The set-up: The 13-28-1 Colorado Avalanche own the NHL's worst record (just 27 points) and they visit the Honda Center tonight to take on the Anaheim Ducks.
Colorado: The Avalanche have won only four of their last 24 games and the team's GM, Hall of Famer Joe Sakic, has made it known that virtually every player on his roster is available for trade. That includes the Avalanche's two best veterans: center Matt Duchene, the team's leading goal scorer, and left winger Gabriel Landeskog, the team captain.Adding insult to injury, goalie Semyon Varlamov will not play until after the All-Star break. He sustained a groin injury Dec. 22 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and in three since, has lost all three while conceding 11 goals.

Anaheim: In stark contrast to Colorado, the Ducks have begun 2017 with seven victories in their first nine games (7-1-1) to take over first place in the Pacific Division with 59 points (Anaheim owns the Western Conference's third-best record). The future is now for the Ducks, especially with such key players as Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa ranging between 31 and 35. Goaltender John Gibson has allowed just 11 goals in his last eight games (6-1-1), including a 33-save performance in a 4-1 win at Colorado Jan. 12.

The pick: There's just no reason to take the Avalanche they way they are playing right now but the price is just too high to take the Ducks. However, the Av's have lost eight games since Christmas (up against a 2-1 OT win), allowing 4.5 goals per game in those losses. The Over is a 10* play