New Jersey Devils look to bounce back at home ice against Colorado Avalanche - NHL Preview
Colorado Avalanche travel to New Jersey to face the Devils on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at the Prudential Center as they look to secure their playoff position in the Western Conference.
The Avalanche will be looking for a fourth straight victory in this game and increase the distance between themselves and ninth placed San Jose Sharks.
They are currently two points ahead of the Sharks after a three-game winning run as they lie eighth in the Western Conference with 80 points.
New Jersey Devils though won’t be easy in any way.
The Devils are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 85 points and even though their four-game winning run ended on the road to the Philadelphia Flyers, they had been playing exceptionally well before.
Avalanche (38-30-4, 80 pts)
Colorado’s three-game winning run has led them back into a playoff spot in the Western Conference and they will be looking to continue that run.
All three of their victories in the current run have come after regulation as Colorado managed to sneak out with all two points.
They faced Buffalo Sabres in their last game on Wednesday and won 5-4 in a shootout after equalising 4-4 in the dying seconds of the third period.
The Sabres went up 4-3 early in the third period through Alexander Sulzer’s goal at 1:55. However, Colorado never gave up and managed to equalise the score at 4-4 in the final two seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime.
Peter Mueller scored the winner in the shootout and was ecstatic with the two points.
"This is the biggest win of the year. To go from zero points to getting two with seconds left, you don't make that stuff up. It just shows the character of this team in that we never quit."
Devils (40-25-5, 85 pts)
New Jersey are sitting comfortable in sixth in the Eastern Conference and will we looking to get back to winning ways as they return back on home ice on Thursday.
The Devils were on a four-game winning run with some brilliant performances and are now just two-points behind fifth placed Philadelphia Flyers.
New Jersey’s run though ended at the Flyers as they were shutout by a 3-0 margin.
The Devils were completely outplayed in the game and Philadelphia’s win maintained the status quo in the Eastern Conference.
They will now look to get back to winning ways against Colorado and coach Peter DeBoer is looking to do just that.
"We got out-competed in the small areas of the rink that we are usually very good at. It doesn't happen very often and we just have to get our game back and keep moving forward."
Predictions
New Jersey are confident at home ice and will likely take all two points.
The sum of goals will be more than six as both teams are brutal in offence.
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