In 19 games with the Avalanche, the only goal defenseman Matt Hunwick has scored went into his own net.
To be fair, Hunwick didn’t do anything fundamentally wrong on the game-winning play for the Islanders in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to New York.
Hunwick, who was acquired from the Boston Bruins on Nov. 29 for defenseman Colby Cohen, collapsed on Islanders forward John Tavares in the crease after Tavares beat defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk out of the corner.
As he was taught, Hunwick gave Tavares the short side, which was goalie Craig Anderson’s job to protect, and Hunwick tried to poke-check the puck off Tavares’ stick while still covering his original man.
“I was in front with my guy, and you don’t want a guy like Tavares to walk out uncontested,” Hunwick said after Sunday’s practice. “I tried to go stick on puck, and from what I remember, from what I saw (on replay), my stick is the one that threw it off the crossbar.”
He added: “It’s one of those plays. Tavares is their best player and you don’t want him walking across the (crease). You have to give the goalie the short-side jam, because he’s going to make that save, but you don’t want him coming too far, so you try to get a stick on it.”
Tavares was credited with the goal and Hunwick finished minus-1 for the game, dropping him to minus-8 with the Avs.
Hunwick, 25, had a little more success with the Bruins this season but said he’s just starting to feel comfortable in Colorado’s system. In 22 games with the Bruins, he was plus-4, with one goal and two assists. His average ice time was 16:12 with the Bruins, and 19:21 since the trade.
“I know what I need to do, and the areas where I need to be a lot better,” Hunwick said. “I haven’t been happy with the turnovers lately, and that’s one of the big things I have to eliminate, and just continue to skate and build off some of the positive things and not get too bogged down with the negative stuff.”
The big negative with the Avs these days is their 1-4-2 record in the last seven home games. But Colorado coach Joe Sacco expects his team to play well tonight against the Central Division-leading Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center.
The teams last met in a highly entertaining Dec. 27 game in Denver that saw excellent play from the Avs at even strength, but they allowed four power-play goals in a 4-3 loss.
“It’s a good opponent to play (tonight) for us. The last time we played these guys, we may have played our best game, 5-on-5, of the year,” Sacco said. “This is an opponent that we should be easily motivated to play against, and I think you’ll see our A-game for 60 minutes.”
WORK TO DO
Defenseman Matt Hunwick’s season has been split in two. If he’s not scratched tonight, he will play his 20th game with the Avalanche, after being acquired from the Boston Bruins on Nov. 29 for defenseman Colby Cohen.
Hunwick with Boston:
Games: 22
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Avg. ice time: 16:12
Plus/minus: plus-4
Hunwick with Colorado:
Games: 19
Goals: 0
Assists: 2
Avg. ice time: 19:21
Plus/minus: minus-8
Detroit at Colorado
7:30 p.m. tonight, ALT, 950 AM
Notebook
Red Wings: Detroit has an NHL-high 145 goals, six more than the Avs, who are fourth. . . . The Red Wings are coming off a 2-1 shootout victory over Vancouver on Saturday that ended the Canucks’ eight-game winning streak. The Wings have won three straight games, the last two in a shootout. . . . Detroit lost forward Valtteri Filppula to a groin injury last week and is also without center Pavel Datsyuk (hand), wing Dan Cleary (ankle) and center/wing Mike Modano (wrist).
Avalanche: Rookie defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who took a shot off the foot in Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders, missed Sunday’s practice because of swelling and is questionable tonight. . . . Peter Budaj is scheduled to start in goal. . . . Veterans Adam Foote and Milan Hejduk took scheduled maintenance days and did not practice. . . . Defenseman Kyle Cumiskey (concussion) and winger Chris Stewart (hand) again completed a full practice with the team, but neither will play tonight, coach Joe Sacco said. Winger Cody McLeod (groin) left the ice early. Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Spotlight on Henrik Zetterberg: Detroit’s star left winger brings a 10-game, 14-point scoring streak (five goals, nine assists) into Denver. He is plus-7 during the streak that began with a three-point night Dec. 22 against Vancouver.
