Edmonton (7-8-1) at Colorado (12-3-2)

  • Game info: 8:00 pm EST Sun Nov 8, 2009
  • TV: RSW, ALT

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN, STATS Senior Writer Nov 7, 2:49 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights

The Colorado Avalanche have matched a franchise record for consecutive home wins to start a season, and they have a good chance to break that mark given the Edmonton Oilers’ play on the road.

The Avalanche and goaltender Craig Anderson(notes) look to hand the Oilers a sixth straight road loss Sunday when the Northwest division rivals meet for the second time this season.

Colorado (12-3-2) improved to 6-0 at the Pepsi Center with a 4-3 shootout victory over Chicago on Friday. Ryan O’Reilly(notes) scored twice for the Avalanche, David Jones(notes) added a short-handed goal and Chris Stewart(notes) had the winning goal in the shootout.

Anderson continued his outstanding season with 29 saves, and he made seven stops in the shootout. The free agent acquisition is 11-3-2 with a 2.15 goals-against average.

“He gives us a chance to win every night and he did it again tonight,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said.

The Avalanche also started 6-0 at home two seasons ago and in 1994-95 in their final season in Quebec.

Anderson has shut out the Oilers (7-8-1) in his last two starts against them, including a 3-0 victory Oct. 27. Wojtek Wolski(notes) scored twice for Colorado and Anderson made 25 saves.

The Avalanche have been one of the league’s biggest surprises so far with 26 points to lead the Northwest. They had a Western Conference-low 69 last season.

“It is still early but you would rather be here now then at the end of the year,” Stewart said. “We have to compete every game, and it is a long season.”

Edmonton has scored a total of three goals in losing three straight as it begins a five-game road trip. The Oilers haven’t outshot an opponent since the first game of the season, and were outshot 39-28 against the Rangers in a 4-2 loss Thursday.

“We’ve got guys who are supposed to be scorers that don’t put the puck anywhere near the net. That’s the disappointing part,” coach Pat Quinn said. “You don’t get many goals if you don’t shoot it.”

The Oilers won their first road game, 6-1 at Nashville on Oct. 12 before losing the next five. They have scored one goal in their last three road contests.

“Sometimes it works in your favor when you get on the road. When you can get the guys together and get more of a positive energy surrounding our team,” captain Ethan Moreau(notes) told the Oilers’ official Web site. “It’s worked to our advantage in the past and hopefully that’s the case.”

The Oilers have won their last two games in Denver, including an 8-1 win March 19 in their last visit. That was the Avalanche’s most-lopsided regular-season home loss since moving from Quebec to Colorado in 1995.

Updated Nov 7, 2:49 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Edmonton 24 10 11 3 23 4th, Northwest 72 75 2-7-2 Road
Colorado 24 14 7 3 31 1st, Northwest 74 71 7-2-0 Home

Notes

D Tom Gilbert scored the final goal of Edmonton's season. ... Edmonton fired 36 shots on goal. ... Oilers lost 38 of 58 faceoffs. ... G Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers made 41 saves.

Apr 12, 1:01 am EDT

Colorado finished 32-45-5 this season. The Avalanche posted 69 points - 10 behind the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes. They finished last in the Western Conference for the first time since moving to Denver in 1995. ... Colorado had never finished with fewer than 95 points since its franchise moved to Denver. ... Colorado prospects Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk played vital roles in helping Boston University win the NCAA national championship on Saturday.

Apr 12, 9:36 pm EDT
NHL

24 Comments

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  1. DON_DOC_IN
    24. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Tue Nov 10 8:32am EST

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    @22......."wheres YOUR team in the standings?"....Hmmm, I could of sworn that I had already told you, that I do not play on any NHL team.
  2. DON_DOC_IN
    23. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Tue Nov 10 8:19am EST

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    Don't worry TB, I know better than to believe it. Way to early. I am sure most Avs fans know better also. It is just this moron Avs in 10. He has been pounding his man boobs about the Avs dominace of the Wings "Since 2008 opening day". Even though his team didn't even make the playoffs in 2008-09. This tool thinks that being tied for first place the first week of November means something. The Avs have gotten off to a great start, no doubt. I would hope most Avs fans are smarter than this fool. He is entertaining even if he is a lil misguided and clueless! If you want to know who this Avs in 10 idiot is, just go to the box office. He is the ONE guy in line for playoff tickets and is wearing his "Avs....November 6th Co-Champs" shirt.

    Good luck to your team TB. The west in better when your team is strong......
  3. Avs in 10
    22. Posted by Avs in 10 Mon Nov 9 9:10pm EST

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    @ Ink a Bink and your girlfriend DON_DOC...............

    Weak defensive team eh? You obviously dont know what your talking about, so leave the hockey smacktalk to your boyfriend DOC there........ it soooo cute when you girls try to talk sports.

    And DON_DORK, you never answered..... wheres YOUR team in the standings?

