The Colorado Avalanche head into this weekend’s action comfortably atop the NHL standings. They are four points ahead of the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars for the top overall spot in the league.
The Avalanche have a +28 goal differential, explaining why the club has just one regulation loss this season. While Colorado does have five overtime losses, the loser points are crucial in getting a leg up in the standings.
So, as the Avs head into this weekend’s action, let’s go over some notes as the Colorado Avalanche get set for their next tilt.
Colorado Avalanche weekend notes
Reunion time in game against Islanders
The Avalanche will face the New York Islanders on Sunday night at Ball Arena. They’ll get a tired Islanders bunch after playing overtime games on Wednesday and Friday. The Isles are coming off two big wins over the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth.
But beyond the Islanders’ recent success, Sunday’s tilt marks reunion time. One former Avalanche facing his former club is Jonathan Drouin. The Avalanche let Drouin hit the road this past summer. He signed with the Isles and will be heading back to Ball Arena for the first time.
Drouin has done well in Long Island, scoring three goals and adding 11 assists for 14 points in 17 games.
Another reunion will feature Brock Nelson. Sunday’s game will mark the first time Nelson will face the Islanders. Nelson was a first-round pick of the Isles back in 2010. He spent his entire career there before a deadline deal last season brought him to Colorado.
Avalanche looking to continue winning streak
The Avalanche are currently riding a five-game winning streak and will be looking to extend it to six. During the streak, the Avs have beaten two playoff contenders and one of the hottest teams in the league. The biggest win was the 9-1 annihilation of the Edmonton Oilers on November 8.
The streak has seen the Avs outscore opponents 27-11, while notching four power play goals. The Avalanche also have a 169-138 edge in shots while surrendering three power play tallies.
The Islanders won’t be an easy out, but there’s plenty of reason to believe the Avalanche can make it six in a row.
Goaltending big reason for Colorado’s success this season
The Avalanche top the league in goals for at 4.11 per game. That should be no surprise. But it may be surprising to find the Avs leading the league with a 2.44 GAA. The club leads the New York Rangers by a clear 13 percentage points. That’s considering the mind-shocking season Igor Shesterkin has had on Broadway.
The trio of Scott Wedgewood, MacKenzie Blackwood, and Trent Miner has combined for a .906 SV%, which is sixth in the league. That elite goaltending should only get better as Blackwood settles back into the crease.
Blackwood had a bit of an iffy start against the Buffalo Sabres in his last outing. But he recovered nicely and backstopped the Avs to a 6-3 win. Jared Bednar could roll with Blackwood on Sunday, considering the Avs had had several days in between games. Blackwood may also get the start as the Avs don’t play until next Thursday against the Rangers.
However, fans could see Blackwood and Wedgewood flip-flopping starts as the Avalanche will play a three-games-in-four-nights set against the Rangers, then visit the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.