Avalanche  3    Flames  2

Colorado Avalanche (12-5-3) at Calgary Flames (12-4-2), 9:30 p.m.

Sports Network | November 17, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Avalanche posted their club record 10th victory of October the last time they faced the Flames. They haven't celebrated too many wins since.

Once-hot Colorado hopes to get back on the winning path tonight in its second matchup of the season versus Calgary at Pengrowth Saddledome.

The Avalanche's win over the Flames back on October 28th improved the club to 10-1-2, good for the best start in franchise history. However, Northwest Division-leading Colorado is just 2-4-1 since, allowing Calgary to get within one point of first place.

The Avs are coming off Saturday's 8-2 thrashing at the hands of the Canucks, their season-high third straight loss. Matt Hendricks and Marek Svatos both scored in the losing effort.

However, Craig Anderson allowed four goals on 22 shots before getting pulled after two periods. Peter Budaj didn't do much better in relief, yielding another four goals on eight shots.

"[The Canucks] outworked us in all aspects of the game. They got on us early and we can't let that happen. We have to be ready to play, and we weren't and it showed. From top to bottom we have to be better," said Colorado forward Paul Stastny.

Colorado lost despite getting both Milan Hejduk and Tom Preissing back from injury. Hejduk had missed the last two games due to a back ailment, while Preissing was making his season debut after knee surgery.

The Avalanche begin a three-game swing through western Canada tonight, as they visit Edmonton on Wednesday and the Canucks again on Friday. They are 6-3-3 on the road this season.

Anderson made 30 saves in beating the Flames earlier this year, improving to 1-2-0 with a 2.29 goals-against average versus the club.

The win was Colorado's third straight in the series after losing the previous four matchups. The Avalanche also snapped a four-game skid in Calgary.

Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 11-of-14 shots faced in that loss, while Jarome Iginla tallied. Both of those players factored in Saturday's 5-2 win over Toronto, as Kiprusoff made 38 saves and Iginla scored twice. The Calgary forward has seven goals in his last six games.

Dustin Boyd, Eric Nystrom and Jay Bouwmeester also lit the lamp for the Flames, who have won five of six and wrapped a three-game road trip 2-0-1. They play their next two at home, where they are 6-3-0 this season.

Kiprusoff is 16-12-3 with a tie and 2.72 GAA in his career versus the Avs.

Forward Curtis Glencross is set to return tonight after serving a three-game suspension for a hit on the Rangers' Chris Drury on November 7.

"He's not a 40-goal scorer," head coach Brent Sutter told Calgary's Web site of Glencross. "Curtis brings a certain element to our team that we need as long as he is playing within the confines of his game. He has to go up and down the ice with speed, shoot pucks and get on the forecheck."