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Avalanche continue homestand versus Bruins

Jan 22, 2011 - 3:31 PM (Sports Network) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to rebound from a lopsided loss when they continue their five-game homestand at the Pepsi Center with today's battle against the Boston Bruins.

The Avalanche had won two in a row heading into Thursday's test against Nashville, but the Predators posted a 5-1 triumph to drop Colorado to 1-1-0 on the current homestand. Colorado is 13-9-3 as the host on the season.

Matt Duchene spoiled the shutout bid with his 19th goal of the year for the Avalanche. Duchene's tally came with 3:37 remaining in the third period.

Craig Anderson suffered the loss after yielding five goals on 28 shots.

"They sure executed their game well," said Colorado's Paul Stastny. "It seems like we were skating backwards all night."

Colorado may have been distracted Thursday by some disturbing news concerning forward Tomas Fleischmann. It was announced prior to the Nashville game that Fleischmann has been diagnosed with a pulmonary emboli and will miss the rest of the season.

Fleischmann tallied eight goals and 13 assists in 22 games after the Avalanche acquired him in a trade with Washington on November 30.

The Avalanche enter tonight tied with Chicago for the final two postseason berths in the West. Minnesota and San Jose are just one point behind the Blackhawks and Avs.

The Bruins, who lead the Northeast Division by one point over Montreal, also had a two-game win streak halted their last time out, as they dropped a home decision Thursday against Buffalo.

Thomas Vanek notched the winner early in the third period and Ryan Miller stopped 38 shots to lead the Sabres to the 4-2 victory at TD Garden. Dennis Seidenberg and Gregory Campbell scored for the Bruins, who had also won five of six coming into Thursday's game.

Tuukka Rask yielded four goals on 33 shots, but Tim Thomas is expected to resume his starting role tonight. Thomas is 22-4-6 and has recorded two of his seven shutouts this season in his last four starts.

"We didn't have everybody going and that's what happens when you don't have everybody going," Bruins forward Mark Recchi told his team's official website.

Boston forward Marc Savard, who recorded the primary assist on Seidenberg's goal Thursday, enters this afternoon's test one helper shy of 500 career assists.

The Bruins have won two straight and three of their last four road games and are playing the first of two straight away from Beantown today. Boston, which is 14-5-4 as the road club this year, will also visit Los Angeles on Monday.

Colorado recorded a 4-3 regulation win last season when it visited the Bruins for the only encounter between the clubs in 2009-10. The Avs have taken four of six overall in the series, but Boston has won three out of four in Denver.