Colorado Avalanche Need Power-Aid for Islanders Game

The Colorado Avalanche need to tap into all their power as they face the Metropolitan-leading New York Islanders this afternoon.

The Colorado Avalanche are at flat .500 hockey — they’re 22-22-9 on the season. What’s more, today’s game is the first of a back-to-back set. Interestingly, they’re at .500 there, too — 3-3-1 for both the first and second game of the set.

Today, that changes, and naturally we’re all hoping it changes in favor of an extra win. Today’s game will not be easy. They’re facing the New York Islanders in Brooklyn at the Barclay Center. And the Islanders right now are 31-16-6.

Historically, the Avalanche have done well against the Islanders, going 17-13-2-1(ties) all time. Last season they split the series with each team winning at home. This season, they lost to the Islanders in the Pepsi Center.

Colorado is coming off the swan dive of their season, having lost all three games since the All Star break and bye week, though they did drag the Capitals game into overtime.

The Islanders, who are tops in the Metropolitan Division, have won two and lost two since the All Star break, though one of those losses came in the shootout. They took the New Jersey Devils to a shootout, too, on Thursday, which they won.

How to Enjoy the Game

Game time: February 9, 11:00 am MT
TV Networks: ALT, MSG+ (Isles’ Feed)
Radio: Altitude Radio (FM 92.5)

Power Play — and Power Kill

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The Colorado Avalanche could have won the game against the Washington Capitals if they’d scored even one power play goal or reduced some of their penalties. And the Avs definitely could have pulled a win against the Blue Jackets the other night since they had four power plays.

However, the supposedly high-octane offense the Avalanche possess failed to score a power play goal in either game. They also had three power plays in the game against the Vancouver Canucks. No goal.

Yet in all three games, Colorado gave up a goal while on the penalty kill. And they’ve been taking way too many penalties. The Avalanche have got to change that dynamic in order to start winning games.

Star Power

The New York Islanders lost their star, John Tavares, to free agency over the summer as he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right now, the closest thing they have to a star is Matthew Barzal who has 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) on the season so far. Yet you see they’re leading the Metro.

Colorado, meanwhile, is seeing its stars start out with career years. Indeed, Mikko Rantanen leads the pack with 75 points — tat’s right, a full 27 points more than Barzal. Nathan MacKinnon is right behind with 73 points.

Yet the Isles are finding ways to win while the Avs are finding ways to lose.

Power of Youth

Last year, the Colorado Avalanche were one of the youngest teams in the NHL. This season, they’re not exactly over the hill, but they’ve gotten a bit older. The average age of the team is 26.63.

Some of the “veterans” are core members such as Gabriel Landeskog (26), Erik Johnson (30) and Tyson Barrie (27). Last year’s rookies who are still with the team (Samuel Girard, J.T. Compher, Alexander Kerfoot) are all one year older, while the team’s three rookies for tonight are not teenagers — Sheldon Dries (24), AJ Greer (22), and Ryan Graves (23).

Nonetheless, the Avalanche have enough up-and-coming prospects that youth can still be served. Indeed, it should start with the rookies and sophomores listed above.

Because making the playoffs has become a long-shot, you see. I’m not saying the team should give up the fight altogether. However, they need to start grooming their youngsters to take on important roles in the future. That needs to be the main goal.

Must Read. Avs Must Play the Young Guns. light

After today’s matinee game, the Colorado Avalanche face another matinee game in Boston. They then head home to face the Toronto Male Leafs.

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