The Avalanche will have their hands full even more than usual Thursday when the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers visit the Pepsi Center.
Here are the
GAME NOTES.
The Avalanche didn't have a morning skate, but coach
Jared Bednar said after practice Wednesday that
Jeremy Smith will start in goal.
Not that it's all his fault, of course, but Smith has a 1-5-0 record with a 3.44 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.
Led by
Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL in scoring with 85 points, the Oilers (39-25-9) are third in the Pacific Division, two points behind Anaheim, with nine games remaining. They lost 4-3 to the Ducks on Wednesday.
Goalie
Cam Talbot is expected to start despite getting pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots to the Ducks. He had shutouts in his two previous starts; his shutout streak ended at 148:18.
The Avalanche (20-49-3), meanwhile, have been outscored 15-6 in a three-game losing streak and 21-11 while losing five of the past six games.
Probable Avalanche lineup:
FORWARDS
Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog -- Matt Duchene -- Matt Nieto
Mikhail Grigorenko -- J.T. Compher -- Rene Bourque
John Mitchell -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
DEFENSE
Mark Barberio -- Erik Johnson
Fedor Tyutin -- Tyson Barrie
Francois Beauchemin -- Anton Lindholm
GOALIES
Jeremy Smith
Calvin Pickard
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
Join the Discussion:
»