Colorado Avalanche Looking for the Start of a Win Streak vs Islanders
The Colorado Avalanche are a dominant team at home. They’re hoping to solidify that dominance by collecting points against New York.
The Colorado Avalanche want to keep serving up their home cooking. Even though the Avs are 33 games into the season, they’ve only played 13 of those games at home. Nonetheless, they enjoy a 18-9-6 record, 7-3-3 at home.
Tonight they’ll be facing the New York Islanders. They’re coming in off a shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings. With their 15-12-4 record and 34 points, the Islanders are just knocking on the playoff bubble in the Eastern Conference — which means they’re pretty motivated.
That’s not to say the Colorado Avalanche aren’t motivated. However, they’ve got a pretty solid position for third in the Central Division with a six-point gap between them and the next closest, the (hated) Minnesota Wild.
All-time, the Avalanche have fared well against the Islanders, going 17-12-2-1 (ties). This is their first meeting of the season. Last year they split the series with each team winning at home. And, of course, the loss came the day the Avalanche traded Matt Duchene in the middle of the game.
How to Enjoy the Game
Game time: December 17, 7:00 pm MT
TV Networks: Alt2 , MSG+ (Isles’ feed)
Radio: Altitude Radio (FN 92.5)
Will the Real Tyson Barrie Take the Ice?
Tyson Barrie has been terrible lately. He was so bad in the game against the St. Louis Blues that half of Avs Nation wanted to catapult him straight into the sun. And the other half was just being polite.
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Now, we all know that Barrie is not bad. He’s a defenseman who’s had two 50+ point seasons plus a 49er. And he’s on pace for another 50+ point season.
It’s just that Barrie is straight up hot-and-cold. And since defense is the first thing to leave his game, that leaves mostly offense to rely on. He does have three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in the last six games. But I daresay he’s cost at least that many points with his turnovers and generally bad defense.
Well, I’ve done it. I’ve ragged on Tyson Barrie. Look for him to have a multi-point night against the Islanders. You’re welcome.
Love to See Some Josty Scoring
The 20-year-old Tyson Jost has become a lightning rod for some factions in Avs Nation. They’re ready to call the kid a bust. He has just 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in 29 games this season.
Well, I think fans need to manage their expectations. He’s no Mikko Rantanen, who was scouted to go higher than #10 in the 2015 NHL Draft — he was the top-rated international skater in the final rankings.
Conversely, Jost was ranked #16 among North American skaters. The Avalanche selected him above his ranking at least partially because he fit their vision for the future. If you believe in Joe Sakic‘s vision, you must believe in Jost.
Jost shows periods of the dynamic play that caught the Avalanche’s attention. He’s still working to put it all together. And he’s still only 20.
I’d like to see him score, though, at the very least to quiet some of the naysayers.
Keys for the Home Stand. dark. Next
The Colorado Avalanche will face the New York Islanders only one more time after tonight, on February 9. After tonight, their next game is also a home game, against the Montreal Canadiens on December 19.