Eurolanche

Avs visit Ducks for 4 straight win

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche come to Honda Center for the first time this season; they'll be back again in two weeks. The Anaheim Ducks won the first game in early November when Cam Fowler scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period.

Avalanche (33-26-11) team scope: Colorado continues to stay on the periphery of contention for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. The Avalanche held off the Arizona Coyotes 5-2 on Thursday and are seven points behind the Winnipeg Jets, who are in the final playoff spot. Colorado has won three in a row and is 6-1-0 in March. The Avalanche haven't won four in a row all season. Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves against Arizona, and with Colorado desperate for every point, he's likely to get the call against Anaheim.

Ducks (45-20-7) team scope: Anaheim is cruising to the Pacific Division title, with a 13-point lead on the second-place Vancouver Canucks, but the Ducks are in battles for the top record in the Western Conference as well as for the Presidents' Trophy. Coach Bruce Boudreau opted not to have defenseman Sami Vatanen (leg) rejoin the lineup Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings, but might bring him back against the speedy Avalanche. Despite his 15-game absence, Vatanen leads Anaheim defensemen with 12 goals and 34 points. It's a big game for the Ducks, who begin a five-game, eight-day road trip Sunday against the New York Rangers and don't return to Honda Center until April 1.

-by NHL.com-

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