Colorado Avalanche Keys to the Game vs St. Louis Blues
The Colorado Avalanche hope to end a two-game losing skid, thus dropping to 4-4-0, in their game against the St. Louis Blues.
The Colorado Avalanche have faced the St. Louis Blues 92 times. Their record is 49-33-4-6(ties). They have a good edge over the Blues in scoring goals, 256 to their 227.
Last season the Avalanche won one of their five games against the Blues, that one a 2-1 shootout win in March 31. Their final meeting was the last game of the season, a 3-2 loss in St. Louis.
Fun fact, Tyson Jost made his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues on March 31.
How to Enjoy the Game
Game time: October 17, 6:00 pm MT
TV Networks: Altitude TV (Avs feed), FS-TN (Predators feed), NHL TV Free Game
Radio: Altitude Radio (AM 950)
Challenges for the Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are coming off a two-game roadie during which they dropped both games, which dropped their record to 4-3-0. What’s more, both games were against Central Division rivals.
Colorado was playing undisciplined hockey in both games. They had a good third period against the Dallas Stars, and a good start to their first period against the Nashville Predators. However, you’re not going to win two hockey games playing 1 1/2 good period. You’re probably not even going to win one.
The Colorado Avalanche are going to have to tighten up their play to beat this St. Louis Blues team.
Todd Panula of Bleedin’ Blue shared some additional challenges for the Colorado Avalanche:
"“Jake Allen has had the Avs number. He went 3-0-1 against you guys last year with a shutout. He might play against Chicago the night before though and Carter Hutton is 2-1 lifetime with a .889 save percentage against the Avs.”"
Yes, I’m not a fan of Jake Allen’s. Hopefully Colorado sees Hutton in net.
Todd continued:
"“Jaden Schwartz does pretty well against the Avs and is off to a great start with the addition of Brayden Schenn to the Blues second line. Samuel Blais is a really dynamic player that is ready to strike. It is more a matter of when, not if, he gets his first goal, and then he might get a couple.”"
Well, we don’t won’t Blais to break the seal against the Avs.
At the time of writing, Todd didn’t know if Alexander Steen would return to play Chicago on Wednesday, so he might get his first action against the Avs. Steen is another player I’m not a big fan of because of his success against the Avs.
Blues Swap
Defenseman Erik Johnson loves to score goals against his old team.
Here’s the first one, scored just days after they’d dealt him to his Colorado Avalanche home:
Here’s the first of two he scored in a single game, this one a power play goal:
Here’s the second goal he scored in that game:
Nail Yakupov is facing his old team — for last season anyway — for the first time since they released him into free agency. He had nine points (3 goals, 6 assists) in 40 games with the Blues. He matched that goals total in just four games with the Avs.
Grateful Dead Night
The home game against the St. Louis Blues is Grateful Dead Night. Before the game, you can enjoy a concert performed by local Grateful Dead cover band Shakedown Street. Here’s video of a performance they did in Aspen:
The concert takes place from 5:30 – 6:30 pm MT in Coors Meadow, which is the clearing on the Grand Atrium side of the Pepsi Center. You can also get a Grateful Dead commemorative ticket stub at the in-game redemption table, which is located outside section 130.
Grateful Dead Night tickets are available here.
The Colorado Avalanche face the St. Louis Blues four more times this season. They’ll be in St. Louis January 25, February 8 and March 15. They’ll then host the Blues again April 7, which is the final game of the regular season again.