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Game #44
Anaheim Ducks @ Colorado Avalanche
Thursday, January 12th, 2016 6:00 PM PST
Pepsi Center
TV: PRIME
Radio: AM 830, AnaheimDucks.com
Your Enemy: Mile High Hockey
Hitting the road and high off the back of a strong 4-1 homestand, the Ducks are looking to continue their slightly more disciplined defensive ways on the road. Getting two outstanding shutouts from John Gibson and finally breaking the OT curse with a Kase game winner against the Coyotes; it’s all looking positive for the Ducks.
As noted by CJ in the last preview, the defense for whatever reason (*cough* Carlyle) has not been as good this season but fortunately for us, John Gibson appears to be entering God mode while, despite Ryan Getzlaf being out of the line-up with an upper body injury and amidst rumors of a flu-bug circulating the team, all four Ducks lines are playing well.
Things are looking good with the emergence of the “shutdown” line now carrying the offense and the surprise Kase-Ritchie-Vermette combination causing teams frequent headaches.
The Avalanche on the other hand have struggled to get over the mountain. This season they seem to be following a trend similar to their moniker and are tumbling down it. They currently sit last in the league with a 13-25-1 record. Their 25 losses are worst in the league as is their -51 goal differential. Neither Avalanche goaltender has a GAA less than 3 but remarkbly, trade deadline bait such as Francois Beauchimin (sup Beauch?) is just minus 1 - the best +/- on the team if you don’t count newly acquired from waivers “Long Beach Native” (drink) Matt Nieto.
It’s no secret that defense is where the Avalanche need help and the Central Division cellar dwellers have been rumored to be in on several trades involving our own Ducks defensemen, but as noted by our friends at Mile High here, not everyone believes they can sacrifice their offense so easily.
The Ducks have their siblings on the trip with them and apparently Kevin Bieksa’s brother is a good luck charm so here’s hoping the boys can come away with a clean (no OT and no injuries please) two points.