Chicago Blackhawks take on Colorado Avalanche as both look to end five game losing runs - NHL Preview
Two sides struggling for form will look to end their respective five game losing streaks on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, when the Chicago Blackhawks will take on Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.
Blackhawks were at the top of the Western Conference as recently as January 20th, but have now dropped down to sixth after a string of poor performances and results against their conference rivals.
Chicago lost two games to the Nashville Predators and followed it up by a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Vancouver Canucks.
In their most shocking result yet the Blackhawks lost out 8-4 to the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, February 2nd and the very next day lost their fifth straight with a 3-1 loss to another poor side, Calgary Flames.
Blackhawks' coach, Joel Quenneville sees the poor performances as a challenge and wants his team to return to winning ways by rising above the adversity.
"I think stretches like this get your attention and as a team you learn from this," coach Joel Quenneville said.
"We haven't really had a challenge like this all year and it's up to us to recapture how we felt earlier in the year and know what it takes to win."
Chicago has a great chance to regain its momentum in the Western Conference when Blackhawks face the inconsistent Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado Avalanche is 12th in the Western Conference, with a 26-25-3 record and on a five game losing streak as well.
Colorado lost a closely fought game against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday by a 3-2 margin after a shootout but showed some positive signs.
Avalanche returned from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead in the second period and even though they outshot Canucks by a massive 46-29 margin, they could not convert those chances into goals.
"Overall we played pretty well," said forward Jay McClement, who scored his seventh goal of the season in the second period.
"We just didn't finish the way we wanted to, but I think we can take some positives from the way we played. ... We need that intensity."
Colorado has been struggling for form throughout the season and facing another struggling side, Blackhawks, provides them with a big opportunity to return back to winning ways.
Blackhawks will be looking forward to playing against Colorado. Avalanche has a poor home record of 14-13-1 and Chicago’s better skills on offence and defence might just tilt the game in their favour.
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