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Avalanche host Oilers in Northwest Division showdown

Oct 24, 2008 - 12:01 AM Edmonton (4-1-0) at Colorado (3-3-0), 9:30 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- If the Colorado Avalanche want to truly test their offensive prowess, Thursday's game will prove to be an appropriate measuring stick.

The high-octane Avalanche host the defensive-minded Edmonton Oilers in a battle of Northwest Division rivals on Thursday.

Courtesy of netting 24 goals - trailing only the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks total of 25 for the league's top honors - Colorado has cruised to a three-game win streak after dropping the first three contests of the season.

The Avalanche's top line, which consists of Ryan Smyth, Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny, has combined for 11 goals and 24 points this season.

Meanwhile, the Oilers used one the league's most potent defensive units to win their first four contests before falling to the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-1, on Wednesday evening. The loss kept them from starting 5-0-0 for the first time since 1985-86.

Scoring only 13 goals through five games, Edmonton has desperately needed its defense to flourish as it recorded four one-goal victories.

In one of their strongest defensive efforts thus far, Mathieu Garon made 31 saves as the Oilers recorded a 3-2 victory over the Avalanche on October 12.

Garon was rested on Wednesday in favor of backup Dwayne Roloson, who turned aside 27 shots in the loss.

Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj has an opportunity to offset his early-season struggles. The 26-year-old has posted a pedestrian 4.03 goals-against average and has yet to yield less than three tallies in any of his four contests. Budaj is 9-3-2 with a 2.58 GAA in 14 career games against the Oilers.