Avs Talk - A Colorado Avalanche Blog

The Florida Panthers head from balmy Florida into blustery Colorado to take on the Avalanche tonight. The Avalanche have won 5 of the last 6 games against the Panthers but are taking a 2-game losing streak into the building tonight. The Panthers are coming off a tough 7-0 shutout loss to the Kings on Saturday so it looks like both teams have something to prove tonight.

Jose Theodore also has something to prove as he gets the nod in net. Coach Q said that Theodore was slated to start tonight no matter the result of the Edmonton game. I guess that's why he said "I haven't decided on a starter for Tuesday" at the practice after the Edmonton game. Either way, I think it's the right decision (which is of course all that matters) as Budaj has slowed down a bit and I think it's simply fatigue brought on more by pressure than the schedule.

As for the Panthers starting goaltender, it's tough to tell. Auld and Belfour both got shellacked in the game against the Kings. Belfour gave up 3 on 6 and Auld gave up 4 on 17. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Auld gets the start tonight. If you want to know my reasons why, well I just can't give them to you. It might be that Auld comes before Belfour alphabetically. Who's to say.

Karlis Skrastins will play in his record-tying 486th consecutive game. That will tie Tim Horton for the iron-man streak for defensemen. Don't confuse Tim Horton of the donut fame with Tim Horton of iron-man fame. If the Versus announcers are credible...then those are two very different people. Ah, Versus. Where you never hear a second of play-by-play as it gets in the way of their witty banter.

John-Michael Liles and Brad May are both game-time decisions today. Liles being back would be a great benefit and Brad May could very well have a positive effect. The team has been lacking physicality and grit and, as much as people may dislike him, they can't say that May doesn't go out and give it his all. Sure, it leads to penalties from time to time but he wears his heart on his sleeve (whatever the heck that means) and the team can feed of of that energy.

Injuries
Brisebois - back, IR
Liles - foot, day-to-day
May - shoulder, day-to-day

Bertuzzi - back, IR
Mezei - shoulder, IR
Roberts - hip, day-to-day
Van Ryn - hand, day-to-day

Hot
Stastny has 13 in 14, Sakic has 11 in 10, Brunette has 10 in 10, Wolski has 5 in 5, Hejduk has 3 in 3.

Stumpel has 6 in 4, Gelinas has 5 in 5, Salei has 4 in 4, Kolnik and Bouwmeester have 2 in 2.

Cold
Laperriere has 0 in 4, Arnason has 1 in 6, Klee has 0 in 14.

Horton has 0 in 4, Jokinen has 1 in 4, Peltonen has 1 in 4.

Goaltenders
Jose Theodore - 9-11-1, 3.12 GAA, .899 save pct
Alex Auld - 7-13-5, 3.35, .888 save pct

Standings
Colorado - 25-23-4, 5th in NW, 10th in West
Florida - 20-24-10, 5th in SE, 14th in East