Sorry it has been a while since I've written anything on this site, folks, I've been doing a lot of writing on the Bleacher Report, and have neglected you. Thank goodness A-Mac has been here to help pick up some of my slack.
That being said, if you want a much more hopeful view of what I'm about to write, take a look at the story on Bleacher Report.
Well, the Avalanche have done it again. Now losers of seven straight games, and 17 out of their last 18 games, the Colorado Avalanche are setting a new standard for amateurism in their games. Never before have I seen members of this once proud franchise quit so often, and so fast game in and game out.
I have said to several people that this team may be the worst team in the history of the franchise, and that is worse than the one that earned us the number three overall draft pick three years ago.
This may become a bit of a rant, and I apologize for that, so I'll cut to the chase. Joe Sacco needs to be fired. This guy seems to have one way of coaching. He does not adjust, and he does not attempt to fix anything, he just keeps plugging away with the same things and the team does not improve.
Case and point, he constantly talks about needing to skate in order to play their game. You just watch teams clog up the neutral zone against the Avs and they can't do anything. They are lost, their passing is bad, they make bad plays and boom, the puck is going the other way.
Or, the way he handles his personnel. If Sacco isn't happy with how you're playing, he benches you for a period, or makes you a healthy scratch for the game as his way of "sending a message". It worked for a while last season, and even a bit at the start of this season. Now players seem to be playing scared out of fear of being a healthy scratch! That's not coaching! Part of coaching is showing faith in your players, and Sacco does not do that.
About the only person he has done that with is Matt Hunwick, who is possibly the worst trade the Avalanche have ever made. Hunwick is constantly out for goals against, avoids physical contact at all costs, makes horrible decisions in his own zone, and is frequently found just watching the play yet he is out almost every single short handed situation. It just baffles me.
Sacco did a great job in his first year, but it seems his message has been tuned out by his players. Plus, he comes out for every press conference saying the exact same things about making mental errors and not starting the game on time. All of those things, when they are problems for more than two months of a season, are the fault of a coaching staff. One or two games, those are your players and you make adjustments. No adjustments made, same mistakes night in and night out, coaches. Joe Sacco is a good AHL coach, and he has done all he can do right now. It is time to fire Joe Sacco.
Showing posts with label Matt Duchene. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Duchene. Show all posts
Friday, March 11, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Avs Remind Fans How Far Rebuilding Effort Has to Go
Last year, the Avalanche were one of the feel good stories of the NHL year. Having finished dead last in the Western Conference, people were excited to see the once proud franchise making a playoff run. So, when this season started, it seemed natural that expectations should be a bit higher for this team. After all, from one season to another, especially with a team this young, generally you expect improvement from year to year.
Start of this season comes around and things were a bit slower than last year. But you can't expect the kind of fast start that the Avs had last season every year. 20 games go by, 30 games go by, the Avs are right there in the conversation and are hanging with the Canucks. We start thinking, ha! Vancouver who!? We're going to hit our stride and then go flying by those guys.
Only something different happens. More and more games go by, and instead of that energetic, never-say-die team that we had become so used to seeing, we start seeing a team that can't start a game to save their lives, play horrible defense, and can't climb back into games the way they used to. We start to think, well, everybody is thinking "hey, they're bound to hit a slump at some point. They'll rebound."
Well, we're still waiting for that rebound. The Avs dropped another today, this time to the Anaheim Ducks. Another game marked by taking bad penalties, poor defensive zone play, and a lack of offensive intensity. It's something that has marked their play for the last month, or more, of hockey. Then I remembered something.
This Avs team is still rebuilding. This is a team that is still nowhere near their full potential, and will probably take a couple of more years to get there. Last year we experienced something that probably shouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the insanely amazing play of Craig Anderson, last year's Avs would have been nowhere near the playoffs. The defense was just as inconsistent, the offense experienced similar ups and downs, the big difference was that Anderson was able to make all those insane saves that he had no business making. It's like that guy you play poker with that everybody hates because he goes all in with stupid hands, but wins each time. Eventually, you know that guy is going to run out of luck, it's just a matter of time. It seems that time has happened this year.
