Blackhawks at Avalanche
THE STORY:
The challenges are beginning to pile up for the Colorado Avalanche.
They have lost five straight games and fallen three points behind
Minnesota for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western
Conference. Colorado hosts Chicago on Tuesday and while the Blackhawks
are a bona fide Stanley Cup contender, the Avalanche have won the last
two meetings – both in Chicago. The Blackhawks have also lost five
straight, but their playoff standing is far more secure. Chicago, which
sits fourth in the ultra-tough Central Division, is nine points clear of
ninth-place Dallas. The Avalanche lost in a shootout to Vancouver 3-2
on Saturday to snap a 10-game winning streak in the bonus format,
including seven this season. The Blackhawks began their season-long
nine-game road trip by going 0-for-Western Canada and were outscored
14-7 in the three games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, Altitude (Avalanche)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (29-17-7):
If Chicago is to remain a serious threat to win its second Stanley Cup
in three years, it must improve on its defense. “It has to be solid
checking, defensive-minded (hockey) first,’’ defenseman Steve Montador
said. Jonathan Toews, who leads Chicago and is tied for fourth in the NHL
with 27 goals, missed practice Sunday with an undisclosed illness but
is expected to play Tuesday. Marian Hossa leads the team with 53 points,
but is pointless in his last three games.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (26-25-3):
Colorado hasn’t scored three goals in any of its last five games and
has two or fewer in 10 of its last 12 games (3-7-2). Defenseman Tyler
Barrie, 20, is expected to make his NHL debut. He was called up from
Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, where he was an All-Star with
five goals in 29 points. It was originally thought center Matt Duchene
would be back by now after injuring his knee Dec. 29, but he hasn’t
begun to practice and remains out indefinitely.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado killed all five penalties against Vancouver, which has the top power play in the NHL.
2. The road team has won four of the last five meetings.