Both teams are coming off shutout losses and expect an amped-up version of each other for their first of four matchups this season
Division rival games are always more intense — for the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, both know what to be ready for when the puck drops.
"I think anytime you have a division rival there's probably a little bit more animosity just because you've seen them more often," Avalanche forward Logan O'Connor said. "We've had our battles with them but it's just another game. We're trying not to get caught up in anything. Just go out and play our game for a full 60."
The Blues are coming off a shutout loss to the Vancouver Canucks last Friday. They may be rested but they're prepared for a tough game.
"Mentally you know you're not getting a night off here. One — altitude's tough, two — they're fast, they've got good players," Blues captain Brayden Schenn told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn after morning skate. "You have to be mentally ready to play and if you're not, they've beat a lot of teams bad when they're not ready. This is a chance for us — division rivalry — play them hard, play our top guys hard and we're looking forward to it."
Colorado is no doubt a skilled team but has struggled with consistency so far this season. Head coach Jared Bednar said the team had a meeting Tuesday to discuss where it was at mentally.
"It was more self evaluation of our group. Lot of times you do a quick review and you move on to the next opponent. We dug in a little bit more," Bednar said. "Not only what we're seeing from an underlying numbers standpoint, but things that we talked about already to try and improve over eight games. Then sort of wanted to hear from them on the mental side of our game and where our team thinks we're at — what we need to do to get better."
Blues head coach Craig Berube knows his team will be facing an amped up Avalanche team after its consecutive shutout losses.
"They're a great team, we all know that. And we faced them a lot over over the years. They got great players over there that you got to contain and try to neutralize your speed," Berube said. "We've got to play a real solid game all around 200 feet — manage pucks, put them behind them, put them deep, work them in their own zone as much as possible. And then make sure we're not losing numbers up ice. They got a great rush team. They're really involved in play. They got some real high end players."
The Avalanche are looking to create more scoring chances against a team also struggling with consistency. O'Connor said he's going to try and shoot more and provide more leadership to help the new players on the team.
"I just think all of us just got to get on the same page. With our structure, if there's some disconnect there — between lines, D-pairings, five-man units — it shows up a little bit," O'Connor said. "Whereas if we're on the same page playing to our instincts, I think you see our speed come out, then you see our skill come out. So it's just getting everyone to play that sort of way."
The Avs won three of the four games the teams played last season. It will be a physical matchup between the Central Division rivals.