EDMONTON, Alberta — For the Avalanche, it’s a bad verbal twist to the name of the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie. Call it “South by Northwest,” as that is the direction the Avs have gone because of their poor record against division opponents.
The Avs take a 2-13-1 record against Northwest opponents going into tonight’s game at Edmonton. The Avs entered Thursday clinging to 10th place in the Western Conference, and another loss to the sub-.500 Oilers could be devastating to their playoff chances.
“We have to win,” defenseman Erik Johnson said. “We can’t keep losing division games all the time. There’s no reason we can’t go in there and win, but we have to earn it.”
Nobody around the Avs dressing room has a good explanation for the horrendous divisional record.
“I don’t know what it is,” winger Daniel Winnik said, “but we need to fix it fast.”
One theory goes something like: It’s easy to get “bored” playing the same division opponents all the time, whereas a game against an Eastern team the Avs might see only once a season makes it seem more important.
“It shouldn’t be that way though,” center Ryan O’Reilly said. “These division games are four-point games, really huge games. We should be even more hopped up to play them.”
Giguere injured.The Avs’ task got more difficult when it was learned goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere would be sidelined on a day-to-day basis and forward TJ Galiardi would be out seven to 10 days.
Giguere is still bothered by the groin injury that forced him out of Wednesday’s game early in Vancouver. Though Giguere isn’t hurt badly enough to go on injured reserve, the Avs recalled Ced-rick Desjardins from Lake Erie of the AHL. He will serve as a backup to Semyon Varlamov. Desjardins posted an 8-5-1 record and .941 save percentage with the Monsters.
With Galiardi out because of a torso injury, the Avs recalled forward Mark Olver from Lake Erie.
To make room for those two players and because Giguere remains on the active roster, the Avs sent rookie defenseman Tyson Barrie back to Lake Erie. Defenseman Ryan Wilson, out the last few days with an illness, is expected to return to the lineup against the Oilers.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
COLORADO AT EDMONTON
7:30 today, ALT, 1510 AM
Spotlight on Mark Olver: After playing well late last season with the Avs, Olver suffered a concussion in training camp and was sidelined until last month when he started playing for the Lake Erie Monsters. Recalled Thursday by the Avs, he could play tonight.
NOTEBOOK
Avalanche: Winger Peter Mueller (torso) is expected to skate with the team this morning at Rexall Place and could return after missing one game. The Avs reiterated that his latest injury is not related to his previous concussion problems. … Forward Matt Duchene (left knee) will skate today as well but is doubtful to play. … Semyon Varlamov, tonight’s starter in net, lost his previous start here, the first game after the all-star break.
Oilers: Rookie Ryan-Nugent Hopkins (shoulder) remains sidelined. … Former Av Ryan Smyth was told Wednesday by Oilers management he will not be traded by the Feb. 27 deadline. Smyth, an Alberta native, said he is happy to stay. … Forward Sam Gagner has 15 points in his last six games.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
