Colorado Avalanche take on Vancouver Canucks – NHL Preview
It seems impossible for Colorado Avalanche to replace Vancouver Canucks to gain the supremacy of National Hockey League (NHL) Northwest division, but both teams can certainly qualify for the playoffs from the same division.
For Canucks, the playoff berth is almost guaranteed by Avalanche are not enjoying the same fate, though their playoff hopes are still very much alive.
As both these teams prepare to play against each other on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, the home side will desperately look for victory so as to get ranked among the top eight teams of the Western Conference.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Avalanche
They are ranked at ninth spot in the Western Conference with 85 points after 76 games and are tied with the eighth-ranked Dallas Stars in terms of points.
In their last game, Avalanche got defeated by Phoenix Coyotes.
Coyotes got two goals in the first period and one more in the second. However, Avalanche made a good attempt to register a comeback and scored two goals in the final period, but they could not score more goals after that and lost the game.
Avalanche have six more games to play in the regular season and coach, Joe Sacco, wants the team to focus on the rest of the games. He said:
"We've got to put (the loss to Phoenix) behind us very quickly and get ready for Vancouver. At this time of the year you can't dwell on a loss. There is too much at stake."
Canucks
They are ranked at second spot in the Western Conference with 97 points after 74 games.
Canucks have lost six games and won four this month and did not win more than one straight game.
In their last game, Canucks defeated Dallas Stars to snap their two-game losing streak.
Canucks scored a goal in the first period to take the lead. The second period went goalless and both teams scored apiece in the final as Canucks won the game.
Canucks have been struggling with consistency and could face a tough time against Avalanche, who are ready to give their best shot.
Predictions
It is going to be a tough game with Avalanche having a slight upper hand.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might stay under six.
If Canucks win, the winning margin might be less than two goals.
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