Game #70: Boston Bruins to clash with Colorado Avalanche
Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Game #70: Boston Bruins (47-17-5) vs. Colorado Avalanche (42-20-6)
Location: Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
The Bruins will visit the Pepsi Center Friday night for a date with the Avalanche. This meeting will mark the second and final game between the two sides this season. Colorado beat the Bruins back on Oct. 1o, 2-0.
Boston will be in search of their 11th straight win. A victory would put them in a tie with the St. Louis Blues for the top overall position in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Avalanche will be looking to avenge a 5-4 overtime loss suffered at the hands of Winnipeg on Wednesday.
Claude Julien‘s squad has outscored their opponents 44-15 during the course of their winning streak. Despite such dominance, the Bruins are not taking anything for granted. They are continually striving to be better each and every night. Each game has become another hurdle that must be overcome.
Colorado has slid a bit of in recent games having lost a pair of tough ones in a row. They are looking to avoid their first three game skid of the season. Their recent hiccup aside, the Avalanche have been as good as anyone all season. They are entrenched in the Western Conference playoff race and will certainly be a player come the postseason.
First-year head coach Patrick Roy will have his team fired up and raring to go on home ice. Knocking off the streaking Bruins would instill a young Avalanche club with loads of confidence.
Though Boston has had tremendous success against the Western Conference this season. They are 15-4-4.
The Avalanche will look to utilize their immense speed and offensive skill in facing a larger, more physical Bruins team. Colorado will have to be near perfect in doing so considering Boston has allowed two or less goals in nine of their last 10 games.
Tuukka Rask will likely be in net to begin a mini three game road trip. Chad Johnson got the nod this past Tuesday in New Jersey. Rask has won six straight contests.
Jarome Iginla has been fueling the Bruins offense. He’s scored goals in four straight games and has a total of nine goals during the winning streak. His linemate David Krejci is steadily feeding him the puck. Krejci has five assists in as many games.
Matt Duchene will lead the Avalanche’s offensive attack. The center-man has 7 points in his last five games. Ryan O’Reilly leads the club with 25 goals.
Expect Johnny Boychuk to once again sit this one out. Boychuk is still recovering after taking a nasty spill into the boards earlier this week. Andrej Meszaros will likely skate in his place.