Final
Avs try to slow down Penguins in Steel City
Nov 15, 2011 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - Both the Avalanche and Penguins saw comeback attempts fall short their last time out on Saturday. The two clubs could be in for another close game tonight.One of the NHL's top road teams, Colorado, will try to prevent Pittsburgh from picking up a fifth win in a row at home this evening in Milan Hejduk's debut as Avs team captain.
The Avalanche are tied for the league lead with six road wins and 13 points as the guest. They are also 5-0 versus the Eastern Conference this year, but their 2-6 record at home has prevented them from pulling away in the Northwest Division.
The Penguins, meanwhile, are 5-0-2 versus the West on the season and their current home winning streak has pushed their record in Pittsburgh to 5-1-1. The Pens haven't lost as the host since Oct. 15.
Tonight's matchup will also feature the NHL's top power play in Colorado (27.1 percent) facing off against a Pittsburgh club that has killed off 11 straight opposition power plays and is tops in the league with a 94 percent success rate while shorthanded.
The Avalanche are 14-3-4 versus the Penguins since moving to Denver in 1995-96, going 9-2-1 in the last 12 encounters. However, the Pens have won the past two meetings, including a 3-2 overtime decision in Colorado last season.
Pittsburgh posted a 4-1 win in the last meeting in the Steel City on Dec. 3, 2009, its second in a row over the Avs at home since going winless in 10 straight meetings as the host in this series.
Hejduk will make his Colorado captain debut after receiving the honor on Monday. He is just the third player to wear the "C" in Avalanche history and 10th in franchise annals. He won a Stanley Cup with the club in 2001 after being selected in the fourth round of the 1994 draft by the Nordiques.
"Milan is a leader by example, both on and off the ice; the way he conducts himself, the way he prepares for practices, the way he prepares for games," said Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco. "He's been an Avalanche for 13 years, he's a product of the system here and he's what we want our young players to strive for. Very deserving of the opportunity."
The 35-year-old leads the Avs with seven goals and is tied for second on the club with 12 points. He has scored a goal in three consecutive games, adding an assist in Saturday's 4-3 home setback to the Flames.
Colorado also received goals from Matt Duchene and David Jones in nearly erasing a four-goal deficit, but instead lost for the fifth time in six games. Semyon Varlamov made 16 saves.
"In the second we seemed to gain some momentum," said Hejduk.
While the Avalanche were unable to complete their comeback, the Penguins did rally in their meeting with the hosting Hurricanes on Saturday. Down three goals, Jordan Staal scored twice and Chris Kunitz also lit the lamp, but Carolina netted the final two goals to hand Pittsburgh a 5-3 defeat.
"We more or less handed the game back to them at the end. We have got to find a way to battle back but still do the right things throughout the whole game." Staal said.
Brent Johnson stopped 21 shots for the Penguins, who had won their previous two games. James Neal pushed his point streak to six games in a row, recording three goals and five assists in that span.
Forward Steve Sullivan is a game-time decision for tonight after leaving Saturday's loss with a lower-body injury. He did not practice on Monday. Fellow forward Tyler Kennedy is also a game-time decision after sitting out the last 11 contests with a concussion.
Center Sidney Crosby continues to remain close to returning from a concussion suffered last January, but is not expected to play tonight.
- COLORADO: 3
PITTSBURGH: 6
Final
Nov 15 10:10 PM - Pittsburgh Power-Play Goal - James Neal (12), from Steve Sullivan and Kris Letang at 7:17.
Avalanche 3, Penguins 5 3rd - 12:43Nov 15 9:44 PM - Pittsburgh Goal - Evgeni Malkin (5), from James Neal at 4:45.
Avalanche 3, Penguins 4 3rd - 15:15Nov 15 9:37 PM - Pittsburgh Goal - Brooks Orpik, from Evgeni Malkin and James Neal at 1:11.
Avalanche 3, Penguins 3 3rd - 18:49Nov 15 9:32 PM - COLORADO: 3
PITTSBURGH: 2
End of 2nd
Nov 15 9:13 PM - COLORADO: 3
PITTSBURGH: 1
End of 1st
Nov 15 8:16 PM - Colorado Goal - David Jones (7), from Jay McClement and T.J. Galiardi at 19:44.
Avalanche 3, Penguins 1 1st - 0:16Nov 15 8:15 PM - Colorado Goal - Matt Duchene (7), from Paul Stastny and Kyle Quincey at 17:24.
Avalanche 2, Penguins 0 1st - 2:36Nov 15 8:09 PM - Colorado Goal - Jay McClement (2), from Milan Hejduk and Erik Johnson at 14:51.
Avalanche 1, Penguins 0 1st - 5:09Nov 15 8:03 PM - COLORADO: 0
PITTSBURGH: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 15 7:40 PM
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