Colorado Avalanche: 5 Keys for the Four-Game Home Stand
![DENVER, CO - APRIL 16: Members of the Colorado Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) following a win after a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) DENVER, CO - APRIL 16: Members of the Colorado Avalanche congratulate Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) following a win after a first round playoff game between the Colorado Avalanche and the visiting Nashville Predators on April 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8612e6f713e1c0cd86174d817733d84d1b3d7d6a3c7e85c97abf2c4726289f9a.jpg)
Beat the Chicago Blackhawks
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Not just the Chicago Blackhawks either. The Hawks are the worst team in the NHL. (Or second-worst — they keep flip-flopping with the LA Kings.) Unfortunately, the Colorado Avalanche have a tendency to let these teams keep hanging around instead of going in for the kill. And hanging around, sometimes these bad teams pull out a win.
During the home stand, the Avs finish with Chicago on the first leg of a back-to-back series. After playing Chicago at home, they fly to Arizona to face the Coyotes before a four-day break for Christmas.
Boy do we all want diamonds instead of coal in our stockings. The Hawks are a disaster of a team, and the Coyotes are barely climbing out of the basement. (Side note: doesn’t the ‘Yotes logo look like a dog whose tail just got stepped on? Maybe that’s their problem…) Beating the Hawks would be a nice diamond.
There are two games the Colorado Avalanche simply must win during this home stand — Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. The Stars are a division rival who are trying to climb into a playoff berth. The Blackhawks are a division rival who suck. The Avs need to collect those important points.
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The Colorado Avalanche home stand looks like this:
- Dec. 15: Dallas Stars
- Dec. 17: New York Islanders
- Dec. 19: Montreal Canadiens
- Dec. 21: Chicago Blackhawks
As I mentioned above, the Avs travel to Arizona after facing the Hawks. After that back-to-back series, the team is off four days for the holidays before traveling again, this time to Vegas.