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Avalanche-Canucks Preview

Nov 20, 2009 - 2:02 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Colorado (13-6-3) at Vancouver (11-10-0), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Avalanche have struggled since opening the season with 10 victories in their first 13 games.

Facing the team that routed them last week might not be the best way for the Avalanche to get back on track.

Colorado closes out its three-game trip Friday night, when it faces a well-rested Vancouver Canucks team opening a five-game homestand.

The Northwest Division-leading Avalanche (13-6-3) finished last in the Western Conference in 2008-09, but opened this season with an NHL-best 10-1-2 mark. Since then, however, Colorado is 3-5-1 following Wednesday's 6-4 loss at Edmonton.

The Avalanche led 4-2 following Kyle Cumiskey's second-period score, but allowed four unanswered goals in the final 20:16.

"Those are the ones you have to put away and we didn't do that," said first-year coach Joe Sacco, whose team has dropped four of five.

Even with the man-advantage, Colorado hasn't been able to put much away lately, going 5 for 58 on the power play in its last 16 games.

Milan Hejduk, who leads the Avalanche with five power-play goals and 10 total, scored twice Wednesday and has three goals in his last two games. He went scoreless in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the visiting Canucks after missing two contests with a sore back.

The last time the Avalanche allowed that many goals was an 8-1 loss to the Oilers on March 19.

"(The Canucks) outworked us in all aspects of the game," said center Paul Stastny, who leads the team with 16 assists and 20 points. "We have to be ready to play and we weren't and it showed."

While Colorado plays its third game in four nights, Vancouver (11-10-0) takes the ice for the first time since the lopsided victory in Denver.

The Canucks snapped a three-game slide in that contest, scoring their most goals since an 8-1 victory at the New York Islanders on Jan. 14, 2006.

Playing in his 667th career game Saturday, center Henrik Sedin recorded his first NHL hat trick.

"It's something to build on," Sedin said following the team's 2-3-0 trip. "It gives the guys confidence."

Sedin's twin brother, Daniel, practiced with the Canucks on Thursday but is not expected to return until Sunday against Chicago. Daniel Sedin has missed the last 17 games with a broken foot.

Lately, forward Mason Raymond has helped Vancouver compensate for his loss.

Raymond has five goals and five assists in his last eight games after having three goals and no assists in his first 13 contests. Raymond and Ryan Johnson each recorded a career-high three assists on Saturday.

"I would say in his last three weeks, (Raymond) been one of our better players at generating offense as far as finishing more and we need some other guys to surprise us also here," coach Alain Vigneault told the Canucks' official Web site.

Roberto Luongo made 32 saves against the Avalanche in his third game since being out two weeks with a broken rib. He is 1-3-2 with a 3.11 GAA in his last six home starts versus Colorado.

Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj stopped 27 shots Wednesday in his second start of the season. He gave up four goals on eight shots Saturday after replacing Craig Anderson, who allowed four goals in the first two periods.

Anderson is 0-4-0 with a 3.49 GAA in four career starts in Vancouver.