The Avalanche can't possibly lose every single game for the rest of the season, so perhaps they'll find a way to win Wednesday in Calgary in the finale of their two-game road trip.
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
The Avalanche (12-24-1) have lost four games in a row and nine of the past 10. They lost 6-3 to the Flames on Dec. 27 at the Pepsi Center.
Calvin Pickard will make his sixth consecutive start. He allowed 18 goals during a four-game losing streak since his 38-save, 2-1 overtime win in Chicago on Dec. 23. His overall numbers have taken quite a beating: 6-10-1 record, 3.14 goals-against average, .898 save percentage.
Pickard made 21 saves Monday when the Avalanche opened the trip with a 3-2 loss in Vancouver.
"I would say the last little bit now that Pick has settled in and knows he's going, he's got back to his old game and not trying to do too much, just being himself in the net," coach
Jared Bednar told
NHL.com after the morning skate. "I think he put a bit of pressure on himself with (
Semyon Varlamov) out."
Bednar said Varlamov (groin injury) has been skating on his own and doing off-ice work in Colorado.
"We'll see when we get back and try to figure out exactly what his timeline is going to be," Bednar said.
The Avalanche play the New York Islanders on Friday at the Pepsi Center, then will have five off says per their NHL "bye" period before playing Anaheim at home Jan. 12.
Defenseman
Eric Gelinas (lower-body injury) and forward
Andreas Martinsen (healthy scratch) won't play against the Flames.
Tyson Barrie has a goal and six assists in a five-game scoring streak.
Brian Elliott will be in goal for Calgary (20-17-2). He's allowed eight goals in a personal four-game winning streak. The Flames have won three of their past four games and are coming off a 4-2 win against Arizona on New Year's Eve.
The Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Rene Bourque
Mikko Rantanen -- Matt Duchene -- Jarome Iginla
Mikhail Grigorenko -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Cody McLeod -- John Mitchell -- Joe Colborne
DEFENSE
Fedor Tyutin -- Tyson Barrie
Francois Beauchemin -- Nikita Zadorov
Patrick Wiercioch -- Cody Goloubef
GOALIES
Calvin Pickard
Jeremy Smith
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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