Ton
New member
- Joined:
- May 14, 2010
- Posts:
- 3,991
- Liked Posts:
- 124
- Location:
- Park Ridge, IL
2013 REGULAR SEASON
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]GAME 29[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]vs [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]22-2-3 ------- 10-13-4[/font]
SEASON SERIES (1-1-0) — This is the final game of the season series between these two teams. The first two games were back-to-back home and away scenarios where the Blackhawks took a 3-2 win in the first game at the United Center and the Avalanche won 6-2 at the Pepsi Center in the second game. The Avalanche snapped the Blackhawks 24 game point streak with their win. Jonathan Toews leads the Blackhawks with two goals in the season series, while Matt Duchene leads the Avalanche with two goals and three assists against Chicago this season. Ray Emery started the first game, while Corey Crawford started the second game but did not finish.
IF HISTORY REPEATS — Marian Hossa leads all active Blackhawks with 11 goals and 18 points in 20 career games against the Avalanche. Patrick Kane leads the offense with 10 assists in 20 career games. Duncan Keith leads the defense with 15 points in 40 games. Corey Crawford has the best stat line among Blackhawk goaltenders with a 3.14 goals against average and 0.877 save percentage, but Ray Emery owns the best record by going 2-1-0 in his career against the Avalanche. Over the course of history, the Avalanche own a 37-21-3-4 record against the Blackhawks.
THE BOTTOM LINE — The area that needs the biggest improvement against the Avalanche is goaltending. Again, luckily this isn't a team that will will need to face in order to advance in the playoffs so if anything it's a blessing that the Blackhawks goaltenders are struggling against them rather than a top tier team. Chicago's stars also seem to have a problem being the stars against the Avalanche as well. Patrick Kane, with four goals in 20 career games, and Dave Bolland, with one goal in 16 career games, are going to need to bring more to the table against Colorado if the Blackhawks offense is going to give the team a chance to win, unless the Chicago goaltenders can find a way to shut the door. For the most part, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa have held up their end of the bargain with 19 combined goals, respectively. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks leading point producer against Colorado, Patrick Sharp, is still suffering from an injury sustained against Colorado on 3/6/2013. History may not be in the Blackhawks favor against this Denver team, and no one should ever underestimate an NHL team; but despite all that, the cards say that Chicago should pull out a win today.
***
MILESTONE WATCH — Johnny Oduya is one assist away from 100 (99 career assists) ... Dave Bolland is two assists away from 100 (98 career assists) ... Marian Hossa is three assists away from 500 (497 career assists) ...
INJURY REPORT — Patrick Sharp is still out with an upper-body injury (separated shoulder) but he is skating on his own.
ACROSS THE POND — New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur is planning on returning from injury on Thursday ... The Vancouver Canucks have started Roberto Luongo in his fourth consecutive game (Cory who?) ... Boston Bruins forward David Krejci is listed as 'day-to-day' with a leg injury ... Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was injured in a game against the Boston Bruins after Brad Marchand slashed him ...
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][background=rgb(247, 247, 247)]Grimson must have had one hell of a St. Patrick's day... do we need to call the county prison and pay the bail?[/background][/font]
