Uniondale, NY (My Sportsbook) - The
Colorado Avalanche try to continue their surge toward the top of the Northwest Division tonight when they visit the
New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum.
Colorado, which sits six behind first-place Vancouver with a game in hand, is 11-0-2-1 in its last 14 games, including successive wins over Minnesota, Chicago and Pittsburgh. On Thursday, playing the second portion of a three- game road trip, the Avs posted a 5-2 win against the Penguins, as Dean McAmmond led the charge with a pair of goals.
Milan Hejduk, Martin Skoula and Steve Reinprecht also tallied for Colorado, which opened the scoring for the 14th consecutive match. Hejduk extended his goal-scoring streak to five games, while Peter Forsberg chipped in assist to stretch his points run to seven (3g, 1a).
There was a scare for the Avs, though, as Hejduk suffered a rib injury early in the second period and did not return. After the tilt, coach Tony Granato said the ailment wasn't very serious.
The Avalanche, who received 26 saves from Patrick Roy, are 7-0-1-1 in their last eight road games. They'll return home and host the New York Rangers Sunday in the opener of a four-game Pepsi Center set.
The Islanders, meanwhile, are unbeaten in three straight (2-0-1) and 4-1-1 in the last six overall. On Wednesday they posted a 3-0 victory in San Jose, as Garth Snow stymied the fading Sharks with 29 saves. Michael Peca scored twice and Kenny Jonsson found the net as well, as New York capped off a four-game road swing.
Snow has made seven straight starts in net and has allowed a mere 11 goals in that time.
The Isles enter tonight with 64 points, in a three-way tie for sixth place in the East with Boston and Tampa Bay. In ninth place, Montreal trails that pack by two points.
New York, which has won two straight on home ice, will welcome the Bruins to town on Sunday.
The Islanders and Avalanche split two games last season, and New York has taken three of the last five meetings. Colorado has fallen in its last two trips to Nassau Coliseum.