So, to all Avs fans, and this is just as much for me as anybody else, yes, the Avs are not a very good team right now. Yes, we're most likely going to miss the playoffs with this type of poor play. Let's all remember, we haven't seen the best that these guys can offer yet. Stewie hasn't shown us a full season of what he will be, neither has Duchene. Neither have a lot of these guys, but their talent is there and they are still learning. Eventually, our front office will help us get bigger and more skilled on defense. Eventually, our goalies won't have to know from the beginning that they have to win the game for us.
Rebuilding is not a fun process for a team, but if you do it right, that time will pay off. Just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. They both spent a decent amount of time at the bottom of the NHL, and have both recently won Stanley Cups. The Avs will get there, I'm convinced, but we, as a fan base, need to make the trip with them and not give up on our boys.
Start of this season comes around and things were a bit slower than last year. But you can't expect the kind of fast start that the Avs had last season every year. 20 games go by, 30 games go by, the Avs are right there in the conversation and are hanging with the Canucks. We start thinking, ha! Vancouver who!? We're going to hit our stride and then go flying by those guys.
Only something different happens. More and more games go by, and instead of that energetic, never-say-die team that we had become so used to seeing, we start seeing a team that can't start a game to save their lives, play horrible defense, and can't climb back into games the way they used to. We start to think, well, everybody is thinking "hey, they're bound to hit a slump at some point. They'll rebound."
Well, we're still waiting for that rebound. The Avs dropped another today, this time to the Anaheim Ducks. Another game marked by taking bad penalties, poor defensive zone play, and a lack of offensive intensity. It's something that has marked their play for the last month, or more, of hockey. Then I remembered something.
This Avs team is still rebuilding. This is a team that is still nowhere near their full potential, and will probably take a couple of more years to get there. Last year we experienced something that probably shouldn't have happened. If it wasn't for the insanely amazing play of Craig Anderson, last year's Avs would have been nowhere near the playoffs. The defense was just as inconsistent, the offense experienced similar ups and downs, the big difference was that Anderson was able to make all those insane saves that he had no business making. It's like that guy you play poker with that everybody hates because he goes all in with stupid hands, but wins each time. Eventually, you know that guy is going to run out of luck, it's just a matter of time. It seems that time has happened this year.
So, to all Avs fans, and this is just as much for me as anybody else, yes, the Avs are not a very good team right now. Yes, we're most likely going to miss the playoffs with this type of poor play. Let's all remember, we haven't seen the best that these guys can offer yet. Stewie hasn't shown us a full season of what he will be, neither has Duchene. Neither have a lot of these guys, but their talent is there and they are still learning. Eventually, our front office will help us get bigger and more skilled on defense. Eventually, our goalies won't have to know from the beginning that they have to win the game for us.
Rebuilding is not a fun process for a team, but if you do it right, that time will pay off. Just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. They both spent a decent amount of time at the bottom of the NHL, and have both recently won Stanley Cups. The Avs will get there, I'm convinced, but we, as a fan base, need to make the trip with them and not give up on our boys.
Friday, January 21, 2011
FORSBERG SIGHTING IN DENVER!!!
It was reported today that Peter Forsberg will be practicing with the Colorado Avalanche, starting with the Saturday skate before the Avalanche game versus the Boston Bruins. No contracts have been signed, as of yet, and it seems that this is a way for Forsberg to test whether or not he is physically able to make another attempt at returning to the NHL.
Admittedly, when I first saw this reported I nearly jumped out of my chair; but there are so many questions that come along with this. It's important to try and look at all the pros and cons.
Pro:
The return of Peter Forsberg would mean amazing things for the energy level in the Pepsi Center. Forsberg is associated with the golden age of the Colorado Avalanche, and some excitement would immediately return to the building. If you watched the Avs last game, against Nashville, you probably noticed the absolute lack of any crowd noise. Just Forsberg's name would bring that buzz back to the Pepsi Center.
Con:
How much would this really help? Other than getting fans back in the seats, the Avs are still a team that is in the process of rebuilding. Sure, they have a lot of talent, but are the Avalanche really Stanley Cup contenders, even if Forsberg is able to make a return? At the moment the Avs are desperately fighting to maintain a spot in the playoffs. Sure, more excitement might return, but this might not amount to much more than a little bit of lightning in a bottle. Flashy and bright, but not very long lasting.
