Opinion
4 min read

Avalanche and Bruins Clash in Mile-High Showdown

As the Colorado Avalanche gear up to face the Boston Bruins at Ball Arena, fans are eager for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Avalanche's recent form has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, but there's reason to believe they can ride the momentum against their formidable opponents.


Dec 13, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) reacts following his first career goal in the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Looking back at the January 6 game against the Florida Panthers, despite a loss with 4 points to Florida's 8, there were glimpses of potential that could be harnessed in their upcoming match. The Avalanche showed resilience by bouncing back from a scoreless first period to net three goals in the second. However, defensive lapses allowed too many goals through – something they'll need to tighten up against Boston.


The powerplay unit for Colorado managed one goal from six shots on January 6. This efficiency will need improvement when facing Boston’s penalty kill squads. On a positive note, their shorthanded play was solid with no goals conceded during penalties and an impressive faceoff win percentage of 54 percent while down a man.


In contrast, during their January 5 overtime victory over Dallas Stars with five points scored by Colorado compared to four by Dallas, it was clear that when firing on all cylinders, this team can compete with anyone in the league. Their even-strength play was particularly effective as they scored four out of five goals during regular play.


The most recent game on January 3 saw another win for Colorado over New York Islanders where both teams ended regulation time with four points each before Avalanche clinched it in overtime. Their powerplay clicked better here as well; scoring two out of six opportunities is an encouraging sign heading into their next game.


Despite these mixed results, one thing remains consistent: when Colorado controls the puck and capitalizes on powerplays while maintaining discipline defensively – they come out strong.


For this upcoming match-up against Boston Bruins though – it’s going to take more than just good special teams play. The Bruins are known for their aggressive style and ability not only to score but also shut down opponents' key players effectively. It will be crucial for stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen to find space and create scoring opportunities while avoiding turnovers that could lead to counter-attacks by Boston.


In conclusion, if Colorado Avalanche can leverage their home advantage at Ball Arena and replicate some of their offensive prowess shown recently without compromising defense – there is every chance they can emerge victorious against Boston Bruins come game night on January 9th at 7:00 PM Mountain Time (MT). Fans won’t want miss this clash which will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN+ as well as locally on ALT channel 681 or NESN channel 628 depending where you’re tuning in from.

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