Eurolanche

Islanders start road trip with Avs

Season series: The New York Islanders and Colorado Avalanche split the two-game set last season, with each team winning on the road.

Islanders team scope: New York practiced at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday before boarding the flight to Denver. Defenseman Travis Hamonic, who hasn't played since last Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs because of an upper-body injury, participated at practice and could be back in the lineup Thursday. Hamonic's return to the blue line is key for the Islanders, who have allowed at least three goals in eight of their first nine games. This is the beginning of a five-game road trip that will see stops at the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes. "For me, it's going to measure where we're at," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "You talk about some of the teams we're going to play, these are elite teams, teams that you guys (the media) have picked to probably get to the Stanley Cup Final. It's always a good measuring stick for us."

Avalanche team scope: Colorado extended its point streak to four games Tuesday with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Sharks at Pepsi Center. But the Avalanche have won once over this stretch and have two wins in their first 10 games. "Right now, because our game management is not quite there, instead of winning 2-1, we're losing 3-2," coach Patrick Roy told The Denver Post on Wednesday. "We have a lot of leads. In almost every game, we were ahead or tied in the third period. We've had plenty of chances." Colorado promoted forward Dennis Everberg from the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Everberg, 22, has no points in five games for the Avalanche this season. He had two goals and one assist in five games for Lake Erie.

-- by NHL.com --

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