Just some of the amazing Highlights in Peter Forsberg's Colorado Career
Pro:
Imagine the affect that Forsberg could have on some of the younger players. Matt Duchene watched Forsberg play with the Avs when he was a kid, can you imagine how much he'll learn about the game by playing with him? It could be off the charts. Plus, veteran leadership is something that the Avs are hurting for at the moment. It's no secret that the Avs are a young team, and that youth is starting to show up in mass turnovers and poor defensive play. Forsberg could be a great teacher to many of the players on this team.
Con:
Forsberg's own body. Forsberg's career has been tragically short. He was on pace to have one of the truly great careers in hockey history, but he has been unable to get over that nagging foot injury that has had multiple surgeries. Couple that with the Avs horrible luck with player injuries right now, and it is one of those situations where it's almost like the hockey gods are just toying with us. Who's to say Forsberg wouldn't get on the ice and get hurt again?
Pro:
It really wouldn't cost the Avs that much. Forsberg's presence alone has demanded large contracts in the past. Even back in 2007-2008, when he tried his last come back, he still earned a pretty penny. The Avs salary cap, however, is one that could have handled multiple versions of that insane Kovalchuk contract that New Jersey is currently stuck with. I wonder how that's working out. At any rate, price is definitely NOT an issue when it comes to getting Forsberg signed.
3316419_crop_340x234 Peter The Great, working his magic
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Con:
Time. We hear the name Peter Forsberg and immediately remember all of the amazing things that this guy was capable of. Even back in 07-08 he had an impact. In nine regular season games the guy had a goal and 13 assists. But can that realistically be expected of him at age 37 with a foot that has been operated on and injured more times than anybody can count? There's no doubt that Forsberg, when he was at his best, could play a mediocre game and still be better than most people's best games, but age has to take a toll at some point.
This is a very interesting situation in which we find ourselves. With all the injuries that have stung the Avs, especially recently, the Avs are desperate for somebody. If Forsberg feels that he could play, it wouldn't be that great a shock if the Avs took a shot with him. Sure, he's older, but you have to think that some of that magic that Peter The Great showcased throughout his brilliant, but all too short amount of time in Denver is still there.
It's very premature to speculate on what is going to happen, but this is one Avalanche fan who can't wait to hear whether or not we will see a return of Foppa to the Colorado ice.
Admittedly, when I first saw this reported I nearly jumped out of my chair; but there are so many questions that come along with this. It's important to try and look at all the pros and cons.
Pro:
The return of Peter Forsberg would mean amazing things for the energy level in the Pepsi Center. Forsberg is associated with the golden age of the Colorado Avalanche, and some excitement would immediately return to the building. If you watched the Avs last game, against Nashville, you probably noticed the absolute lack of any crowd noise. Just Forsberg's name would bring that buzz back to the Pepsi Center.
Con:
How much would this really help? Other than getting fans back in the seats, the Avs are still a team that is in the process of rebuilding. Sure, they have a lot of talent, but are the Avalanche really Stanley Cup contenders, even if Forsberg is able to make a return? At the moment the Avs are desperately fighting to maintain a spot in the playoffs. Sure, more excitement might return, but this might not amount to much more than a little bit of lightning in a bottle. Flashy and bright, but not very long lasting.
Just some of the amazing Highlights in Peter Forsberg's Colorado Career
Pro:
Imagine the affect that Forsberg could have on some of the younger players. Matt Duchene watched Forsberg play with the Avs when he was a kid, can you imagine how much he'll learn about the game by playing with him? It could be off the charts. Plus, veteran leadership is something that the Avs are hurting for at the moment. It's no secret that the Avs are a young team, and that youth is starting to show up in mass turnovers and poor defensive play. Forsberg could be a great teacher to many of the players on this team.
Con:
Forsberg's own body. Forsberg's career has been tragically short. He was on pace to have one of the truly great careers in hockey history, but he has been unable to get over that nagging foot injury that has had multiple surgeries. Couple that with the Avs horrible luck with player injuries right now, and it is one of those situations where it's almost like the hockey gods are just toying with us. Who's to say Forsberg wouldn't get on the ice and get hurt again?
Pro:
It really wouldn't cost the Avs that much. Forsberg's presence alone has demanded large contracts in the past. Even back in 2007-2008, when he tried his last come back, he still earned a pretty penny. The Avs salary cap, however, is one that could have handled multiple versions of that insane Kovalchuk contract that New Jersey is currently stuck with. I wonder how that's working out. At any rate, price is definitely NOT an issue when it comes to getting Forsberg signed.
