Canucks at Avalanche
THE STORY: Two teams with goaltending issues meet Wednesday when the Colorado Avalanche host the Vancouver Canucks. Colorado has other problems, too – namely, winning at home and beating Vancouver. The Avalanche are an NHL-worst 3-7-0 in Denver, and 4-10-1 in their last 15 games overall since starting the season 5-1-0 (all road victories). They also have beaten the Canucks only twice in the last 11 tries. Semyon Varlamov, expected to be Colorado’s No. 1 goaltender, has lost six straight games and is 5-8-1 with an .890 save percentage. Veteran Jean-Sebastien Giguere has started the last three contests (1-2-0) and is one of Varlamov’s biggest supporters. “I talk to him as much as I can and try to keep him positive, try to keep him smiling. That’s what they wanted me here for,’’ Giguere said. Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo has missed two straight games because of an upper-body injury. Backup Cory Schneider is 1-1-0 in his place.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), Rogers Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (10-9-1): Vancouver hasn’t lost in regulation to Colorado since a 3-0 loss Oct. 3, 2009, and has outscored the Avalanche 45-25 during that span. Defenseman Keith Ballard injured his back against Chicago on Nov. 16 and missed Sunday’s game. He is questionable to play Wednesday. Alex Burrows, who has averaged nearly 30 goals over the last three seasons, has only five in 2011-12 and hasn’t scored in four games. Daniel Sedin leads the NHL with 18 assists.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (9-11-1): Colorado is 1-1-0 on its season-high eight-game homestand and still has plenty of time to rectify its problems on friendly ice. Varlamov is expected to start Wednesday and a strong performance would give the Avalanche much-needed confidence at home. Matt Duchene has scored in two consecutive games and in four of his last five. He leads Colorado with nine goals, and has eight tallies and four assists in his last 12 games.
OVERTIME:
1. The game features the top two power plays in the NHL with Vancouver at 26.7 percent and Colorado 25.7.
2. Coach Alain Vigneault is tied with Marc Crawford for most victories in Canucks history with 246.