This Week In Avalanche Hockey - Dec. 10

STEWY GETS HIS FIRST
Chris Stewart scored his first NHL goal on a short-handed breakaway on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

Watch Stewart’s first goal
Listen to Stewart discuss his first tally


SHOOTOUT STREAK COMES TO AN END
The Avalanche saw its streak of eight consecutive shootout wins come to an end with a 2-1 loss in Dallas on Friday night. The Avs won their last four tiebreakers in 2007-08 and their first four this season before the loss to the Stars. Colorado's eight-game winning streak was tied for the third-longest in shootout history.

    LONGEST SHOOTOUT WINNING STREAKS, ALL-TIME    
    11 games    Dallas               Nov. 5, 2005 - March 24, 2006
    9 games      Minnesota        Feb. 2, 2006 - Nov. 16, 2006
    8 games      Colorado          Feb. 22, 2008 - Nov. 22, 2008
    8 games      Tampa Bay      Jan. 7, 2007 - March 1, 2007


STREAK DONE, BUT SHOOTOUT SUCCESS CONTINUES
After seeing their eight-game shootout streak come to end on Friday, the Avs rebounded with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Canucks on Sunday night. The Avalanche is now 5-1 in shootouts this season and 9-1 in its last 10 shootouts. Only the New York Rangers (7-1) have won more shootouts in 2008-09.

Wojtek Wolski owns a 63.2% career scoring percentage in shootouts (12-for-19), the second best mark in shootout history. He is a perfect 5-for-5 this season, best in the NHL, and has scored on his last seven attempts dating back to last year.

Marek Svatos is 3-for-6 in shootouts this season with three game-deciding goals (tied for NHL lead).

Milan Hejduk is also 3-for-6 this year and 9-for-26 in his career (34.6%).

Peter Budaj is now 5-1 in shootouts this year after going 4-11 the previous three seasons combined. Budaj’s five wins trail only Henrik Lundqvist (6) among NHL goaltenders.


HE SAID IT…
“It’s just something I’ve been practicing for years and years. As a younger guy I did it in the OHL as well for four years. It’s something I’ve had to do for a while now. I’ve been lucky to come up with a couple of moves that seem to work. Goalies are smart, they watch a lot of video. They know what’s going on and what player they’re going against. They pretty much know where you are going to shoot (a shot), let alone their moves on breakaways. I try to see what other guys do and try to get advice from our goaltenders. Sometimes, our goaltending coach Jeff Hackett gives me tips. Ice conditions come into play sometimes….there’s a lot of things that come into play and I’ve been really fortunate to score the last five times.”

- Wojtek Wolski on his shootout success. 

Hejduk

CHASING 300
Milan Hejduk has scored 297 career goals, leaving him three shy of the 300-goal mark. He will become only the fourth player in franchise history to reach 300 goals, joining Joe Sakic (625), Michel Goulet (456) and Peter Stastny (380). Hejduk and Sakic (391) will be the only players to score 300 goals as a member of the Colorado Avalanche (since 1995-96). Ryan Smyth is also nearing 300 goals, as he sits at 294.


ASK AN AV: CODY McLEOD
Do you have a question for Avalanche forward Cody McLeod? If so, here's your chance to ask! Cody is the subject of the latest edition of "Ask an Av"

AVALANCHE HONORS PEARL HARBOR MEMORY

Avs Honor Pearl Harbor Memory

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club, in conjunction with The Greatest Generations Foundation, formally saluted World War II veterans from the Pacific Theater prior to Sunday's game with the Vancouver Canucks in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Click here for full story and photo gallery of the event


UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
17 of the Avalanche's 28 games (or 60.7%) have been decided by one goal, tied for the second most one-goal decisions in the NHL. Only Philadelphia (18) has more. The Avs are 10-6-1 in those 17 contests, tied for the third most one-goal wins in the league behind the Red Wings (12) and Rangers (11).


SHATTENKIRK HEADING TO WORLD JUNIORS
Colorado Avalanche prospect Kevin Shattenkirk has been selected to the U.S. National Junior Team and will represent Team USA at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship held Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in Ottawa, Ontario.


STOA HONORED, DELMAS SCORES GOAL
Read about University of Minnesota forward Ryan Stoa’s latest accolades and goaltender Peter Delmas making history in Lewiston in this week's Farm Report.


AVALANCHE HOLIDAY GIFT BACK
Buy the Avalanche Holiday Gift Pack and get the chance to see not only four great games, but also obtain a FREE authentic Paul Stastny signed puck, FREE Avalanche Team Flag
and Avalanche Playoff Ticket Priority