3316419_crop_340x234 Peter The Great, working his magic
Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Con:
Time. We hear the name Peter Forsberg and immediately remember all of the amazing things that this guy was capable of. Even back in 07-08 he had an impact. In nine regular season games the guy had a goal and 13 assists. But can that realistically be expected of him at age 37 with a foot that has been operated on and injured more times than anybody can count? There's no doubt that Forsberg, when he was at his best, could play a mediocre game and still be better than most people's best games, but age has to take a toll at some point.
This is a very interesting situation in which we find ourselves. With all the injuries that have stung the Avs, especially recently, the Avs are desperate for somebody. If Forsberg feels that he could play, it wouldn't be that great a shock if the Avs took a shot with him. Sure, he's older, but you have to think that some of that magic that Peter The Great showcased throughout his brilliant, but all too short amount of time in Denver is still there.
It's very premature to speculate on what is going to happen, but this is one Avalanche fan who can't wait to hear whether or not we will see a return of Foppa to the Colorado ice.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Avs vs. Oilers Recap
Well, the Avs haven't had the best 3 game stretch. 0-2-1 in their last 3. Heartbreaking loss to the Red Wings last time out, in a game that they really dominated and should have won. Can they turn thing around against an Oilers team that is last place in the Western Conference, or will the Avs come out asleep again?
Scoring recap
Period 1
Avs came out strong in this one. All lines firing. T.J. Galliardi got the scoring started on this one. Good play in the offensive zone, get the puck at the net, and Galliardi put one in off an Edmonton defensive player. That was at 3:22 of the first. A really good, fast start for the Avs on the road.
Paul Stastny was the beneficiary of a fantastic play by David Jones for the second goal of the game. Jones chased a dumped puck into the corner, won the 1-on-1 battle. He worked towards the net, smooth stick work, and made a great back hand pass to Stastny who buried it by the Edmonton goalie. 2-0 Avs.
Probably the best line of the evening was the Duchene-Hejduk-Fleischmann line. After a great shift of a lot of pressure in the Edmonton zone, Matt Duchene forced a bad pass from the Oilers defenseman that trickled right out to Flash who made no mistake putting it behind the Oilers goalie for a huge 3-0 lead.
Period 2
After the team traded power play opportunities, and failed, the Oilers ended up with a decent amount of momentum. Avs struggled a lot getting the puck out of their own zone in this one, and paid the price after Edmonton one a few physical battles to get the puck down low. Gagner made a great pass to Taylor Hall, who was all alone in front of the net, and he pounded it home. Andy had no chance on this one.
Avs had a lot of great scoring chances in this period but either got too cute, just plain missed, or were robbed.
Period 3
After the Avs fail on another golden opportunity to take a strangle hold of the game, Oilers take it down the ice, Hemsky takes it into the middle and burries it top shelf, over Andy's blocker to make it a 3-2 game.
Avs defense continues to fall asleep and just plain lets Edmonton back into the game. After a dominant beginning, the Avs expected the Oilers to roll over, and they didn't. 3-3 as Hemsky comes flying back into the zone, lulls the D to sleep, who just leaves Cogliano alone in front of the net who hammered it home for a 3-3 tie.
OT
The poor officiating continues. Avs got a PP, then the refs gave the Oilers a make up call that was weak, and that is being very, VERY nice. Teams trade PPs, and fail. Shootout.
Shootout
Andy makes first save on Jordan Eberle
Hejduk buries the first one for the Avs.
Andy then stuffs Hemsky
Dutchy gets stopped
Andy then stops Taylor Hall, who earns the Avs the extra point, that they really didn't deserve.
Andy played pretty well during this game. Gave up 3 goals, but was totally abandoned by his defense on this one. The most troubling part about this game is that the Avs blew a 3-0 lead, and constantly had trouble getting out of their own zone. Defensive pairs were all bad in this game, and we pretty much only won because Andy realized he would have to win it by himself this time around.
