duchene, 15
Assists:
Edmonton: Jordan Eberle, 18
Colorado: Gabriel Landeskog, 14
Penalty Minutes:
Edmonton: Luke Gazdic, 69
Colorado: Cody McLeod, 69
Shots On Goal:
Edmonton: David Perron, 110
Colorado: Matt Duchene, 97