Colorado Avalanche Playing at Another Level During Home Stand

Altitude Sports color analyst Peter McNabb has been saying it since the beginning of the season: If the Avalanche were able to win half of their road games, they'd be in good shape heading down the stretch due to the majority of the team's home games coming in the latter half of the season.

The Avalanche, however, were able to put together a 15-9-4 road record.

Right now, they're in cruise control.

The Northwest Division-leading Colorado Avalanche have won six games in a row and have outscored opponents 22-7 in those six games.

The favorable schedule of late has favored the Avalanche, as they've played four in a row at home and also play seven of the final 10 games before the Olympic break at home.

Injuries to Milan Hejduk, Adam Foote, and Ryan Wilson were expected to slow the Avalanche down, but Colorado hasn't missed a beat thanks to big contributions from call-ups like Brandon Yip (11 points in 15 games) and improved play from the struggling John-Michael Liles (12 points in past 12 games).

Craig Anderson, surprisingly left off the USA Olympic squad, continues to be a rock in goal, having stopped 115 of the past 117 shots he's faced.

With Calgary in the Avalanche's rear-view mirror sitting in ninth place, Colorado's only competition for the division at the moment is the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks sit fourth in the Western Conference with 66 points—the same number as the Avalanche—but Colorado holds the division title due to playing one fewer game.

The Canucks have been just as red-hot as the Avalanche, winning five in a row, but play eight of their next nine games on the road. If Colorado can continue to take advantage of the long home stand ahead of them, they'll likely be able to distance themselves from the Canucks in the race for the division title.