Avs got outshot by the worst team in the Western Conference and just seemed as if they expected that the game would be done after the first period; and that they really didn't know how to respond when Edmonton just wouldn't go down for good. Coming from a team that seems to pride itself on never giving up on games when they get down, it seems odd that the Avs would just try and put it in cruise control so early. As well as they played in the first, they were really just awful, collectively, in the last 2 periods.
As poor as things went for the Avs in the last 2 periods, you have to put part of this towards the officiating which was just plain awful, and that is putting it nicely. Seemed like since the Avs were up 3-0 at the start of the 2nd period, that meant that there would be absolutely nothing called for the Avs. Multiple times Oilers players barreled into the Avalanche goaltender, Craig Anderson, and somehow the Avs would end up with the penalty out of that situation. I don't understand how players can go crashing into the net, especially when the goalie is deep in his crease, and the penalty is not called. Pretty pathetic officiating, it definitely something that the NHL does not want. You never like it when it is so obvious that the officiating had such a strong impact on the game. That's a larger picture thing that the NHL needs to deal with.
In the end, the Avs end up with a win. Tomorrow night, the Avs are in Calgary. They'll have to come with a more complete game in order to beat a Calgary team that is always tough.
Oh, also, Hunwick was -1 again tonight. This guy has been a huge trade bust thus far. Think the Bruins would be willing to take this guy back?
Scoring recap
Period 1
Avs came out strong in this one. All lines firing. T.J. Galliardi got the scoring started on this one. Good play in the offensive zone, get the puck at the net, and Galliardi put one in off an Edmonton defensive player. That was at 3:22 of the first. A really good, fast start for the Avs on the road.
Paul Stastny was the beneficiary of a fantastic play by David Jones for the second goal of the game. Jones chased a dumped puck into the corner, won the 1-on-1 battle. He worked towards the net, smooth stick work, and made a great back hand pass to Stastny who buried it by the Edmonton goalie. 2-0 Avs.
Probably the best line of the evening was the Duchene-Hejduk-Fleischmann line. After a great shift of a lot of pressure in the Edmonton zone, Matt Duchene forced a bad pass from the Oilers defenseman that trickled right out to Flash who made no mistake putting it behind the Oilers goalie for a huge 3-0 lead.
Period 2
After the team traded power play opportunities, and failed, the Oilers ended up with a decent amount of momentum. Avs struggled a lot getting the puck out of their own zone in this one, and paid the price after Edmonton one a few physical battles to get the puck down low. Gagner made a great pass to Taylor Hall, who was all alone in front of the net, and he pounded it home. Andy had no chance on this one.
Avs had a lot of great scoring chances in this period but either got too cute, just plain missed, or were robbed.
Period 3
After the Avs fail on another golden opportunity to take a strangle hold of the game, Oilers take it down the ice, Hemsky takes it into the middle and burries it top shelf, over Andy's blocker to make it a 3-2 game.
Avs defense continues to fall asleep and just plain lets Edmonton back into the game. After a dominant beginning, the Avs expected the Oilers to roll over, and they didn't. 3-3 as Hemsky comes flying back into the zone, lulls the D to sleep, who just leaves Cogliano alone in front of the net who hammered it home for a 3-3 tie.
OT
The poor officiating continues. Avs got a PP, then the refs gave the Oilers a make up call that was weak, and that is being very, VERY nice. Teams trade PPs, and fail. Shootout.
Shootout
Andy makes first save on Jordan Eberle
Hejduk buries the first one for the Avs.
Andy then stuffs Hemsky
Dutchy gets stopped
Andy then stops Taylor Hall, who earns the Avs the extra point, that they really didn't deserve.
Andy played pretty well during this game. Gave up 3 goals, but was totally abandoned by his defense on this one. The most troubling part about this game is that the Avs blew a 3-0 lead, and constantly had trouble getting out of their own zone. Defensive pairs were all bad in this game, and we pretty much only won because Andy realized he would have to win it by himself this time around.
Avs got outshot by the worst team in the Western Conference and just seemed as if they expected that the game would be done after the first period; and that they really didn't know how to respond when Edmonton just wouldn't go down for good. Coming from a team that seems to pride itself on never giving up on games when they get down, it seems odd that the Avs would just try and put it in cruise control so early. As well as they played in the first, they were really just awful, collectively, in the last 2 periods.
