Avs coming off of a huge win against Buffalo, that they tried to give away but managed to pull out, and needed to keep things going for them on this 5 game home stand. But, once again, the Avs came out just plain flat.
Scoring Summary:
Period 1:
Lots of shots, but the Coyotes had most of the decent chances, and the only goal of the period. Andy stopped a shot from the point, gave a small rebound, that was won by Taylor Pyatt. While kind of being bothered by the Avs d-man, Pyatt managed to backhand it over the glove of a sliding Anderson for a 1-0 lead. Andy was in pretty decent position, just a great shot that he managed to get elevated on the backhand.
No scoring again until about 19 seconds left in the game, when Pyatt put another one in the empty. Game closed out with a 2-0 win for Phoenix.
All in all, this was possibly the most boring game that I have watched in a long, LONG time. Now, that is really Phoenix's style. They are a trap team, and take advantage of turnovers. Transition is their game, and that's how they got their goal. A clear that didn't quite get out, they threw it straight at the net, and boom, suddenly they get a rebound in behind Andy. And this is the the thing that is killing the Avs. They cannot get out of their own zone. They have about 5 shifts a game where they really get buried in their own zone and just can't get out.
Then, there is Matt Hunwick. This guy has been so horrible since getting traded over to the Avs. I think the first game he played with us I was actually a little ok with him because he could skate so well, and actually did a couple decent things in his own zone. Ever since then, it has been a non-stop parade of horrible turnovers, poor defensive play, and getting beat all over the place in his own zone. I cannot, for the life of me, fathom why Joe Sacco, the Avalanche coach, has not cut this guy's ice time, or even made him a healthy scratch. Holos gives 1 away, and I see something on Twitter saying Sacco just cringed, but watch Hunwick give 5 pucks away, and he's one of the first d-men out on the next penalty kill? This makes no sense!! Sacco benched Duchene earlier this year when he wasn't getting it done. He benched Liles, and made him a healthy scratch a few times, last year when he wasn't getting the job done. He's gone to Budaj this year, when Andy has looked shakey. I don't get it. A coach that is well known for holding players who aren't playing well accountable, and allowing somebody else a chance to get the job done, who just won't take this guy off of the ice. Hunwick has no place on the penalty kill, but is out there every kill. He made about 6 really bad giveaways tonight that Andy had to bail him out on every single time. It is time for Sacco to sit him down, scratch him, send him to the minors, or just do something to tell him that what he is doing is not going to keep him on the ice. It needs to happen, or else we can get used to more losses.
Avs play next on Saturday against the Islanders. Time for the Avs to wake up again. This Western Conference is really, REALLY close from seeds 4-13. The Avs are going to find themselves out of the playoff picture really fast here if they don't start playing with some urgency. Hopefully Stewie will be returning soon
No comments:
Post a Comment