Avs @ Flames pregame

The Avs and Flames battle for 1^st place tonight in Cal-Gary. If the Avalanche registers a regulation win and get the same from the Preds vs. Vancouver, we’ll be golden and sitting atop the Northwest.  Take those sloppy seconds, Calgary!  But there is a bigger picture here: just one point by the Avs tonight means they own the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Flames, if it gets down to brass tacks.  And in this division, as always, it will.

The Avs have owned the Flames so far this year, winning all three meetings thus far by the score of 3-2. And the Avs also won the last two meetings, last season as well.  To Avs fans this suggests that the team is very capable of playing up to their competition.  Unfortunately the Avs will often lay down for the competition as well, see Carolina and the Wild for examples.

The Flames seem to have the same problem, recently playing down to the BJ’s and yet giving the ‘Nucks all they could handle, and a little more.

The Avs/Flames recent games have been a little chippy as well with four fights in two of the last 3 games.  The Avs haven’t done as well in the bouts, but the wins are what really count.  Look for some guys to take an opportunity to square up if they get the chance.  Here are the fights we’ve seen so far:

Look for Ryan Wilson to post a few more points at the Saddledome.  Wilson was tossed into a trade with the Avs last season and seems determined to make them remember what they’ve lost, posting a goal and two helpers in only two trips back.  He scored his first NHL goal and added an assist for his first multi-point game on Nov. 17 at Calgary.  Though Wilson seemed like a minor part of a larger trade he has turned out to be a guy that Sacco won’t take out of the lineup.  I’ll have a profile on Wilson later this week, be sure to check back for that.

The Avs and Flames have been dance partners in a lot of trades.  It’s a commonly mimicked phrase in Denver to say that the Chris Drury trade was the worst trade in Colorado Avalanche history.  That’s nothing but cow-pie, folks.  Perhaps one of the worst was the one for Theo Fleury.  The Avalanche gave up a host of nobodies but they also sent Calgary a promising defenseman named Robyn Regehr.  This guy has been healthy and consistent for ten years for that club.  Over the course of time it’s easy to judge that as one of the worst trades in Avs history.

Also, the Avs are without (speaking of rock-solid “D”) Adam Foote in tonight’s game.  He was sent home in the middle of the road trip to be “further evaluated” whatever that means.  Maybe he was outside the Avs HMO approved area?  The team is rather quite about this so far. UPDATE: Per Avs beat writer, Adrian Dater‘s blog, Foote will miss 1-2 weeks.

One thing Avs fans hate as much as the Red Wings is Dion Phaneuf.  So here’s Kelly Hrudey telling the world that Phaneuf is NOT a top 20 D-man.  Awesome, it’s near the beginning so enjoy. 

Aah…that’s great, Phaneuf…Scott Stevens?  Really?  No, no, no.  Hahaha!