Vegas NHL Prediction: Phoenix Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Frank Martin
The Colorado Avalanche have enjoyed the comforts of home for so long that they may have forgotten what it's like to lose at the Pepsi Center. Well, the Winnipeg Jets reminded them of that unwelcome feeling with a 4-1 triumph on Tuesday, ending the Avalanche's eight-game home winning streak.
"It’s still a nice feather in the cap for a young team,” Colorado coach Joe Sacco said of the streak. “We still feel like we’re playing well. We’re a good hockey team and we’ll regroup and get ready for our next opponent.” The Phoenix Coyotes are that next opponent on Thursday and they have been a thorn in the side of Colorado as of late.
The Coyotes have won six of the last seven meetings with the Avalanche, but are entering Thursday's road contest on a three-game losing skid.
-
Phoenix Coyotes
@ Colorado Avalanche
When:
9:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 29, 2011
Where:
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
TV:
9 p.m. ET, FSAZ, ALT
The Avalanche have opened as 135-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.
Phoenix Coyotes (18-15-4): G Jason LaBarbera's night didn't get off to a solid start when he permitted a goal to Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg just 58 seconds into Wednesday's game. LaBarbera played well in stopping 27 shots, but ultimately dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Bruins. With Mike Smith nursing a groin injury, LaBarbera will likely have the chance to improve his 2-5-0 career mark versus the Avalanche. Should he sit this one out, Curtis McElhinney will receive his first start with the Coyotes.
Colorado Avalanche (19-18-1): Thursday's contest will be Colorado's last home game until Jan. 10, when they face the Nashville Predators. G Jean-Sebastien Giguere will look to give the home folks a better showing that he presented on Tuesday, when he yielded four goals on 26 shots. Should Giguere be reduced to a bystander, Semyon Varlamov would make his first home start in two weeks. Avalanche captain Milan Hejduk is mired in a 12-game goalless drought. He has just nine tallies this season.
1.
Coyotes LW Ray Whitney scored a
highlight-reel goal on Wednesday to record his 18th point in 19 games. The
39-year-old Whitney leads the club with 33 points.
2. Avalanche D Kyle Quincey, who has served as a healthy scratch for
the past four games, is expected to return on Thursday. Quincey leads the
team's defensive corps with 17 points in 32 games.
NHL PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Coyotes 3
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Category
Tags
colorado avalanche - dennis seidenberg - jason labarbera - jean-sebastien giguere - joe sacco - kyle quincey - mike smith - milan hejduk - pepsi center - phoenix coyotes
