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Avalanche look to break through vs. Red Wings in Game One

Apr 24, 2008 - 1:56 PM Colorado at Detroit 7:30 pm EDT Western Conference semifinals

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Colorado Avalanche had no success against the Detroit Red Wings during the regular season.

The sixth-seeded Avalanche try to put their dismal performance against the top-seeded Red Wings behind them when the teams meet for Game One of the Western Conference semifinals on Thursday.

Colorado, which moved through the conference quarterfinals by claiming a four-games-to-two series victory over the Minnesota Wild, managed just two goals while posting an embarrassing 0-4-0 record against the the Presidents' Trophy-winning Red Wings this season.

After the Avalanche suffered a 4-2 loss on December 27, six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek posted shutouts in the next two meetings and All-Star Chris Osgood blanked the Avalanche in the series finale on February 18.

Osgood stepped in for a shaky Hasek during Detroit's quarterfinal series against the Nashville Predators and allowed just one goal in 154 minutes of action, good for a 0.39 goals-against average and .981 save percentage.

But, Colorado's offense appears to be getting on track, as it received contributions from nearly its entire roster against Minnesota. Andrew Brunette led the way with three goals, while 10 others also tallied in the series.

The Avalanche also got a boost from goaltender Jose Theodore, who reverted back to his Vezina Trophy-winning form of 2002 against the Wild, posting a 1.88 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

"(Theodore's) been unbelievable," Avalanche left wing Ryan Smyth said. "The guy's in a groove and he's got great confidence. He's on a high right now, and we'll ride him as far as we can."

Colorado needs Theodore to slow Pavel Datsyuk, who led the Red Wings in scoring during the regular season with 97 points and also topped the club with three goals and five points in the quarterfinals against Nashville, which was defeated in six games.

"It appears to me that we have engaged now, and we are just going to get better and better as the playoffs go on," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said.