Let us not mince words; the Vancouver Canucks have manhandled the Avalanche so far this season. The ‘Nucks sit at the top of the NHL with 64 points, and their +40 goal differential is +18 better than their closest Western Conference competition.
Now the Avalanche get Anderson close to 100% in a stretch of games that will determine whether or not Colorado keeps its tenuous hold on the Northwest. This week is all about division play, and it starts tonight as the Avs travel to Vancouver to take on the 2nd place Canucks.
Colorado had an outstanding Week Three, scoring 14 goals over three games. The Avalanche stole a point in an OT loss at Vancouver before blazing through Calgary and dominating Columbus at home.
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.
The Vancouver Canucks matched the Colorado Avalanche goal-for-goal through three periods of hockey Tuesday night. But it was the Avalanche fighting for their playoff lives, and Colorado brought the fight to the Canucks’ doorstep early and often.
I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the Avs’ failure to keep the pressure on early in the second period. Vancouver gave the Avalanche every opportunity to put the game away and the Avs, rather than failing to capitalize, passed on more than one chance to rush Luongo and put the Canucks in a deeper hole.
The Canucks game is the first in a week of marquee matchups for the Avalanche. Tuesday’s game versus Vancouver is followed by the Florida Panthers’ first visit to Craig Anderson’s new digs since they let him dip to Colorado in the offseason.
Chris Stewart recorded his first career hat trick in what has been an absolutely shockingly good season for the strong, quick forward.
In a game that pitted two NHL All-Star Teams against each other, nothing less than North American bragging rights was on the line. Matching up on NHL-sized ice for the first time in Olympic Hockey history, Canada & the US fought a frenzied battle for the Group A title.
A big win over the Coyotes kept the Avalanche on-pace with Vancouver. Now Colorado will try to stretch their league-best win streak to 5 games against the Kings
