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Avalanche-Canucks Preview

Oct 31, 2009 - 8:31 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Colorado (10-2-2) at Vancouver (7-7-0), 10:00 p.m. EDT

A long road trip may be wearing down the Colorado Avalanche. Perhaps a visit to Vancouver will help them get back on track.

Following their worst offensive performance of the season, the Avalanche look to continue their road success against the Northwest Division rival Canucks on Sunday night.

Colorado (10-2-2) has been the biggest surprise of the early season, leading the Western Conference after finishing last in 2008-09. The Avalanche have an eight-point lead over the Canucks (7-7-0), who finished first in the Northwest last season with 100 points.

Colorado had its four-game winning streak snapped Friday night, losing 3-1 to San Jose. The Avalanche went 8-0-2 in their previous 10 games.

It was the lowest-scoring game of the season for Colorado, which is set to conclude a four-game trip.

The Avalanche, 6-2-2 away from the Pepsi Center, went 7-1-1 in their last nine at Vancouver. They took the first meeting with the Canucks this season 3-0 at home Oct. 3.

Craig Anderson made 35 saves for Colorado in that contest after giving up nine total goals in his previous two games versus Vancouver.

Anderson, in his first season with the Avalanche after signing in July, has a 2.04 goals-against average and has started all of Colorado's games this season. He stopped 43 shots against the Sharks, but gave up two goals in the third period.

"It's my job to stop them no matter what," he said.

With Peter Budaj finally healthy, Colorado coach Joe Sacco may give Anderson a break Sunday. Budaj missed four games while recovering from swine flu.

Budaj gave up one goal in four of his last five starts against the Canucks.

Vancouver will be without star goaltender Roberto Luongo, who will miss at least a week with a cracked rib.

His injury is one of many the Canucks have had to contend with. Forwards Daniel Sedin (broken foot), Pavol Demitra (shoulder surgery), Kyle Wellwood (broken toe), Ryan Johnson (concussion), Jannik Hansen (broken fingers) and Alexandre Bolduc (shoulder) are also out.

Poor defensive play hurt Vancouver in a 7-2 loss to Anaheim on Friday night.

"We tried to generate what we could with what we had," said Willie Mitchell, one of eight defensemen used by the Canucks.

Andrew Raycroft, making his second straight start in place of Luongo, stopped 18 of 22 shots in two periods before being replaced by Cory Schneider. Raycroft made 30 saves in his first start to help Vancouver beat Los Angeles 2-1 in a shootout Thursday night.

Raycroft played in 31 games, starting 27, with Colorado last season. He gave up four goals in each of his two career starts versus the Avalanche, last facing them Oct. 18, 2006, while with Boston.