Posted on 29th December 2011 16:27 GMT, by
Palermo
Yesterday, the Jets broke overall five-game and home eight-game wining streaks of Colorado Avalanche. Winnipeg won at Pepsi Center in Denver, 4-1, convincing despite the last goal was net goal. The similar situation was in the beginning of the season, when Colorado made five-game winning streak on the road and lost the sixth game, 1-3 at home against Chicago. And in the next round they won in Chicago, 5-4 after OT. But, it was the same opponent in the both games. In the next home game they suffered another defeat, 1-3 against Edmonton, in order to they won next home game, 3-2 against the Kings. When they lost 1-4 at home against San Jose, in the next game Vancouver won 3-0, also in Denver. I said all this in order to point out that Colorado is vulnerable at home and after the first one may occur another loss. Two month ago, Phoenix already won in Denver, 4-1, and in that game Semyon Varlamov achieved a 3.00 GAA and .889 save percentage. Goalie of the Coyotes, Mike Smith, achieved a 1.00 GAA and .975 Sv%, but he took a groin injury and tonight backup goalie Jason LaBarbera will start for the Coyotes. In his previous 12 GP this season he achieved a 2.68 GAA and .909 Sv%. The main reason that he does not have better outcome are his three bad starts in November, when he allowed 10 goals on 84 shots. However, he had very good performance in yesterday's game in Boston, allowing only 2 goals on 29 shots, for a .931 Sv%. He showed a great mental power, since he saved his net within whole regular time after allowed the first goal 47 seconds into the game. The second game came 58 seconds into overtime. LaBarbera has a poor performance against Colorado - a 3.22 GAA and 893 Sv% in 7 career games. There is a possibility to start the fourth goalie, Curtis McElhinney, who achieved a 2.95 GAA in 21 games with the AHL’s Portland Pirates. Defensmen Adrian Aucoin is on the injured reserve list, but Colorado is without as many as four forwards: Brandon Yip, Peter Mueller, David Jones and Chuck Kobasew.
The Coyotes are three games without win, and with the worst shape in the Pacific Division. But, also there, they are the best guest and the second best in the Western Conference, with eleven wins, one less than Colorado at home. Colorado lost after five-game winning streak and I hope their another defeat, tonight against the Coyotes. At least after OT.
United States NHL: Colorado Avalanche - Phoenix Coyotes
Philadelphia Flyers - Pittsburgh Penguins
HK SKP Poprad - HC Slovan Bratislava
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