Game #18 - vs Colorado Avalanche

2011-12 Game 18

Colorado Avalanche (8-8-1, 17 points) at Pittsburgh Penguins (10-4-3, 23 points)

If you're an Avs fan, this card is a must-have.  Those are some nice patches.

Why does it matter?

This is a chance for the Pens to get back on the right track after the disappointing loss to the Canes on Saturday night.  It's also a great chance for their penalty kill to get some work against a great power play.  Sid will not return for this one.

What has been happening lately?

• Pens - Just 2-2-1 in their past five, including a bad loss at Carolina.
• Avalanche - Started out 5-1-0.  Since then, they're just 3-7-1, including five losses in their past six games.

Questions to be answered

• If Sullivan is out, who do you throw into the lineup?  Is Dustin Jeffrey ready to return?  How about Tyler Kennedy?
• Can the Pens deal with the balanced scoring attack of the Avs, who have 5 guys with 5 goals or more?
• Can Milan Hejduk be stopped?  He has 5 goals in 8 games against the Pens.

Keys to the game

• Stay out of the box.  The Avs are inconsistent, but can be explosive on the power play.  Don't give them many chances.
• As good as their PP is, the PK for the Avs is just as bad.  Take advantage of that.
• Fix the breakdowns that have cost the Pens in recent games.  No odd-man rushes, and communicate when covering for each other (I'm thinking of Staal and Letang on Saturday).