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COLORADO |
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| 63 | MINNESOTA | -120 | Ov 5,-130 | -125 | Ov 5,-130 | | 64 | COLORADO | +100 | Un 5,+110 | +105 | Un 5,+110 |
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| All Games | 50-42-0 | -1.1 | 50-42 | -1.1 | 34-40 | 2.8 | 30.3 | 2.5 | 27.6 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 26-20-0 | +8.4 | 26-20 | +8.4 | 15-22 | 2.5 | 29.4 | 2.4 | 30.0 | | Last 5 Games | 1-4-0 | -3.6 | 1-4 | -3.6 | 2-1 | 2.2 | 30.4 | 2.8 | 28.8 | | vs. Division | 21-18-0 | +1.6 | 21-18 | +1.6 | 16-15 | 2.8 | 29.9 | 2.5 | 28.6 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 92 | 255 | 68 | 82 | 97 | 8 | 17 | 2789 | 9.1% | 268 | 46 | 17.2% | 418 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 46 | 117 | 26 | 36 | 50 | 5 | 9 | 1354 | 8.6% | 119 | 17 | 14.3% | 182 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 152 | 7.2% | 12 | 3 | 25.0% | 17 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 39 | 108 | 23 | 40 | 42 | 3 | 7 | 1167 | 9.3% | 112 | 20 | 17.9% | 176 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 228 | 62 | 84 | 74 | 8 | 12 | 2537 | 9.0% | 251 | 36 | 14.3% | 389 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 112 | 21 | 50 | 39 | 2 | 6 | 1381 | 8.1% | 121 | 19 | 15.7% | 193 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 144 | 9.7% | 8 | 2 | 25.0% | 23 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 99 | 25 | 40 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 1117 | 8.9% | 110 | 16 | 14.5% | 160 |
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| NIKLAS BACKSTROM (All Games) | 19 | 14 | 452 | 401 | 88.7% | 1 | 5-9 | -4.5 | 5-9-0 | -4 | 7-5 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Road Games) | 9 | 8 | 243 | 214 | 88.1% | 1 | 3-5 | -1.7 | 3-5-0 | -2 | 4-3 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (vs. Division) | 8 | 6 | 211 | 186 | 88.2% | 0 | 1-5 | -4.3 | 1-5-0 | -4 | 3-2 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 116 | 100 | 86.2% | 0 | 0-4 | -4 | 0-4-0 | -4 | 2-2 | | JOHN CURRY (All Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Road Games) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOHN CURRY (vs. Division) | 1 | 1 | 23 | 19 | 82.6% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (All Games) | 68 | 66 | 1885 | 1746 | 92.6% | 4 | 40-26 | +11 | 40-26-0 | +10 | 25-26 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Road Games) | 34 | 33 | 998 | 930 | 93.2% | 1 | 22-11 | +15 | 22-11-0 | +14 | 14-12 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (vs. Division) | 35 | 34 | 993 | 924 | 93.1% | 3 | 20-14 | +7 | 20-14-0 | +6 | 12-14 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 111 | 100 | 90.1% | 0 | 0-4 | -4.6 | 0-4-0 | -4 | 2-1 | | JOSH HARDING (All Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (Road Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (vs. Division) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | DARCY KUEMPER (All Games) | 32 | 28 | 727 | 659 | 90.6% | 2 | 14-14 | -2.4 | 14-14-0 | -1 | 11-14 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Road Games) | 16 | 14 | 432 | 397 | 91.9% | 0 | 6-8 | -1.6 | 6-8-0 | -1 | 4-8 | | DARCY KUEMPER (vs. Division) | 12 | 9 | 259 | 241 | 93.1% | 1 | 7-2 | +5.5 | 7-2-0 | +6 | 4-4 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 1 | 66 | 63 | 95.5% | 0 | 1-0 | +1.6 | 1-0-0 | +2 | 1-0 |
