This Week In Avalanche Hockey - Nov. 5

The Avalanche will host a pair of games this week, facing off against the Minnesota Wild in a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series on Thursday, before hosting the Nashville Predators on Saturday. These two games will wrap up a stretch in which the Avalanche has played six of eight at home. Get your tickets now

UPCOMING GAMES

VOTE FOR YOUR AVALANCHE ALL-STARS
Avalanche forwards Milan Hejduk, Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny have been named to the ballot in XM/NHL All-Star Fan Balloting presented by 2K Sports. In a first for all major professional sports leagues, the NHL will provide real-time All-Star fan balloting results online at NHL.com. From Nov. 12 through Jan. 2, NHL fans will be able to vote as often as they like to select the starting lineups for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal. Fans around the world can vote online via interactive English and French ballots at Vote.NHL.com. Those in the U.S. and Canada also will be able to cast their votes via text message using any wireless carrier. During the voting period, real-time results will be available exclusively on Vote.NHL.com/results. This marks the third consecutive year the All-Star Balloting process is entirely digital. Click here for more information

“DO WHAT YOU CAN” CANNED FOOD DRIVE
Support the Denver Rescue Mission this winter and help feed thousands of needy people by participating in the “Do What You Can” canned food drive. Simply drop off non-perishable food items or cash donations at any collection barrel on your way into Pepsi Center before this Thursday’s Avalanche game against Minnesota.

SUNDAY STREAK OVER
The Avalanche had won 11 consecutive Sunday home games prior to a 5-4 loss to the Sharks on Sunday evening. It was the first time Colorado had dropped a Sunday home game since April 9, 2006. The Avalanche was 7-0 at home on Sundays last season.

Colorado’s success on Sunday got us to thinking, what is the Avalanche’s best day of the week? Well, since moving to Denver in 1995-96, the Avs have won more games on Saturday than any other day (103 victories). However, they have also played more games (203) on Saturday than any other day. Thus, the club’s highest points percentage on a single day is actually Tuesday (84-35-13-3 for a .681 winning percentage). Listed here is a breakdown of Colorado’s record by day of the week.

By Day                GP      W      L       T    OTL     Pts%
Monday              105     56    31    14      4       .619
Tuesday            135     84    35    13      3       .681
Wednesday      155     84    50    16      5       .610
Thursday           155     77    51    18      9       .584
Friday                 118     64    36      9      9       .619
Saturday            203   103    74    18     8       .571
Sunday              125     68    38     13     6       .620

HENSICK AMONG AHL SCORING LEADERS
T.J. Hensick leads the Lake Erie Monsters with 13 points (6g/7a) through 10 games, ranking him tied for fifth in the American Hockey League in scoring. Read about Hensick’s hot start and much more in this week’s farm report

AVALANCHE ALL-ACCESS
The weekly Avalanche show on Altitude Sports & Entertainment features a behind-the-scenes look at Avalanche players and coaches. This week’s show (Nov. 5) features Avs assistant coach Dave Barr, a conversation with defenseman Adam Foote and out-takes and behind-the-scenes shots from Ruslan Salei’s Altitude TV promo taping. Catch “Avalanche All-Access” every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

ASK AN AV
Throughout the 2008-09 season, ColoradoAvalanche.com will again be offering fans an opportunity to ask their favorite players a question. This week's subject is Avalanche forward Wojtek Wolski. To pose a question to Wojtek, send an email to avalanche@pepsicenter.com with "Ask an Av" in the subject line. Be sure to include your first name, city and state/province/country. Questions must be received by Sunday, November 9th.