This game this afternoon

[dhsux]

I am quite anxious about the Avs-Blues match up today.

Avs have been a consistently good team for some time now and they are on top of it on a hot streak like the Blues.

The Blues, while on a streak, have had a more stuttering season and just now finding their sea legs.

I hate the Avs, their fans and their mile high venue advantage.

I don't think a win here is necessary but I am hoping to see a well played game and a chance to take 2 on the road from a play off team.

All points so meaningful but a statement game here would be just as huge. The pressure will be higher today than in recent home games.

Here's to JB and the boys putting on a good show! And don't forget the power of a good fore check!

[LuvthaBlues]

Great points!

While I expect a win, this game is probably the most difficult test post-4 nations. I’d be happy with a hard fought game and the boys proving to themselves that strength of schedule is irrelevant and the can indeed compete with the league’s best!

LFGB!!!

[DawgDad]

These are the two hottest teams in the league over the past 10 games. Blues cannot afford to come out flat, the Avs have the firepower to bury them. It could and should be 60 minutes of the best hockey we've seen since 4Nations.

Getting Buch back could be huge, the third line without Bolduc was being targeted in away game matchups.

It should be a real barnburner! LGB!

[MRK]

Blues have seemed to be rising to the occasion lately and playing down to the level of teams far below them.

I hope that's true today, if so we should see a great game.

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

[dhsux]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

[JoshInFenton]

I'm not super worried about this game win or lose. Just play, push shots towards the net faster than we've been doing so that they stopped getting blocked (a good chunk of nashvilles blocks were slow developing plays), and see what happens. If Colorado beats us up, so be it, we weren't going undefeated on the last 16 games.

If you have 2-3 days to get acclimated to the altitude then it does help, but usually 24 hours wont be enough.

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

[George Zipp]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

I grew up in Denver and go back often. He’s correct. If you don’t have time to acclimate just go and be done. There are two things you can do to help. Drink a (bleep) ton of water and eat food with potassium, typically with something as simple as bananas. I suspect the team has people on staff that know all about this. Those things really help avoid altitude sickness. These guys, other than examples like butter nipples, are world class athletes. They are also probably used to it.

[Walter Sobchak00]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

I read this report yesterday:

"If you plan to acclimatize your team to the altitude before a competition, plan on six days of exposure beforehand. Research tends to point towards six days as the absolute minimum number of days to acclimate and normalize performance."

Went on to say it on average it takes about 2 weeks.

[theograce]

Some people never get used to it and just don’t do well at elevation. Also harder on people with any sort of condition such as migraines etc.

Few former Avs players have stated they never got used to it.

[Old_Goat]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

I grew up in Denver and go back often. He’s correct. If you don’t have time to acclimate just go and be done. There are two things you can do to help. Drink a (bleep) ton of water and eat food with potassium, typically with something as simple as bananas. I suspect the team has people on staff that know all about this. Those things really help avoid altitude sickness. These guys, other than examples like butter nipples, are world class athletes. They are also probably used to it.

Yes, with emphasis on hydration. Don't forget, Montgomery was coach of the DU team, so I'm sure he has good experience and input for what may be an optimum way to prepare his team.

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

I grew up in Denver and go back often. He’s correct. If you don’t have time to acclimate just go and be done. There are two things you can do to help. Drink a (bleep) ton of water and eat food with potassium, typically with something as simple as bananas. I suspect the team has people on staff that know all about this. Those things really help avoid altitude sickness. These guys, other than examples like butter nipples, are world class athletes. They are also probably used to it.

Yes, with emphasis on hydration. Don't forget, Montgomery was coach of the DU team, so I'm sure he has good experience and input for what may be an optimum way to prepare his team.

All good stuff from both of you. Still, I wonder how much of an advantage this gives the Avs. My wife grew up in Conifer CO and ran cross country in HS. Conifer’s another 3000 ft higher than Denver and she says that generally gave them an advantage over the Denver schools.

In any event, Go Blues!

[dhsux]

The Blues have still been winning but playing a little more sloppy the last 3-4 games so I could see that finally coming to burn them against the Avs.

I’m a little surprised the Blues stayed and practiced in Nashville an extra day instead of getting to Denver to try to adjust to the lower oxygen levels sooner. That advantage the Avs have is no joke.

Yesterday Jaime Rivers said if you can't spend a weeks time getting acclimated you are better off with keeping it short as possible.

Huh, interesting. Now the sciencey part of my brain wants to research that all out as to why haha.

Had never heard that before either but with all the comments here I guess it is correct to just go and play on the shorter days.

I do know from my ski trips once I reached around my mid forties or so at the higher altitudes man it was a different deal.

Had to cut way back on alcohol too.

Skiing was one of the funnest things in life for me. Couldn't afford to ever get really good at it but man what a blast.

[Hooking]

Avs fans are the worst.

[larueskee]

I am quite anxious about the Avs-Blues match up today.

Avs have been a consistently good team for some time now and they are on top of it on a hot streak like the Blues.

The Blues, while on a streak, have had a more stuttering season and just now finding their sea legs.

I hate the Avs, their fans and their mile high venue advantage.

I don't think a win here is necessary but I am hoping to see a well played game and a chance to take 2 on the road from a play off team.

All points so meaningful but a statement game here would be just as huge. The pressure will be higher today than in recent home games.

Here's to JB and the boys putting on a good show! And don't forget the power of a good fore check!

You must not have seen my back checking video.