ST. LOUIS — Colorado’s 4-0 victory over the Blues came in the 21st of the Avalanche’s 41 road games in 2009-10, and Colorado has played only 11 at home. The fact that a young Colorado team that was horrible a season ago has done more than keep its head above water during the road-dominated first nine weeks of the season is, well, shocking.
“It started on that first road trip,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. “We got off to a great start, we formed some chemistry with each other, and the guys believed. That’s the bottom line. When you believe in each other, you have that feeling that you can go out and win any game.”
“Stewie.”
Sacco noted that his recently formed top line of Paul Stastny centering Chris Stewart and Wojtek Wolski has shown that ineffable “chemistry.” He said that when Stewart, who had two goals and an assist against the Blues, was sent back down to Lake Erie briefly in October, the message was the same Sacco delivered when he had Stewart the past two seasons in the AHL.
“This is the way he has to play,” Sacco said. “This is the way we need him to play if he wants to stay. He has to play with an edge. He’s a big man. He has skill. He can play with the puck, he can make plays, but he has to play with an edge. If he doesn’t play with an edge, he just kind of blends in. I think he’s starting to realize that.”
Starred.
Avalanche rookie center Matt Duchene on Monday was named the NHL’s No. 3 star for Nov. 30-Dec. 6. He had four goals and two assists in that time, during which the Avalanche went 2-1-1 on the road, and he scored again in the victory over the Blues. Washington center Nicklas Backstrom was the No. 1 star, Florida center Stephen Weiss No. 2.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
