Game 49 Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs (25-20-5) vs. Colorado Avalanche (31-12-5)
By Andrew Dill
Oct 8, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene (9) drives to the net against Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson (4) during the second period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche (31-12-5) are winners of four-straight as they just came off of a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators on the road Saturday night. Nick Holden would be the first star of the game after scoring two goals while adding one assist. Paul Stastny and rookie winger Nathan MacKinnon would both pick up two assists each in the victory.
What: Regular Season: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Colorado Avalanche
When: Tuesday, January 21st
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
The Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs are meeting for the second and final time this season as Colorado took the first match-up on October 8th by the score of 2-1. Semyon Varlamov was solid for the Avalanche in net as he stopped 27-of-28 shots, .964% save percentage. Cory Sarich would pick up his first goal of the season in the second period after a Joffrey Lupul goal. P.A. Parenteau would score the game-winning goal as the Avalanche came away with 2-1 win.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov has been a key part of the winning ways of the Avalanche of late. He is 11-0-5 in his last 16 starts, supporting a 2.23 goals against average. Varlamov is 2-0-1 lifetime against the Leafs with a 1.95 GAA. Meanwhile, the Avalanche will get a boost on the offensive end as P.A. Parenteau returns to the line-up after suffering a knee injury on December 29th.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing well of late as they are winners of five-straight after a four-game skid. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 39 saves in his most recent start to win his fourth-straight game in net. Leafs forward Phil Kessel has been on a hot-streak of his own by recording 4 goals and 8 assists in six games.
Projected Starting Goaltenders:
Toronto Maple Leafs: James Reimer: 9-6-1, 3.06 GAA.
Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov: 24-8-5, 2.34 GAA.
Standings:
Atlantic Division:
Boston Bruins: 31-15-3, 65 points in 49 games.
Tampa Bay Lightning: 29-16-5, 63 points in 50 games.
Montreal Canadiens: 27-17-5, 59 points in 49 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs: 26-20-5, 57 points in 51 games.
Detroit Red Wings: 21-18-10, 52 points in 49 games.
Ottawa Senators: 21-19-9, 51 points in 49 games.
Florida Panthers: 19-23-7, 45 points in 49 games.
Buffalo Sabres: 13-27-7, 33 points in 47 games.
Central Division:
Chicago Blackhawks: 32-8-11, 75 points in 51 games.
St. Louis Blues: 33-10-5, 71 points in 48 games.
Colorado Avalanche: 31-12-5, 67 points in 48 games.
Minnesota Wild: 27-19-5, 59 points in 51 games.
Nashville Predators: 22-22-7, 51 points in 51 games.
Dallas Stars: 21-20-8, 50 points in 49 games.
Winnipeg Jets: 22-23-5, 49 points in 50 games.
Team Leaders:
Points:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Phil Kessel, 48.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 41.
Goals:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Phil Kessel, 23.
Colorado Avalanche: Ryan O’Reilly, 18.
Assists:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Phil Kessel, 25.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 24.
Penalty Minutes:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Colton Orr, 80.
Colorado Avalanche: Cody McLeod, 85.
Shots on Net:
Toronto Maple Leafs: Phil Kessel, 190.
Colorado Avalanche: Matt Duchene, 145.