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Blackhawks coach Quenneville returns to Colorado

Dec 12, 2008 - 11:24 AM Chicago (13-6-7) at Colorado (14-13-1), 9:00 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is facing a familar foe.

Quenneville and the Blackhawks will travel to the Pepsi Center on Friday to square off against the coach's former club, the Colorado Avalanche.

It marks Quenneville's first trip to Colorado since the Avalanche fired him after the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings swept them out of the playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals last season.

The 50-year-old Quenneville was named Blackhawks coach four games into the season and has quickly turned the young and talented team into a force in the conference.

Chicago is 3-0-1 over its previous four contests and has climbed into second place in the Central Division behind the Red Wings.

The Avalanche have struggled since Quenneville's departure, sitting on the outside of the playoff picture in ninth place in the West.

Coach Tony Granato, who is in his second stint behind the bench for the club, is showing signs of turning it around. Colorado is seeking its third straight win after cruising to a 6-1 rout of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

The Avalanche are 4-1-1 over their last six contests.