SB Nation Denver - Colorado Avalanche Final Score: Avalanche Close Out First Half Of Season With Losshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-01-26T22:07:55-07:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17221632011-01-26T22:07:55-07:002011-01-26T22:07:55-07:00Colorado Avalanche Final Score: Avalanche Close Out First Half Of Season With Loss
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> went down in defeat tonight, 5-2, to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a>. The All-Star Break now awaits the team.</p>
<p><span>Ryan Stoa</span> put the Avalanche on board first with a goal at 4:20 in the first period, his second of the season. However, the lead was short-lived, as Phoenix's <span>Scottie Upshall</span> had a power play goal two minutes later. <span>Keith Yandle</span> added another goal for Phoenix with six minutes left in the period.</p>
<p>After <span>Eric Belanger</span>'s goal at 1:09 in the second period to give the Coyotes a 3-1 lead, it was a quiet period for both offenses. <span>Matt Duchene</span> added his 20th goal of the season at 15:44 in the third period, but the Coyotes added two goals that period (the second was a power play empty net goal for Belanger).</p>
<p><span>Peter Budaj</span> started the game for the Avalanche but was pulled after he allowed the second goal of the first period. <span>Craig Anderson</span> finished the game and allowed two goals on 27 shots.</p>
<p>The Avalanche enter the All-Star Break with a 25-19-6 record (56 points). Matt Duchene, <span>Kevin Shattenkirk</span> and <span>Paul Stastny</span> will play in the game. They return to action on Feb. 1 with a road game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a>.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/1/26/1958789/colorado-avalanche-final-score-avalanche-close-out-first-half-ofRuss Oates2011-01-26T15:21:09-07:002011-01-26T15:21:09-07:00Avalanche Vs. Coyotes: Last Game Before Break
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/phoenix-coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> at Pepsi Center, their second meeting in January. Phoenix won the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201101060COL.html">first game 2-0</a> on the strength of backup goalie <span>Jason LaBarbera</span>'s 34 saves.</p>
<p>These two teams appear different now than the beginning of the month. Phoenix traded forward (and former Avalanche) <span>Wojtek Wolski</span> to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> for defenseman<a href="http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/rozsimi01.html"> </a>Michal Rozsival, while the Avalanche have welcomed back <span>Chris Stewart</span> to the lineup and lost forward <span>Tomas Fleischmann</span> for the rest of the season.</p>
<p>Phoenix has lost four of five games -- with all four losses occurring at home -- and have struggled after winning six of eight games to start off the new year. They lost 4-3 on Tuesday night to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.coppernblue.com/">Edmonton Oilers</a>. Defenseman <span>Keith Yandle</span> continues to lead the team in scoring and has 12 points in the past 10 games.</p>
<p>Colorado is coming off a huge win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/">St. Louis Blues</a> on Monday night, 4-3, and look to enter this weekend's All-Star break with some momentum. With Peter Forsberg looking more and more likely to sign a contract with the team shortly after the break, it is imperative that Colorado fight its way back into playoff contention. Even with their recent struggles -- 5-4-1 in the past 10 games -- Colorado is tied for seventh in the Western Conference, only four points out of fourth place and home ice advantage. Since Phoenix is one point ahead of Colorado in the standings, the winner of tonight's game is guaranteed at least sixth in the conference heading into the break.</p>
<p><span>Peter Budaj</span> will <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/adater/status/29988655514787840">start in net tonight</a> for Colorado. Jason LaBarbera is likely getting the start in net for Phoenix after his recent performance.</p>
<p>UPDATE: <span>Ilya Bryzgalov</span> will <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/marcklerer/status/30390387663175680">likely start his second straight game</a> in net for the Phoenix Coyotes.</p>
<p>Puck drops at 7:00 pm MST.</p>
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