Game Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche – 2/6/13
Tonight the Anaheim Ducks hope to continue their strong play as they take the show on the road, paying a visit to the struggling Colorado Avalanche. The Ducks are rolling along with 3 straight wins, (all of which were won on home ice), while the Avalanche are hoping to become a .500 team with a win tonight at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
February 4, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sheldon Souray (44) and goalie Viktor Fasth (30) celebrate the 2-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Ducks have been a dominating presence as of late in the Western conference, forcing teams and media alike to take notice. While key players like Corey Perry have yet to find their offensive stride, the Ducks have managed to find secondary scoring from younger players like Nick Bonino and Kyle Palmieri. Sheldon Souray’s blast from the blueline has proved a valuable addition to the Ducks lineup, already tallying 3 goals in 8 games played.
The Colorado Avalanche have proved to be a tough team to beat at home in the young season, having lost only their most recent game to the Dallas Stars, making them 3-1 at home. The Avalanche however have only won a single game away from the Pepsi Center, nearly a week ago when they visited the Calgary Flames, who sit second-to-last in the league standings, (ahead by only a point of the woeful Washington Capitals).
While the Avalanche may be a team struggling to make it to .500, they certainly aren’t a team to be underestimated. With plenty of youth in their lineup the Avalanche have great speed, and they are lead by the NHL’s youngest ever Captain, (and last year’s Calder winner), Gabriel Landeskog.
The Ducks have a rookie of their own to take seriously in goaltender Viktor Fasth, (at age 30 however, Fasth isn’t quite as young as 19 year old Landeskog). Fasth has set an Anaheim Ducks franchise record by winning all three of his first starts in net, and it appears he will be getting the start again tonight in Denver. Semyon Varlomov will be getting the start for Colorado.
With the thus far dominant home record of the Avalanche, the surging Ducks would be unwise to take Colorado for granted. The Ducks will need to find ways to hold off the Avalanche’s speed and skill, especially as the Avalanche seek to prove themselves against a team who may slowly but surely be placing a target on their back as one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference, if not the NHL
Correction: Gabriel Landeskog was not in the Avalanche’s lineup due to injury.