Blues at Avalanche
THE STORY: The Colorado Avalanche found their offense just in time to face the NHL’s No. 1 defense - and one of the league’s hottest teams. The St. Louis Blues take their season-high four-game winning streak into the Mile High City on Friday in the finale of their three-game road trip. St. Louis, which is 8-1-2 since Ken Hitchcock took over as coach, is allowing 2.0 goals per game. All told, the Blues have yielded only 13 in Hitchcock’s 11 games. Colorado had averaged 2.0 goals in the first five games of its season-high eight-game homestand before its 6-1 victory over New Jersey on Wednesday. Avalanche coach Joe Sacco moved captain Milan Hejduk to a line centered by Ryan O’Reilly, and they responded with a goal and an assist apiece. Colorado will try for back-to-back wins for the first time since Oct. 17.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE BLUES (14-8-2): St. Louis also allows the fewest shots per game (25.6) as Hitchcock’s reputation as one of the best defensive coaches has been enhanced. It will be a homecoming of sorts for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk (team-leading 12 assists), who will play their first game in Denver since being traded by the Avalanche on Feb. 19. Stewart, who scored 28 goals in each of the last two seasons, has only three in 2011-12.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (11-13-1): Colorado has the worst home record in the NHL at 5-9-0, but Wednesday’s performance was encouraging on at least two levels. The Avalanche had scored only 24 goals in their previous 13 home games and Semyon Varlamov (7-10-1, 2.95 goals-against average, .901 save percentage) continued his improved play by winning for the second time in three games. Rookie defenseman Stefan Elliott has impressed with two goals and an assist in his first three NHL contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado has killed 14 straight penalties and 30 of its last 32 over the last nine games.
2. St. Louis’ 3-1 victory in the last meeting on April 5 snapped a seven-game losing streak to Colorado, which has won four straight over the Blues at home.