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| All Games | 39-43-0 | +0.7 | 39-43 | +0.7 | 35-38 | 2.7 | 27.9 | 2.8 | 33.2 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 23-18-0 | +2.9 | 23-18 | +2.9 | 18-18 | 2.9 | 29.1 | 2.7 | 32.2 | | Last 5 Games | 4-1-0 | +4.8 | 4-1 | +4.8 | 1-2 | 2.4 | 20.2 | 1.8 | 35.2 | | vs. Division | 14-16-0 | +1.9 | 14-16 | +1.9 | 9-16 | 2.3 | 25.8 | 2.6 | 34.2 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 82 | 219 | 59 | 68 | 80 | 12 | 16 | 2286 | 9.6% | 247 | 37 | 15.0% | 362 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 41 | 120 | 32 | 48 | 33 | 7 | 7 | 1194 | 10.1% | 126 | 16 | 12.7% | 203 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 101 | 11.9% | 10 | 3 | 30.0% | 19 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 30 | 70 | 20 | 18 | 28 | 4 | 5 | 775 | 9.0% | 97 | 15 | 15.5% | 117 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 227 | 63 | 72 | 80 | 12 | 18 | 2719 | 8.3% | 240 | 37 | 15.4% | 370 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 111 | 31 | 32 | 45 | 3 | 11 | 1319 | 8.4% | 128 | 18 | 14.1% | 189 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 5.1% | 10 | 1 | 10.0% | 16 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 79 | 20 | 30 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 1025 | 7.7% | 97 | 13 | 13.4% | 123 |
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| RETO BERRA (All Games) | 19 | 12 | 403 | 370 | 91.8% | 1 | 7-5 | +4.1 | 7-5-0 | +5 | 8-4 | | RETO BERRA (Home Games) | 7 | 5 | 182 | 166 | 91.2% | 1 | 3-2 | +0.7 | 3-2-0 | +1 | 3-2 | | RETO BERRA (vs. Division) | 5 | 1 | 73 | 71 | 97.3% | 1 | 1-0 | +1.6 | 1-0-0 | +2 | 0-1 | | RETO BERRA (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 140 | 134 | 95.7% | 1 | 3-1 | +4.5 | 3-1-0 | +5 | 2-2 | | CALVIN PICKARD (All Games) | 16 | 13 | 511 | 476 | 93.2% | 1 | 4-9 | -4.3 | 4-9-0 | -4 | 6-7 | | CALVIN PICKARD (Home Games) | 9 | 8 | 265 | 242 | 91.3% | 0 | 2-6 | -4.1 | 2-6-0 | -4 | 5-3 | | CALVIN PICKARD (vs. Division) | 6 | 6 | 210 | 194 | 92.4% | 0 | 2-4 | -2 | 2-4-0 | -2 | 3-3 | | CALVIN PICKARD (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 121 | 111 | 91.7% | 0 | 1-3 | -1.2 | 1-3-0 | -1 | 2-2 | | SEMYON VARLAMOV (All Games) | 57 | 57 | 1791 | 1650 | 92.1% | 6 | 28-29 | +0.9 | 28-29-0 | +1 | 21-27 | | SEMYON VARLAMOV (Home Games) | 28 | 28 | 862 | 801 | 92.9% | 3 | 18-10 | +6.3 | 18-10-0 | +6 | 10-13 | | SEMYON VARLAMOV (vs. Division) | 23 | 23 | 737 | 682 | 92.5% | 4 | 11-12 | +2.3 | 11-12-0 | +2 | 6-12 | | SEMYON VARLAMOV (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 132 | 123 | 93.2% | 0 | 2-2 | -0.8 | 2-2-0 | -1 | 0-2 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: MINNESOTA 3.24, COLORADO 3.18 |
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| 10/8/2015 | at COLORADO | | | 10/10/2015 | ST LOUIS | | | 10/15/2015 | at ARIZONA | | | 10/16/2015 | at LOS ANGELES | | | 10/18/2015 | at ANAHEIM | |
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| 10/8/2015 | MINNESOTA | | | 10/10/2015 | DALLAS | | | 10/14/2015 | BOSTON | | | 10/16/2015 | at ANAHEIM | | | 10/18/2015 | at LOS ANGELES | |
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| |  | MINNESOTA: LAST SEASON: 46-28-8, 100 points. Fourth place in Central
Division. Lost to Chicago Blackhawks in Western Conference
semifinals.
COACH: Mike Yeo (fifth season, 146-107-33).
ADDED: LW Chris Porter, D Mike Reilly.
LOST: C Kyle Brodziak, LW Matt Cooke, RW Chris Stewart, LW Sean
Bergenheim, D Jordan Leopold.
PLAYER TO WATCH: LW Thomas Vanek. His debut with the Wild was a
disappointment with 21 goals, a career low for a non-lockout
season. He didn't score in 10 playoff games. The 31-year-old
Vanek will start on the third line, with rookie Tyler Graovac at
center and Charlie Coyle on the other wing. Vanek played through
injuries (hernia, groin), frequently found himself with new
linemates and attempted fewer shots than ever. Vanek has cited a
necessity to create more of his own scoring chances than he was
used to with his former teams in the Eastern Conference.
OUTLOOK: The Wild went 28-9-3 over their final 40 games, the
best record in the NHL from mid-January through the end of the
regular season, and they beat the Central Division champion St.
