Opinion
4 min read

Avalanche Set to Chill the Blues at Enterprise Center Showdown

As the Colorado Avalanche gear up for their next challenge against the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center, fans are bracing for what promises to be an electrifying encounter. The Avalanche, coming off a recent game where they demonstrated both resilience and firepower, are poised to bring a storm into St. Louis.


Dec 13, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Miles Wood (28) celebrates his goal in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on December 28 against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena, Colorado showcased a potent offense with 4 goals on just 24 shots, translating to an impressive shooting percentage of 17 percent. Despite falling short in overtime with a final score of 4-5, this performance was indicative of an offense that knows how to capitalize on its chances.


The powerplay unit shone brightly as well, converting twice in three opportunities. This efficiency could prove critical when facing off against the Blues' penalty kill squad. Moreover, Colorado's faceoff win percentage stood strong at 58 percent overall and was flawless during powerplays in that game – a testament to their ability to control puck possession when it matters most.


On December 24 against Arizona again but this time on home ice at Ball Arena, COL showed similar offensive prowess with another four-goal performance and maintained discipline by limiting themselves to just two penalties throughout the game – an aspect they'll need to replicate if they're looking for success away from home.


However, it wasn't all smooth sailing; despite these strong offensive displays in recent games, there were defensive lapses that saw them concede five goals even-strength against Arizona and four goals while shorthanded against Ottawa Senators back on December 22. These numbers suggest there might be chinks in Colorado's armor that St. Louis could exploit if given the chance.


The Avalanche will need their goaltending unit led by Darcy Kuemper or Pavel Francouz (depending on who gets the nod) to step up after allowing five goals from even-strength shots last time out – though it's worth noting they managed an overall save percentage of nearly perfect across these games which is commendable under pressure situations.


Looking ahead towards STL who will host COL; fans should expect nothing less than full-throttle action as both teams vie for dominance. The Blues have been known for their gritty playstyle which could disrupt Colorado’s rhythm but relying heavily on recent performances; one can argue confidently that if Avalanche can maintain their special teams' effectiveness and tighten up defensively while continuing their clinical finishing upfront - victory is within reach.


Fans eager not miss any second of this clash can tune into ESPN+ nationally or ALT2 channel 681-1 if following away or BSMW channel 671 for those supporting home side come December 30th at Enterprise Center starting from eight o'clock PM Eastern Time (ET).

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