The Colorado Avalanche host the Detroit Red Wings before heading into the bye-week. They need to end their home stand with a win.
The Colorado Avalanche have one more game to play before heading into the 10-day bye-week/All Star break. They won’t play again until February 1 in Philadelphia. In fact, today marks the last game at Pepsi Center until February 11.
So, today’s afternoon tilt has the potential to stick around in our minds for a time to come. We want it to be a pleasant memory.
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Today also marks the only time Colorado will host the once-rival Red Wings. The two teams may no longer be bitter rivals, but Detroit seems to be making tanking a competition — their 12-33-4, 28-point record puts them on pace to “beat” Colorado’s cap-era worst season, the 48-point debacle.
Which means today’s game should be a piece of cake, right? Well, we all know Colorado’s penchant for playing down to their opponents. It could be anyone’s game.
And there are so many Michiganians living here, that the crowd could well be 50-50. That makes it tough when the opponent fans score.
Well, let’s look at some keys to today’s game.
Play a Full 60
The Colorado Avalanche didn’t take a break in the game against the St. Louis Blues. They took nary a break against Dallas, but it cost them. So, their successful implementation of a 60-minute game is heartening.
Improve on Special Teams
In the game against St. Louis, the special teams were a small black mark on the game. The Avs failed to capitalize on any of their power play opportunities while giving up a goal on the penalty kill. In fact, Colorado hasn’t scored a power play goal since the January 10 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins — three games ago.
In practice yesterday, the top power play unit was reunited: Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen. Here they are at work:
The first team PP unit known as the law firm of Kadri, Landeskog, Makar, MacKinnon and Rantanen have been reunited by Jared Bednar. #Avs pic.twitter.com/Z4zqFIawJy
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) January 19, 2020
Hopefully they can get their mojo back with such a talent-heavy power play unit.
Roll 4 Lines
Somewhere, Brett Hull is toasting the coaching staff’s insistence on playing the team’s best players until they’re ready to puke since that’s what Brett himself said he’d do if he ever coached.
I mean that facetiously. The most dangerous teams are the ones that can — and do — roll four solid lines. GM Joe Sakic went out during the summer and made sure the Avalanche had the roster to do just that.
Now it’s time for the coach to stop indulging his own fetish and obey Sakic’s wishes.
And on that note, Happy MLK, Jr. Day!
How to Enjoy the Game
Game Time: Jan. 20, 1:00 pm MT
TV: ALT, NHLN (Wings’ feed)
Radio: Altitude Radio (FM 92.5/AM 950)