Louis Blues in six games to advance to the second round for the
second year in a row. The problem was, and still is, the
Blackhawks, who have won three of the last six Stanley Cup
titles. With the current division alignment and postseason
system, the Wild will likely have to get past the Blackhawks if
they ever want to make a deep run in the playoffs. For the Wild
to take that next step, Devan Dubnyk will have to up to the task
of being the No. 1 goalie for the entire season, stalwart
defenseman Ryan Suter needs to bounce back from a down year and
somebody beside Zach Parise is going to have to pass the 25-goal
mark. | | COLORADO: LAST SEASON: 39-31-12, didn't make the playoffs.
COACH: Patrick Roy (third season, third NHL season).
ADDED: F Blake Comeau, F Mikko Rantanen, F Carl Soderberg, D
Francois Beauchemin, D Nikita Zadorov, D Brandon Gormley.
LOST: D Jan Hejda, F Daniel Briere, F Ryan O'Reilly.
PLAYER TO WATCH: F Nathan MacKinnon. Spent the offseason working
out with his buddy, Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon
added some weight and actually got taller by nearly an inch. The
20-year-old was the rookie of the year in 2013-14, but had an
up-and-down season last year before breaking his foot and
sitting out the final 18 games. Roy expects big things from the
speedy forward.
OUTLOOK: The Avalanche couldn't make up ground after a slow
start last season and missed the playoffs. So all training camp,
the team preached a faster start. But they've struggled scoring
goals in the preseason, shut out in their last three games. With
a lineup that includes Matt Duchene, Jarome Iginla, MacKinnon
and captain Gabriel Landeskog, Roy is confident the offense will
turn around. Until it does, the Avs can rely on goalie Semyon
Varlamov to keep things close. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER HOCKEY PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-COLORADO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Wild-Avalanche Preview* ========================
By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer
Minnesota (0-0-0) at Colorado (0-0-0), 9:00 p.m. EDT
If the past three years are any indication, the Minnesota Wild's season will come down to whether they can get by the resident bullies of the NHL's Central Division.
The offensively challenged Colorado Avalanche are more concerned with getting pucks by opposing goaltenders.
These division rivals kick off the 2015-16 season Thursday night in Denver.
Minnesota has improved its record each of the last three years and reached three straight postseasons for the first time in franchise history. However, the Wild were also eliminated by eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago for a third straight year, this time in four games in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Wild had finished a league-best 28-9-3 over their final 40 regular-season games and knocked out division champion St. Louis in the first round.
"Last year was especially disappointing, because we certainly felt like we had a team to do it," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "It's no secret: They've (Chicago) won three Stanley Cups. They know how to play, and they know how to  ce it's playoff time. Eventually, we're going to have to get through them."
Dubnyk was integral to Minnesota's hot finish, earning himself a six-year, $26 million deal after posting a 1.78 goals-against average in 39 games following his trade from Arizona. The Wild can't count on Dubnyk to repeat his .936 save percentage with the club last season given his .914 career mark, however, and likely need more consistent scoring to compensate.
Their 2.6 goals per game during an 18-19-5 start tied for 19th, but they averaged 2.9 over the final 40 games. Thomas Vanek's 21 goals in his first year with Minnesota were a career-low for a non-lockout season after he had averaged 32.1 in his previous eight full campaigns. His shot total of 171 was also a career low for a non-shortened season.
"Without question, there are times where Thomas has to shoot the puck more," coach Mike Yeo said. "He usually has that skill to create, but sometimes we have to create off the shot as well."
Jason Zucker's continued emergence should be a boost. Zucker scored 21 goals a season ago despite being limited to 51 games due to injury.
Facing Dubnyk figures to be a tough test right off the bat for a Colorado team that was goal starved in the preseason, failing to find the back of the net in its final three exhibition contests.
"Exhibition or not, we have to change stuff," said the 38-year-old Jarome Iginla, who led the team with 29 goals last season. "We know we have to add that determination and grit to the skill that is here. This is a good wake-up call."
This comes a season after the Avalanche went 39-31-12 and tied for 22nd with 2.6 goals per game. Nathan MacKinnon seemed to take a step back with 38 points after tallying 63 during his Calder Trophy-winning campaign in 2013-14, though he missed 18 games due to a broken foot.
Colorado adds the likes of Blake Comeau and Carl Soderberg, who combined for 75 points for Pittsburgh and Boston, respectively, though it also dealt Ryan O'Reilly to Buffalo after he recorded 55 points.
"It's not enough (scoring) and we know that," coach Patrick Roy said. "Is it a concern? Yes, it is. But I'm confident. I'd rather see it in preseason than the season. We all know we have to do better."
The Avalanche lost four of five meetings last year and were shut out in the first three.
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| | Last Updated: 4/20/2024 8:50:23 AM EST. |
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