Pre-Game Talk: Week of On the Road Again... (@VAN, @SJS, @ANA)

[RoyIsALegend]

The flu boys head back out on the road again.

Monday, December 16th @ Vancouver - 8:30 PM MST
Thursday, December 19th @ San Jose - 8:30 PM MST
Friday, December 20th @ Anaheim - 8:00 PM MST

We head into Vancouver tomorrow night facing a Canucks squad that was embarrassed on home ice last night by the Bruins. Lots of chippy stuff to end the game and the Canucks will come out looking for redemption on home ice. Battle of the perennial Norris favourites in Cale Makar vs. Quinn Hughes. Thatcher Demko has struggled since returning from injury, putting up a 4.47 GAA, .830 sv%, -2.6 GSAx.

On Thursday, we go South to California to face the Sharks and reunite with our old friends Georgiev and Kovalenko. Blackwood might get the chance to face his old team, although I sort of expect Wedgewood against the Sharks and Blackwood against the Ducks. A chance to see the electric Mack Celebrini, 1st overall pick in the most recent draft, up close and personal. William Eklund, 7th overall pick in 2021, has had a strong start to the year and looks to be developing into an elite playmaker who can put the puck right on the tape for any teammate.

Friday, on the second half of a back-to-back, we head down to SoCal to face the Ducks. We might get to see a target we passed up on, John Gibson, against us. The Ducks have really struggled to put the puck in the net this year. After Troy Terry(24 points in 29 games), their next highest scorer is Ryan Strome with 15 points. Lots of nice, young talent in Gauthier, Carlsson, Zellweger, etc. but a long way from turning the corner in their rebuild. Need to keep our heads up with Trouba, Gudas, Vatrano, and Johnston all big hitters.

It doesn't look like any new faces travelled with the team today based on the pictures posted on the Avs social media. Drouin and Manson remain home skating each day. No sign of Landeskog, Wood, and Kylington.

 

[Metallo]

Going on a 3 game road trip with only one extra (Ludvig). Classic Avs.

 

[Murzu]

W W W. Easy.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Vancouver with a struggling Demko, San Jose and Anaheim should be an easy stretch but I’m gonna go with W, L, OTL

 

[dahrougem2]

Three wins this week.

MacKinnon dominates in Vancouver, everyone dominates against SJ, and the Ducks are a perennially dreadful hockey team so that shouldn't be difficult unless their goaltending is nuts. Even then, first time we played them Dostal was unreal and they still lost.

Good week to close the gap in the Central on the three above us.

 

[Linds]

Avs light up 4Giev in his redemption game against the Avs

 

[GeoRox89]

L W W

Avs have a fun habit of winning the game I don’t attend when they play twice in Van in a season. Canucks home form is terrible though so hoping that curse is more powerful but still expecting a loss

The other two games are very winnable even with an illness battered team

 

[RECKLESS]

Hammer down and put 6 points on the board this week.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

0-1-2 isa my guess

OTL
L
OTL

 

[NOTENOUGHRYANTHINGS]

Georgiev puts up a stellar performance. Interview after the game he calls it the most important game of his life.

Proving both the doubters and the believer both correct. And incorrect.

 

[RECKLESS]

When they pull Georgie in the first throw him the hat!

 

[katfude]

All i care is that we score 10+ on Georgie

 

[Raucherhusten]

0-1-2 isa my guess

OTL
L
OTL

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Hopefully Bednar catches them trying to dress 8 D.

 

[nonamejay]

I already know it: Brännström hatty, 0giev.. Gudas on the Moose hunt.

Expecting 5 points still!

 

[SirLoinOfCloth]

A week of all dubs.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYANTHINGS]

All i care is that we score 10+ on Georgie

What will they do after the first then?

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

OTL, L, W

Nucks will be hungry for a win, but both goalies will be good (Lankinen/Blackwood), and it goes to OT.

I fully expect Georgiev to play the game if his life, and beats the Avs despite the Avs outshooting them 2-1.

Ducks suck. Avs should win that one rather easily

 

[Bender]

0-1-2 isa my guess

OTL
L
OTL

Feels like you're a 'the glass is completely empty' kinda guy...

 

[Ceremony]

Double figures against Fourgiev. Don't care about the others.

 

[5280]

You know 4Giev is going to stand on his head. So I’m going OTW-L-W.

 

[RECKLESS]

I promise you if Georgie starts that game our boys will be super motivated to obliterate. Proper revenge tour.

 

[TatteredTornNFrayed]

Unfortunate that a lot of guys are sick. Bednar discussed it a lot more than he typically does, so I don't think it is minor right now.

Would be nice to pick up a regulation win vs. Vancouver especially, as one of the squads we are in direct competion with in standings.

And of course would be nice for an avalanche of goals vs. GeorgieV.

 

[avsfan9]

Quinn Hughes -10 tonight. His hogging of the puck will get him nowhere against the Avs forecheck. Turnover machine

 

[MacKaRtin]

Ducks game has Gibson coming out and standing on his head to show the Avs they should have pursued him in the goalie market instead of Blackwood written all over it

L W L