Interesting test for the Avalanche tonight in Chicago against a Blackhawks team that is dangerous under any circumstances. But while the Hawks had a morning skate following the three-day Christmas break -- no one was allowed to practice or travel Thursday -- the Avalanche didn't skate after leaving Denver this morning.
I suspect both teams could be rusty in the first period, especially Avalanche players since they haven't touched the ice at all since Monday's 5-4 shootout loss in San Jose. The Avalanche has fared well against the Hawks, winning five of the past seven meetings, most recently the 5-1 win at the Pepsi Center on Nov. 19, and posting a 4-2-2 record in the past eight visits to the United Center.
Both teams have speed and love to skate, so there should be plenty of action throughout.
Antti Raanta will start in goal for the Hawks, and he's allowed more than two goals in a game just once in 12 appearances while going 8-1-2 with a 2.20 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. He relieved Corey Crawford when the teams played in November. Crawford and Nikolai Khabibulin are both sidelined with lower-body injuries.
Who gets the start for the Avalanche? Coach Patrick Roy seemed to be leaning to Jean-Sebastien Giguere a week ago, before the team's trip to Los Angeles and San Jose, but it certainly wouldn't come as a surprise if Semyon Varlamov gets the call. He's 3-0-3 in his past six starts with a 2.21 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. He also made 36 saves against Chicago last month.
The Hawks' 58 points are the second most in the NHL, one behind Anaheim, and they're 13-2-5 at home. The Avalanche, third in the Central Division with 49 points, is 11-5-2 on the road with consecutive shootout losses to the Kings and Sharks. Colorado opens a seven-game homestand Sunday night when Winnipeg comes to Denver.
How about these stats: Chicago is 20-0-4 when scoring the first goal, 15-0-1 when leading after the first period and 19-0-2 when leading after two periods. Colorado is 18-1-2 when scoring first, 13-0-1 when leading after the first period and 20-0-1 when leading after two.
Paul Stastny turned 28 today and Matt Duchene will play in his 300th NHL game ... Duchene has two goals and eight assists in a five-game point-scoring streak, Ryan O'Reilly has two goals and three assists in a three-game streak, and Erik Johnson has two goals and an assist in a three-game streak. Four of Johnson's six goals this season have come in the past five games ... Duchene needs two goals to reach 100 for his career ... The Avalanche has scored a power-play goal in four consecutive games, going 5-for-15.
Chicago's Patrick Kane has seven goals and 14 assists in a 12-game streak ... Kane has 21 goals and five teammates have at least 10: Patrick Sharp (16), Marian Hossa (14), Jonathan Toews (13), Brandon Saad (12) and Andrew Shaw (10) ... Hawks defensemen have combined for 19 goals and 93 assists (Duncan Keith has 33 assists) ... Avalanche defensemen have 16 goals and 50 assists.