Colorado Avalanche Final Score: Matt Duchene's Two-Goal Night Helps Avs Defeat Red Wings, 5-4

The Colorado Avalanche ended a two-game skid with a 5-4 victory in regulation over the Detroit Red Wings. The Avalanche scored a flurry of goals in the first period, leading 4-2 at the end of it. Colorado's Paul Stastny (16) and Detroit's Jan Mursak (1) exchanged goals less than a minute apart early in the period, but the Avalanche scored the next three goals. Matt Duchene scored two of the three, with Kevin Porter's breaking the two up. Brian Rafalski added the Wings' second goal with two minutes left in the period.

David Jones increased Colorado's lead to 5-2 in the second period with his 14th goal of the season. An assist went to Duchene for his third point of the night. Henrik Zetterberg, however, brought the game closer when he scored a power play goal at 15:30. Tomas Holmstrom added another power play goal to bring the Wings within one goal at 5-4, but Colorado was able to hold them off.

Detroit pulled goalie Jimmy Howard for allowing four goals on 10 shots, giving Joey MacDonald time in net. MacDonald made 15 saves on 16 shots. MacDonald was recently recalled following an injury to backup goalie Chris Osgood. Colorado goalie Peter Budaj made 26-of-30 saves.

The Avalanche (21-15-6, 48 points) have Tuesday off before they play the Blackhawks in Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Heading into the final game of their season series with Chicago, the Avalanche are 3-0 against the Blackhawks.

Avalanche Vs. Red Wings: Two Rivals Face Off For Final Meeting This Regular Season

The hated Detroit Red Wings make their second appearance of the year to Pepsi Center and will play the Colorado Avalanche in their fourth and final regular season game this season. The two clubs have split their previous three matchups, with Detroit leading the season series 2-0-1. Two of these three games have gone to overtime, with their previous game on December 27 being the most dramatic. Colorado dominated the entire game, outshooting the Red Wings by a 52-34 margin. But it was the Detroit power play that saved the day, scoring all four of their goals with the man advantage and giving goalie Chris Osgood his 400th career victory.

Coming into this game, both teams are heading in opposite directions. Despite losing top forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Danny Cleary for at least the next month, the Red Wings have won three straight games (all on the road) and their offense has continued to produce at an elite level, scoring three or more goals in four of their past six games.

Colorado, on the other hand, has suffered a shortage of goal scoring. Forward Chris Stewart is expected to return from his hand injury in the next week or so, and it can't be soon enough. After not being shut out all year, the Avalanche have now been held scoreless twice in the past nine games (and have only scored one goal in two other games). For a team that prides itself on speed and crisp passing, this will not win many games.

Peter Budaj will get the start in net for Colorado tonight; Budaj has started all four games against Detroit this season. Jimmy Howard will get the start for Detroit.

Puck drops at Pepsi Center at 7:30pm MST.