As poor as things went for the Avs in the last 2 periods, you have to put part of this towards the officiating which was just plain awful, and that is putting it nicely. Seemed like since the Avs were up 3-0 at the start of the 2nd period, that meant that there would be absolutely nothing called for the Avs. Multiple times Oilers players barreled into the Avalanche goaltender, Craig Anderson, and somehow the Avs would end up with the penalty out of that situation. I don't understand how players can go crashing into the net, especially when the goalie is deep in his crease, and the penalty is not called. Pretty pathetic officiating, it definitely something that the NHL does not want. You never like it when it is so obvious that the officiating had such a strong impact on the game. That's a larger picture thing that the NHL needs to deal with.
In the end, the Avs end up with a win. Tomorrow night, the Avs are in Calgary. They'll have to come with a more complete game in order to beat a Calgary team that is always tough.
Oh, also, Hunwick was -1 again tonight. This guy has been a huge trade bust thus far. Think the Bruins would be willing to take this guy back?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Avs vs Canadiens Recap
Well, what a game tonight for the Avalanche! After a rather up and down game against the Ottawa Senators a couple of nights ago, the Avs played host to one of the top teams in the Eastern conference, the Montreal Canadiens. Well, before I recap this game, let's give a bit of lead up, shall we?
Coming into tonight, the Avs had won 5 straight games. Not only that, but they were 6-0-2 in their last 8 games. The Avs were quite fortunate to pull out the win that they did against Ottawa, an overtime win 6-5, because they were sloppy defensively, and Craig Anderson was not very solid in net. But, the Avs were firing on all cylinders offensively, and managed to answer Ottawa at every turn. They had to know that if they came out with that same kind of sloppiness against Montreal, they would be made to pay for it. Well, they definitely responded in kind.
Scoring recap.
Mike Cammalleri got the scoring started for the Habs, on the PP. 3 of the Avs PK all went to the same spot to try and clear the puck, and failed. Leaving Foote alone on a 2 on 1. Cammelleri made a very pretty give and go and fired it right over Andy's glove. Never had a chance.
Avs answered on a PP of their own. Ryan Wilson scored this one from the point, through a ton of traffic in front with about 7 seconds left in the first period. Price probably never saw the shot.
Habs went back on top with another PP goal in the second. A shot rebounded off of Anderson right to the waiting Alexander Picard, distant relative of Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and pounded it home.
The Avs responded just over a minute later when Kevin Porter slipped one by Carey Price on a backhand as he rushed towards the net. This was a pretty weak one, by Price's standards, and I'm sure he would like to have it back. 2-2.
Then T.J. Galliardi put the Avs up to stay late in the 2nd period when Ryan O'Reilly but a very hard wrister on net. Price made a great save, up high, but the puck bounced straight up. Both Galliardi and Mauldin were crashing the net, and the Avs got a fortunate bounce off of Galliardi's leg, and past price. Proving the old saying true that "if you go to the net, good things happen."
The Avs survived an assault of shots in the third period, 14 to be exact, to hold on to the win. Anderson looking very good late, especially, to help the Avs hold on.
The Avs improved to 11-0-0 when leading after 2 periods, and the Habs fell to 0-11-0 when trailing after 2 periods, remaining the only team in the league to not come back and gain any type of point when trailing after 2 periods of play. The Avs also extend their win streak to 6 games, once again pulling ahead of the Vancouver Canucks by 2 points in the Northwest Division, and sit in 3rd position in the Western Conference. Where they will be by the end of tomorrow is anybody's guess in the crazy, crazy West.
Sadly, Matt Duchene's point streak was snapped in this game, but I don't think that will bother him too much. This guy is a huge team player. Galliardi returned to the lineup against Ottawa, after missing 17 games with a wrist injury, and has goals in both of his games. Not a bad way to come back. Since Anderson returned against Florida a week and a half ago, his only loss has come in OT, against those Panthers. Since then, he has not lost a game, and neither have the Avs. The Avs are in a current stretch of 19 games, where 15 of them will be played at home, and they have gotten off to a good start. As time goes on, this could prove to be a very crucial stretch of games for the Avalanche, where they very well could pull away from the Canucks as long as the continue to find ways to put the puck in the net.
