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Streaking Avs welcome Sens to Denver

Dec 17, 2010 - 4:10 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Avalanche go for a season-best fifth straight victory tonight, but may have to do so without leading goal scorer Paul Stastny as they take on the Ottawa Senators at the Pepsi Center.

Colorado swept a home-and-home set from the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks to extend its winning streak, taking Monday's contest at home, 7-5, before skating to a 4-3 victory in the Windy City on Wednesday.

Tomas Fleischmann scored twice during a four-minute power play early in the third period, then completed his first career hat trick with 5:18 left in regulation. The forward has five goals and five assists in seven games since being acquired from the Capitals on Nov. 30.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game," Fleischmann said. "The power play was a key point of the game."

Greg Mauldin also scored, Matt Duchene added two assists and Craig Anderson posted 35 saves for the Avalanche, who also won four straight from Nov. 15-20.

Colorado, though, did lose Stastny to a back injury and the center is day-to- day with his ailment. Stastny, who leads Colorado with 13 goals, is questionable for tonight, as is Milan Hejduk (groin) and David Van Der Gulik (knee).

Winger T.J. Galiardi, however, could return tonight after missing the last 17 games with a broken right wrist suffered on Nov. 9.

Colorado opens a five-game homestand tonight and has won five of its last six as the host to up its record at the Pepsi Center to 8-4-1.

Ottawa had lost five of its last six on the road before winning last night's test in Minnesota, 3-1. Just nine seconds after the Wild had a potential go- ahead goal wiped out because of a too many men on the ice penalty, Nick Foligno put his club ahead for good with his third goal of the season.

Chris Kelly and Daniel Alfredsson also scored, Erik Karlsson notched three assists and Pascal Leclaire gave up just one goal in the first period before ending with 23 saves.

"The first period we started off good then we got on our heels," said Alfredsson. "They were skating pretty good but we were able to kill some big penalties. It was an interesting game and luckily we were able to pull it out."

Ottawa has won two of its last three, but picked up just its fifth victory in its last 16 games.

Ottawa head coach Cory Clouston could opt to go with Brian Elliott over Leclaire tonight. While Elliott has never faced the Avs, Leclaire is 0-6-1 with a 3.77 goals-against average when facing the club.

Anderson is 4-1-0 with a 2.22 GAA against the Sens and will likely get the call tonight as Colorado goes for its fourth straight victory over Ottawa. The Avs notched a 4-3 road triumph in the lone meeting between the teams last year.