Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks
After a four-game losing streak was snapped on New Year’s Eve, the Avalanche went on (are on) a stretch that has seen them go 5-1-1 in their last seven games and they have scored 23 goals over those games. Part of it has been an improved special teams – the Avs have scored seven power play goals over that stretch (36.8-percent) and allowed just three against (84.2-percent) – and part of it has been Semyon Varlamov, who has allowed just 14 goals in his last six games.
Chicago managed to go 1-0-1 over the weekend in back to back games with their latest being a 5-3 win over Edmonton at home. It was nice to see the offensive burst from the ‘Hawks who had scored just five goals in their previous three games before that. One catch is that Corey Crawford will be in net for them tonight and he has lost his first four games since returning from injury, though he’s allowed just 10 goals in those games.
Chicago put up a 7-spot on the Avalanche in their last game out but a word of caution about that one: it was the first game following the Christmas break and Colorado had been late arriving to Chicago due to airplane delays. Those delays meant that the Avs players did not have a pre-game skate; they were coming off a three day Christmas break and went into Chicago without so much as a game-day skate. It’s easy to forget that back in November the Avalanche beat Chicago 5-1 in Denver.
There should be enough goals to go around tonight but it makes me nervous to start either goalie. Keep an eye on Paul Stastny, as he didn’t take part in the morning warm-up but was doing off-ice drills. If he’s out, that takes a big chunk of depth out of their lineup missing both he and P.A. Parenteau.
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Top RW Value |
Top LW Value |
Top C Value |
Top D Value |
Bargain Bin |
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(CHI) $11,700 |
(COL) $7800 |
(CHI) $6950 |
Andre Benoit $7300 |
Max Talbot (COL $5650 |
