The calm, happy-go-lucky attitude among Avalanche players Monday made it seem they are enjoying one of their best stretches of the season.
Of course, the opposite is true, as Colorado enters tonight’s game against Columbus having gone three games without a victory or a point.
“There’s no reason for us to panic. We’re a good team, and we’ll be better (tonight),” Avs coach Joe Sacco said. “It just comes down to hard work. There’s no secret to it. It’s just hard work, not squeezing the stick (and) being confident.”
The Avs’ recent problem is scoring, particularly from their top line and power-play units. First-line center Paul Stastny and linemates Wojtek Wolski and Chris Stewart are pointless in the three-game losing streak, and the power play is a combined 0-of-9 during that stretch.
After winning six consecutive games, the Avs have scored just three goals in their season-high losing streak.
“We know we need to score,” Stastny said. “When you get a chance, you have to bear down and get a gritty goal. We know the responsibility, and we know it’s a matter of time. We just have to stay positive and have short-term memory and forget about it, and just look forward.
“It’s a long season, and it’s going to be a roller coaster at times. We’ve done a good job here, and mentally, we know we just have to forget about the last couple of games and get the top line and the power play going.”
Added Stewart: “You just put it behind us and start putting together some wins before the break. You can’t worry about it.”
Wolski, who has fallen to third on the team in goals (16) — one behind Stewart and second-line center Matt Duchene — has just one goal in his past 17 games.
“The worst thing you can do is panic,” Wolski said. “We’re just trying to keep our composure and make sure we have a good game (tonight) and just start over.”
Veteran defenseman and captain Adam Foote said the losing skid could be a product of having the NHL’s youngest active roster. He said the young guys might have become overly excited about winning six in a row.
“The start of those (last three) games, we didn’t come out and play how we wanted to play,” Foote said. “We had teams come in and dictate the tempo. Sometimes that happens when you start feeling a little too good about yourself.”
Sacco said he might mix up the lines tonight but would prefer to see Stastny’s group “fight through” the slump. Stastny was skating with Wolski and Brandon Yip on Monday, with Stewart playing with Matt Duchene and Marek Svatos, who is expected to return from a chest injury today.
Sacco doesn’t envision tinkering with the power play, which produced two goals in each of Colorado’s three previous wins.
“Again, it all comes down to hard work. The No. 1 thing is making sure our power-play guys outwork the penalty-killing guys and don’t force plays,” Sacco said. “Take what they give you, that’s the biggest thing on the power play. Good players, when you give them time and space, make plays.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Columbus at Colorado
7 p.m., ALT, KCKK 1510
Spotlight on Kristian Huselius: The Swedish left wing will play in his 600th NHL game tonight. Huselius, 31, is in his eighth season in the league and has played in at least 74 games in each of his past seven. He’s having one of his better offensive seasons, with a team-high eight power-play goals and three game-winners.
Blue Jackets: Columbus is 10-17-4 on the road and will play 10 of its next 13 games at home. . . . Rick Nash will play in his 499th game tonight. He has 218 career goals and 406 points. . . . Columbus last played Saturday, winning 3-2 in overtime at St. Louis. . . . The Jackets had an optional practice Monday before traveling to Denver.
Avalanche: Marek Svatos likely will return to the lineup tonight after missing six games with a chest injury. Svatos speared himself with his stick while battling for the puck Jan. 16 against New Jersey. . . . Milan Hejduk, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Jan. 20, skated briefly before practice but is at least a week from returning. . . . Coach Joe Sacco wouldn’t say whether defenseman John-Michael Liles would play tonight. Liles, who served as the seventh defenseman two games ago at Dallas, was a healthy scratch Sunday against the Rangers. Sacco said he will dress six defensemen tonight. Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
