Avs aiming for rare 3-game streak vs. red-hot Senators (Mar 11, 2017)
The Colorado Avalanche haven't had much to celebrate this season, so closing out a homestand with a chance to extend their winning streak to three games carries a little meaning.
Three other times this season Colorado has won two straight but failed to make it three in a row, so Saturday night's game against the Ottawa Senators will give the Avalanche a chance to do just that.
They've won two in a row after finding a little offense against Carolina and New Jersey, scoring three goals each night after having just two in their previous four games. Thursday's win against the Devils came when Francois Beauchemin scored the tiebreaking goal with 1:14 left despite New Jersey dominating for most of the second and third periods.
Colorado (19-44-3) controlled the first period, and using that blueprint against the streaking Senators is what it will take to get that third straight win.
"We have to keep playing like this, that's the key to the win," rookie Mikko Rantanen said after Thursday's game. "We haven't done it too much this year, so we have to give our fans (three) wins in a row at home; that's a big thing for them too."
It won't be easy against Ottawa. The Senators (38-22-6) have won five straight, including a 3-2 overtime win in Arizona on Thursday. With 82 points, they are on the heels of Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division, just two points behind and with two games in hand on the Canadiens.
Ottawa has been able to win despite injuries piling up. Mark Stone, who is second on the team in scoring with 50 points, left the game against the Coyotes with an undisclosed injury. He joins Kyle Turris (bruised finger) -- the team's third-leading scorer -- and Bobby Ryan (broken finger) on the injured list.
The Senators have overcome adversity to make a late-season push.
"We're playing well right now," said Erik Karlsson, who scored two goals against the Coyotes, including the game-winner 40 seconds into overtime. "We're finding ways to win games and we're getting contributions from different guys at different times and the depth is really helping us at this time of year."
Ottawa's winning streak has helped create separation from Boston, which is six points behind the Senators. Ottawa will try to increase that lead and put pressure on the Canadiens, who had their six-game winning streak snapped against Calgary on Thursday night.
Colorado, despite winning its last two home games, has been a generous host this season. The Avalanche are just 10-21-2 at Pepsi Center this season and have an NHL-low 41 points. They are the second straight team Ottawa faces that is playing out the string of a disappointing season, but the Senators have shown they aren't taking anyone lightly.
Saturday will be their third game in four nights, but they showed toughness in winning on back-to-back nights in two different time zones.
"At this time of the year, unless the other team is also on a back-to-back or you're playing the same team on a back-to-back, you're so much behind the 8-ball," Senators coach Guy Boucher said after Thursday's game.
A day off might be enough to recharge Ottawa's battery, and that might be enough against a team that is playing for pride at this point of the season.
"There's no reason why we can't play our game every night," goaltender Calvin Pickard said. "It's nice to get some wins on home ice where our fans have stuck with it. The last two games have been good for us, but we want to replicate that every night."
