Red hot Atlanta Thrashers square off against Colorado Avalanche
The surging Atlanta Thrashers (12-9-3) will take on the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Tuesday 30 November. The Thrashers hope to continue their recent dominance as they try to take on a battered Avalanche squad.
Dustin Byfuglien and the Thrashers will try to extend their win streak to six when they head into the Pepsi Center Wednesday night. The Thrashers have surprised the hockey world this week by taking on some of the league's top teams in a convincing fashion.
During their win streak, they’ve out-scored their opponents 19-3.
If that weren’t impressive enough, the quality of their opponents makes their accomplishments all the more astonishing. Their victims include the Western Conference-leading Detroit Red Wings, and the reigning President’s Trophy champions, the Washington
Captatls, whom the Thrashers dominated 5-0 and 5-1 respectively. They also shut out the Montreal Canadiens, who sit at third in the East, 3-0. Dustin Byfuglien excelled in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins, registering a goal and three assists.
Despite dethroning John-Michael Liles as the league’s leading defencive point-getter, Byfuglien is modest. “I feel comfortable,” said the 6'5'', 265lb defenceman. “I wouldn’t put myself out there as dominant, but I’m just out there playing good hockey and
having fun and trying to play as a team.”
Byfuglien has stepped up in a big way for the Thrashers since coming over in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. With Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract off the Thrahers’ books, Atlanta was free to take on some of the Blackhawk’s spare parts from their cup winning
team. Byfuglien has looked like anything but a spare part this season though.
The Thrashers also owe much of their recent success to Ondrej Pavelec. Pavelec was solid, stopping 40 of 41 shots on Saturday, earning himself the second star of the game. It was also announced that Pavelec would be named the NHL’s first star of the week.
Impressive feats considering that earlier in the season, Pavelec collapsed on the ice in a game against the Washington Capitals. Pavelec sustained a concussion when his head hit the ice.
The Avalanche has faced some adversity of their own lately, finding themselves without starting goaltender and power forward Chris Stewart, who broke his hand in a fight against Kyle Brodziak. It also looked like the Avalanche might be without their captain
Milan Hejduk after the veteran defenceman looked to have injured his leg earlier this week.
Hejduk wasn’t out for long, as he had a goal and an assist in Colorado’s 7-3 trouncing of the Minnesota Wild, Saturday 27 November. The game’s star that night however was Greg Mauldin, who put up two goals and two assists on Saturday.
“It really is a dream,” said Mauldin, who has spent considerable time in the minors and Europe over the last six years. “This is something you dream about when you’re playing youth hockey with your buddies. Having this happen in front of the home crowd is
unbelievable.”
The Avalanche will also be without forward David Winnik, who was hit by a shot from team-mate John Michael Liles early in the first. Coach Joe Sacco isn’t too concerned with the injuries however.
“We’ve been very resilient when we’ve had injuries and this organization has a lot of depth,” said the Colorado bench-boss. “That certainly helps in situations like this."
The game has important implications for both teams. Atlanta, usually a perennial bottom feeder, is looking to prove what they can do in the NHL. After a slow start, the Thrashers find themselves in seventh place, and are hoping to solidify their position.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche are desperately seeking to reclaim their place atop the North West division from the Vancouver Canucks.
The Avalanche should prepare for a physical battle, as most of the Thrashers team can play a gritty game when they need to. They’ll also have to be tight offensively and defensively, since the Thrashers have proved they are potent at both ends of the ice.
Expect Pavelec to continue his excellent play, while the team in front of him continues to run on all cylinders. The Thrasher should take this game by a score of 3-1.
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