Colorado Avalanche

Worst meets best at Pepsi Center
March 29, 2017, 4:40 PM ET [2 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
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I'm back after spending the last several days closing on a house and moving, which was almost as much fun as watching the Avalanche.

The worst team in the NHL plays the best in the Washington Capitals on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.

Here are the GAME NOTES.

The Capitals (50-17-8) will likely stretch their winning streak to six games and extend their lead over idle Columbus to five points in the Presidents' Trophy race and for first in the Metropolitan Division.

The Avalanche (20-52-3) will try to end a losing streak that has reached six games; they've been outscored 30-13 in this latest streak, which isn't their longest. They lost nine in a row (0-8-1) from Jan. 12 through Feb. 1 .

Matt Duchene, who has one goal in the past 18 games and yet still leads the team in goals with 17, will skate at right wing on a line with left wing Gabriel Landeskog and rookie center J.T. Compher.

Coach Jared Bednar used that unit in the third period of Monday's 4-2 loss in Calgary and liked what he saw.

"They were dangerous, had a couple good looks to the net and made some plays," said Bednar, who has been trying to pump up the slump-ridden Duchene for some time.

"Our message to Matt is you can't control what's happened in the first (75) games," he said. "Just break it down one game at a time and try to be at your best tonight and be dangerous and make sure we're not cheating to the offensive side of things, narrowing his focus and not worrying about how the season has gone."

Landeskog, who has no goals and one assist in the past 10 games, said motivation shouldn't be a problem for the Avalanche, who have seven games left before this nightmarish season ends.

"If you can't get up for the Washington Capitals, you have some issues, especially at home," he said. "We have to see it as a fun challenge, we have to see it as measuring us against them, and obviously we know what the standings look like, but it's a fun test.

"You have to try and find things to motivate you, try to find things that we can work on as a group to get better. Nobody knows what the team is going to look like next year, but let's make the most of it, make an impression.

"Everybody's playing for a job in here. Play for pride and play for the organization and enjoy this stretch here. There are a lot of good playoff teams coming in here, so enjoy it and take it as a fun test."

Calvin Pickard will start in goal. Philipp Grubauer is expected to start for the Capitals. Braden Holtby has made eight consecutive starts and won his 40th game for the third consecutive season Tuesday in Minnesota.

Grubauer made 18 saves Oct. 18 in a 3-0 win against the Avalanche for his first career shutout.

Probable Avalanche lineup:

FORWARDS
Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog -- J.T. Compher -- Matt Duchene
Matt Nieto -- Mikhail Grigorenko -- Rene Bourque
John Mitchell -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau

DEFENSE
Mark Barberio -- Erik Johnson
Fedor Tyutin -- Tyson Barrie
Francois Beauchemin -- Anton Lindholm

GOALIES
Calvin Pickard
Jeremy Smith