GAME OF THE WEEK

Colorado at Detroit, Thursday, 5 p.m., ESPN

This is one of the league’s fiercest rivalries, but there’s a new twist this season. Instead of being a Western Conference finals preview, Colorado is fighting just to make the playoffs. The Avalanche holds the eighth and final spot in the West, one point ahead of the Mighty Ducks. Patrick Roy, the best goalie to ever play the game, has not been himself this season, struggling to a 15-11-11 record and a 2.42 goals-against average. Red Wing goalie Curtis Joseph (2.60 GAA) isn’t having a memorable year either, but the future Hall of Famers around him are picking up the slack.

-- Ron Neal