Will the Avalanche Continue Their Dominance Over the Coyotes at Ball Arena?
As the Colorado Avalanche prepare to host the Arizona Coyotes at Ball Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what seems to be shaping up as another showcase of Colorado's prowess on ice. The upcoming clash scheduled for February 18th is expected to follow a narrative that has become familiar to those following these two teams - one where the Avalanche assert their dominance.
Looking back at their last encounter on December 24th, 2023, it was clear that Colorado had a firm grip on the game. The Avalanche outscored the Coyotes with a decisive 4-1 victory, showcasing an offensive clinic that left Arizona scrambling. With a shooting percentage of 15 percent compared to Arizona's meager four percent and winning over half of their faceoffs, COL demonstrated not just skill but also strategic superiority.
The powerplay opportunities were limited for both sides in their previous meeting; however, COL didn't need them to secure their win. They capitalized on even-strength situations and displayed an impressive defensive performance by blocking nine shots and only allowing one goal against them throughout the game.
Arizona's struggle was evident beyond just scoring difficulties; they ended up with a minus-20 in plus/minus rating against COL's plus-20—a stark indicator of how play went when both teams had equal numbers on ice. This statistic alone paints a grim picture for ARI fans hoping for an upset in Denver.
Moreover, when comparing recent performances against other teams like Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks, it becomes apparent that Colorado has been consistently strong. Against Ottawa on December 22nd, despite being outshot significantly (45 shots against), they managed an impressive six goals and showcased resilience by overcoming penalties more effectively than their opponents.
In contrast, ARI has shown weaknesses that could be exploited once again by COL’s aggressive playstyle. Their inability to convert powerplay opportunities into goals is particularly concerning—scoring only once in three chances during their last game against Colorado—and will likely be something they'll want to address before stepping onto Ball Arena’s ice.
With all eyes looking towards this matchup as another potential win for Colorado Avalanche based on past performances and current form—fans should expect nothing less than relentless offense from COL paired with solid defense work which has been characteristic of them this season.
The puck drops at 6:00 PM local time (Mountain Time) at Ball Arena in Denver. Fans can catch all the action live nationally via ESPN+ or locally through ALT channel 681 or SCRIPPS depending upon your location allegiance—ensuring you won’t miss any moment of what promises to be another exciting chapter in this lopsided rivalry.