The Colorado Avalanche have an important Western Conference game at home against the Vancouver Canucks. They need this victory.
The Colorado Avalanche face the Vancouver Canucks tonight in the Pepsi Center. This is their third and final meeting of the season. So far, each team has won once — both games went to overtime.
Nathan MacKinnon, as is his wont, scored the overtime goal on February 20. That was the game that saw Colorado break their power play curse, scoring all five of their goals on the man advantage. That’s also, unfortunately, the last time the team played well and, you know, won.
Colorado is coming off a 5-1 blowout at the hands of one of the teams they’re chasing in the playoff hunt, Calgary. Vancouver beat the fellow non-playoff bound Arizona Coyotes.
How to Enjoy the Game
Game time: February 26, 7:00 pm MT
TV Networks: Altitude TV (Avs feed), SNP (Canucks feed)
Radio: Altitude Radio (AM 950)
Home Sweet Home
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The Colorado Avalanche have just finished one of their toughest February schedules ever — only five games in 14 games at home. They won only three of those nine road games.
Unfortunately for the Avalanche, they’ve had a tough time finding their road identity all season. They’re 12-16-4 on the road, which no one can think is good enough.
On the flip side, the Avs have exploited their home ice advantage, having gone 20-8-1 this season. Their home record is the only reason they’re still sniffing after a playoff spot — four points out with a game in hand.
The last two games of the month are at home, tonight against the Canucks and Wednesday against the Calgary Flames. They’ve won two of their three home games already this February.
We’d all love it if they kept our playoff hopes alive a little longer with a win tonight — and, heck, Wednesday against the Flames as well.
Milestones
Winger Blake Comeau will skate in his 700th NHL game tonight. Comeau came into the league in 2006-07 with the New York Islanders. He spent five seasons there before a quick return in 2012. He’s bounced around in his career, spending time in Calgary, Columbus and Pittsburgh before coming here to Colorado as a free agent in 2015.
Linemate and fellow winger Matthew Nieto can reach 100 NHL points tonight. Unfortunately, this line (which Carl Soderberg centers) has gone cold. Nieto has actually been on this threshold for the last six games.
Today is the official NHL Trade Deadline day, though. There’s no guarantee either player will still be with the Avalanche tonight. If I had my druthers, I’d see at least one of them go for a pick in this year’s draft. I like both of them, but… of the two, I’d see Nieto stay. He’s young (25), and Colorado is all-in on the youth movement.
The Colorado Avalanche are actually starting a full four-day home stand tonight. After the game against the Flames, Colorado will host two Central Division rivals, the (hated) Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators. Sweeping the home stand would be sweet, indeed.