Colorado Avalanche: 5 Keys for the 1st Road Trip 2019-2020

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Nieto #83 of the Colorado Avalanche takes a shot against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Avalanche defeated the Golden Knights 4-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Nieto #83 of the Colorado Avalanche takes a shot against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Avalanche defeated the Golden Knights 4-1. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 08: Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) is defended by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) in the third period of the NHL game between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning on December 08, 2018 at Amalie Arena in Tampa,FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

3. Manage the Back-to-Back

The Colorado Avalanche have their first back-to-back series of the season. They play the Florida Panthers on Friday and Tampa Bay on Saturday.

That’s not too bad of a back-to-back. The two teams are close to each other, and the games are early enough that the players shouldn’t miss too much sleep getting from one city to the other.

What’s more, Florida isn’t putting up the best performances, and even Tampa has seemed human at times. It’s nothing like the one-two punch of Washington and then Pittsburgh earlier in the week.

I imagine we’ll see Pbilipp Grubauer in net one night and Pavel Francouz the next. Probably, to be honest, vice versa.