The Canucks & Avalanche always fight tooth 'n nail in their divisional battles
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**NOTE** Due to insanely high winds knocking out power in West Lakewood, this Week 3 Preview will be written in haste from a remote location deep beneath the earth’s crust.
And now, your hyper-abbreviated Avalanche Week 3 Preview:
It’s de ja vu all over again for the Avalanche who returned from a successful road trip against tought teams for a lackluster homestand against… well, tough teams. Fact is, though, this is exactly what the Avs did last season; win on the road and give up goals by the boatload at home.
Colorado dropped two points behind Calgary for the NW Division lead after a sorry performance at home versus the same San Jose Sharks that bumped the Avs from last year’s playoffs. The ‘Lanche went from 4-2 to 4-4 whent they followed the San Jose loss with a 6-4 loss to the very talented LA Kings.
Tuesday, October 26th @ Vancouver Canucks (8:00 MST)
Vancouver has been underwhelming during a 3-3-2 start to the season, but don’t be fooled. The Canucks are a very talented hockey team, and will give the Avs’ all they can handle. These teams always come out skating, and the first team to capitalize with a score probably wins.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Canucks 3
More to come tomorrow on the rest of the Avalanche’s Week 3…
Thursday, October 28th @ Calgary Flames (7:30 MST)
After a bad run, the Avalanche dropped down the ranks of what will continue to be a tight NW Division. At the top of the heap is Calgary, who have enjoyed a soft early season schedule.
Now missing starting goaltender Craig Anderson, the Avalanche will need to put in another gutsy performance just to compete. The Colorado offense is buzzing, though, and I like the Avs to win with a late scoring flurry.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Flames 3
Saturday, October 30th vs Columbus Blue Jackets (7:00 MST)
The first break in the Avalanche schedule is a home contest against the Blue Jackets. Unfortunately, this is still not much of a break. Columbus sits at the bottom of the Central Division despite a 5-3 record, and they worked the Avs last season.
This looks a lot like another home letdown game for the Avalanche, and unless Peter Budaj and the Colorado defense finally put up a wall it will be.
PREDICTION: Avalanche 2, Blue Jackets 4
