Avalanche at Ducks
THE STORY: There figures to be the usual wild scramble for the final spot – or spots – in the Western Conference playoffs, which makes Sunday’s contest between the Colorado Avalanche and host Anaheim Ducks the next crucial game down the stretch. Colorado maintained its hold on the eighth and final position with a 3-1 victory at Los Angeles on Saturday. Anaheim has won four straight overall and five in a row at home following its 2-1 victory over Ottawa on Saturday afternoon. While the Ducks are a substantial 13 points behind the Avalanche, they were 21 points out of playoff position on Jan. 7 and are 7-0-1 in their last eight games to move closer to contention. Anaheim had won six straight over Colorado prior to the Avalanche’s 4-2 road victory on Dec. 31 in the season’s first meeting. The Ducks have won eight of the last 10 meetings in Anaheim.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FS Prime Ticket (Anaheim), NHL Network (Canada)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (26-21-2): Colorado has received a jolt of offense from Peter Mueller, who has three goals and an assist in his last two games. Mueller has played only eight contests this season – after missing all of the 2010-11 campaign due to a concussion. The Avalanche will receive another boost when Matt Duchene, who has been out since Dec. 29 with a knee injury, returns after the All-Star break. Colorado has won three of its last four games.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (17-22-7): Reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry has scored in two straight games and has eight goals in his last nine contests. Perry has 22 goals, the same total he had after 46 games last season en route to his 50-goal campaign. A big reason for the Ducks’ resurgence is goaltender Jonas Hiller, who has allowed only five goals in his last four games – all wins. The penalty-killing unit has extinguished 24 of its last 26 opportunities in the last nine games.
OVERTIME:
1. The Avalanche will try for their second consecutive sweep of a two-game Southern California swing. Colorado recorded the first in team history when it defeated Los Angeles 2-1 on Jan. 2.
2. Colorado has the No. 1 power play on the road at 25.0 percent.