The Colorado Avalanche face the San Jose Sharks for the second straight contest, though this time the setting moves to California.
Colorado took care of business against the slumping Sharks at Pepsi Center on Tuesday evening, winning 4-3 in the shootout on Gabriel Landeskog's first ever career shootout attempt. With the victory, the Avalanche remain in last place in the Northwest Division, but only two points out of a tie for third place. They can accomplish that goal with another victory against San Jose.
The Sharks' offense continues to be very top heavy, as Logan Couture and Jamie McGinn have completely carried the team in December. Couture and McGinn have nine total goals in the past 10 games; the remainder of the roster has a total of 11. Colorado must focus their defensive energies on stopping those two players, while keeping dangerouss players like Patrick Marleau in check.
For the Avalanche, Paul Stastny is likely to play for the second straight game. AHL callups Evan Brophey and David Van Der Gulik may see some time on the ice as well due to injuries to Chuck Kobasew and Brandon Yip.
Puck drops at 8:30 p.m. MDT.
For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Sharks blog Fear The Fin.