Mon vs Flyers, Wed vs Predators, Fri @ Wild, Sat vs Wild, Mon @ Lightning
The new Avalanche 3rd Jersey
You would think that losing seven of their last ten games would drop the Avalanche to the middle of the divisional pack. Not so, thanks to a hot start and a continued dedication to beating the Calgary Flames.
Last week featured three divisional games, and the Avalanche held a third-period lead in each of them. But Colorado could only convert one of those three late-game leads into points.
If the Avalanche can learn to play with a lead, they will end Week 9 with an extension to their one-point advantage in the Northwest Division. If not, then this team will fade under the constant pressure to pull off comeback wins in tight games.
Colorado will play an unprecedented five games in eight days, starting tonight and ending next Monday to wrap up their November schedule. I like this week to produce a return to form for these Avalanche.
Mon, Nov 23rd vs Philadelphia Flyers (7:00 MST)
Well-rested and back at home after a nasty roadtrip, the Avalanche should turn a slugfest against the Flyers into a W. After playing three teams that are all too familiar with the Lanche’s playing style, Colorado gets to host a Philadelphia team that is also on a minor losing streak.
This is the only time these two teams will face off this season (barring a wacky Stanley Cup Finals matchup,) and I like the Avalanche to continue their success against the Eastern Conference. A big part of Colorado’s early-season run was a three-game road stint against East teams where the Avalanche won each in regulation. This game has a good chance to push into extra time, though, as the Flyers and Avalanche are remarkably evenly matched.
PREDICTION:Â AVALANCHE 5, FLYERS 4 (OT)
Wed, Nov 25th vs Nashville Predators (7:00 MST)
In the first weeks of the season, Nashville got off to a pitiful start that had them averaging a league-low in goals scored. They managed a 2-3 home win over the Avalanche in the midst of that lousy start, but will not be so lucky this time playing at the Pepsi Center.
Nashville has continued to struggle in the offensive zone this season, despite climbing back to the middle of the pack in the Central Division. This game may be closer than I give credit for, but I have a feeling that the Predators’ dismal Power Play percentage will be their undoing in Denver.
PREDICTION:Â AVALANCHE 4, PREDATORS 1
Fri, Nov 27th @ Minnesota Wild (12:00 MST)
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Sat, Nov 28th vs Minnesota Wild (7:00 MST)
When Marian Gaborik left Minnesota for New York in the offseason, so went also the Wild’s offense. Only two teams in the West have scored fewer goals than Minnesota has in 2009 (Predators and Blues), and those teams can at least boast a stout defense. The Wild’s formerly fearsome defense has faltered this season, as they have allowed goals in droves.
Don’t take that as an endorsement of back-to-back whoopings when these two teams play their home-and-away miniseries this week. The Wild will play the Avalanche tough at home, where they have logged six of their eight wins. But seventeen hours later two tired teams will take the ice in Denver, and the Avalanche’s superior youth and offensive depth will shine through.
I like the Avs to log victories both Friday afternoon and Saturday night for a little instant win-streak action.
FRIDAY PREDICTION:Â AVALANCHE 2, WILD 1
SATURDAY PREDICTION:Â AVALANCHE 4, WILD 1
Mon, Nov 30th @ Tampa Bay Lightning (5:30 MST)
The Lightning have played past regulation in an amazing ten games this season. Equally amazing is that they have only won three of those games, but managed to stay (roughly) on the tail of the Washington Capitals in the Southeast Division race. Those one-point games add up over the course of a season, and I think Tampa has a chance to upset somebody in the playoffs this season because they play in so many tight games.
But this week the Avalanche will ride into Tampa on two days’ rest and a hot streak, and when the lightning get down by a couple goals early they get blown out. Let’s hope that this game is the culmination of a stellar return to form for the Avalanche.
PREDICTION:Â AVALANCHE 5, LIGHTNING 3
WEEK 9 PREDICTION: Â 5-0
**Bonus Coverage**
The Avs’ third jersey unveiling was a disaster, as they got up early and struggled late in a loss to Vancouver. However, the jerseys themselves are an homage to both the old Sunday jersey (diagonal COLORADO front) and the team’s roots in Quebec (predominantly blue), so they get one big thumb up.
Whether these new sweaters will generate wins (and additional up-thumbs) like the old all-burgundy third jerseys did is still a question mark.  For now, watch this video and enjoy the palpable discomfort of hockey players playing fashion model. (ftg. Kyle Quincey & Paul Stastny)