    You two pu$$ pants sallys make me laugh......... thank you
  4. TB
    21. Posted by TB Mon Nov 9 7:20pm EST

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    Don Doc, not sure who woulda told you such a thing but I would hope you wouldn't be dumb enough to believe it. As happy as us Avs fans are about the surprising start, I doubt any of us are lining up to buy playoff tickets just yet.
  5. HotStacey
    20. Posted by HotStacey Mon Nov 9 1:27pm EST

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    Glad to see the Oilers power play pick up. Yes, it was against a weak defensive team, but I will take it. Curious to see how they hold up against the better teams(Pens, Caps, Sharks, etc) in the NHL
  6. DON_DOC_IN
    19. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 12:00pm EST

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    Even though the AVS have clinched a tie for the NOV 9th title, I think they will play hard anyways......Afterall, there is that little thing called playoffs that they might be interested in rejoining!!!!! Go Avs Go!!!!! Do Toolshed proud
  7. Avs in 10
    18. Posted by Avs in 10 Mon Nov 9 11:43am EST

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    @ DON_DOC...........

    I was wondering when you would show up and open your big mouth.

    Darn, now were TIED for 1st place..... where is your team in the standings?

    Get a life outside hockey blogging champ, im sure you have many, many friends!
  8. MaynardS
    17. Posted by MaynardS Mon Nov 9 10:40am EST

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    Another game announced by the two worst announcers in the NHL. They missed 4 out of the 8 goals scored. They were blathering about something other than the play being made. AWFUL ! ! !
    Maynard
  9. DON_DOC_IN
    16. Posted by DON_DOC_IN Mon Nov 9 8:21am EST

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    Surprising result. I was being told the season was over and the Avs were champs. Must be a mis-print. There is no way they cold lose at home. No Way!
  10. Nwaf A
    15. Posted by Nwaf A Mon Nov 9 8:16am EST

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    The avs cant keep using anderson the guy looks dead tired.

    where is peter whats his name.

    anderson is a pretty darn good goalie but he isnt superman.
  11. Kyle H
    14. Posted by Kyle H Mon Nov 9 4:09am EST

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    We put ourselves in a "whole"... nice spelling
  12. Kyle H
    13. Posted by Kyle H Mon Nov 9 4:08am EST

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    "we put ourselves in a "whole" ...". LOL nice spelling ass wad.
  13. John M
    12. Posted by John M Sun Nov 8 11:47pm EST

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    #10: Both the nickname and the post have a "so first degree that you have to take it to the third degree" kind of humor... but then I put the two in conjunction... I think there should be an award for that kind of guts
  14. TB
    11. Posted by TB Sun Nov 8 11:43pm EST

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    #9, it was his lower back. Sacco said after the game that he took warm-ups but couldn't go. Doesn't know when he'll be back.

    I wonder if it's time to bench Duchene. He had a lot of jump and created a lot of turnovers early in the season but hasn't looked the same for a while.
  15. Pig_Benis
    10. Posted by Pig_Benis Sun Nov 8 11:22pm EST

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    Well Oiled Machine tonight!!
  16. Robbert V
    9. Posted by Robbert V Sun Nov 8 11:19pm EST

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    Hejduk was a healthy scratch. Not sure if the were giving him the night off to rest his "aging body" since he is in latter part of his career but still playing aggresively. Benefiting from having a good passer in stastny and other offensive threats around him.
  17. gooner
    8. Posted by gooner Sun Nov 8 11:17pm EST

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    thanks tvdood, i was just getting to it after reading it @ milehighhockey.
  18. tvdood
    7. Posted by tvdood Sun Nov 8 11:14pm EST

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    Hejduk update.

    http://www.rototimes.com/nhl/player.php?tqid=1148&type=news&nid=35566
  19. gooner
    6. Posted by gooner Sun Nov 8 11:10pm EST

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    @ hocke4607 - Um what? Hejduk is having a spectucular season thus far on par with his consistent scoring year after year. They're asking "what happened to Hejduk" because he's not listed on the box score roster...think before responding please, it goes a long ways.
  20. Sergio M
    5. Posted by Sergio M Sun Nov 8 10:47pm EST

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    yeah, what happened to hejduk?
  21. <i>hocke4607</i>
    4. Posted by hocke4607 Sun Nov 8 10:45pm EST

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    age happened to hejduk
  22. <i>benniel28</i>
    3. Posted by benniel28 Sun Nov 8 9:24pm EST

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    what happened to hejduk
  23. corey s
    2. Posted by corey s Sun Nov 8 5:45pm EST

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    Avs are solid, so far this season it appears they win the games they are "suppose" to win. This is one of those games and Anderson is once again in net which means trouble for the opposition. I like the Avs to win big here 5-2.
  24. Avs in 10
    1. Posted by Avs in 10 Sun Nov 8 1:31pm EST

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    Hopefully this doesn't turn into the Leafs-Wings game for us......... lets break that franchise record for home wins.
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