Chicago (13-6-7) at Colorado (14-13-1), 9:00 pm EST
DENVER (Ticker) -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is
facing a familar foe.
Quenneville and the Blackhawks will travel to the Pepsi Center
on Friday to square off against the coach's former club, the
Colorado Avalanche.
It marks Quenneville's first trip to Colorado since the
Avalanche fired him after the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red
Wings swept them out of the playoffs in the Western Conference
semifinals last season.
The 50-year-old Quenneville was named Blackhawks coach four
games into the season and has quickly turned the young and
talented team into a force in the conference.
Chicago is 3-0-1 over its previous four contests and has climbed
into second place in the Central Division behind the Red Wings.
The Avalanche have struggled since Quenneville's departure,
sitting on the outside of the playoff picture in ninth place in
the West.
Coach Tony Granato, who is in his second stint behind the bench
for the club, is showing signs of turning it around. Colorado
is seeking its third straight win after cruising to a 6-1 rout
of the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
The Avalanche are 4-1-1 over their last six contests.