One bit of bad news for the Avs tonight. Defenseman Kyle Quincey is to undergo season ending shoulder surgery after he was hurt in Washington against the Capitals. Obviously it is bad, because you never like to see a member of your team go down and out for the season. At the same time, Quincey has been very suspect, defensively, this year. He's made a lot of bad plays that have led to goals, and has been on the ice, just kind of standing and watching goals go in this year. He has been virtually invisible offensively, especially in comparison to what he did last year. Definitely hope he is able to fully recuperate from this injury and come back and play well.
Avs record now stands at 19-10-4, First in the NW Division. They play again on Tuesday when they host the LA Kings. Should be another good one as they try and push their win streak to 7 games! Go Avs!
Coming into tonight, the Avs had won 5 straight games. Not only that, but they were 6-0-2 in their last 8 games. The Avs were quite fortunate to pull out the win that they did against Ottawa, an overtime win 6-5, because they were sloppy defensively, and Craig Anderson was not very solid in net. But, the Avs were firing on all cylinders offensively, and managed to answer Ottawa at every turn. They had to know that if they came out with that same kind of sloppiness against Montreal, they would be made to pay for it. Well, they definitely responded in kind.
Scoring recap.
Mike Cammalleri got the scoring started for the Habs, on the PP. 3 of the Avs PK all went to the same spot to try and clear the puck, and failed. Leaving Foote alone on a 2 on 1. Cammelleri made a very pretty give and go and fired it right over Andy's glove. Never had a chance.
Avs answered on a PP of their own. Ryan Wilson scored this one from the point, through a ton of traffic in front with about 7 seconds left in the first period. Price probably never saw the shot.
Habs went back on top with another PP goal in the second. A shot rebounded off of Anderson right to the waiting Alexander Picard, distant relative of Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and pounded it home.
The Avs responded just over a minute later when Kevin Porter slipped one by Carey Price on a backhand as he rushed towards the net. This was a pretty weak one, by Price's standards, and I'm sure he would like to have it back. 2-2.
Then T.J. Galliardi put the Avs up to stay late in the 2nd period when Ryan O'Reilly but a very hard wrister on net. Price made a great save, up high, but the puck bounced straight up. Both Galliardi and Mauldin were crashing the net, and the Avs got a fortunate bounce off of Galliardi's leg, and past price. Proving the old saying true that "if you go to the net, good things happen."
The Avs survived an assault of shots in the third period, 14 to be exact, to hold on to the win. Anderson looking very good late, especially, to help the Avs hold on.
The Avs improved to 11-0-0 when leading after 2 periods, and the Habs fell to 0-11-0 when trailing after 2 periods, remaining the only team in the league to not come back and gain any type of point when trailing after 2 periods of play. The Avs also extend their win streak to 6 games, once again pulling ahead of the Vancouver Canucks by 2 points in the Northwest Division, and sit in 3rd position in the Western Conference. Where they will be by the end of tomorrow is anybody's guess in the crazy, crazy West.
Sadly, Matt Duchene's point streak was snapped in this game, but I don't think that will bother him too much. This guy is a huge team player. Galliardi returned to the lineup against Ottawa, after missing 17 games with a wrist injury, and has goals in both of his games. Not a bad way to come back. Since Anderson returned against Florida a week and a half ago, his only loss has come in OT, against those Panthers. Since then, he has not lost a game, and neither have the Avs. The Avs are in a current stretch of 19 games, where 15 of them will be played at home, and they have gotten off to a good start. As time goes on, this could prove to be a very crucial stretch of games for the Avalanche, where they very well could pull away from the Canucks as long as the continue to find ways to put the puck in the net.
One bit of bad news for the Avs tonight. Defenseman Kyle Quincey is to undergo season ending shoulder surgery after he was hurt in Washington against the Capitals. Obviously it is bad, because you never like to see a member of your team go down and out for the season. At the same time, Quincey has been very suspect, defensively, this year. He's made a lot of bad plays that have led to goals, and has been on the ice, just kind of standing and watching goals go in this year. He has been virtually invisible offensively, especially in comparison to what he did last year. Definitely hope he is able to fully recuperate from this injury and come back and play well.
Avs record now stands at 19-10-4, First in the NW Division. They play again on Tuesday when they host the LA Kings. Should be another good one as they try and push their win streak to 7 games! Go Avs!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
9 games in, my thoughts on the Avs thus far.
Well, we're nearly 10 games into the NHL regular season, and we are once again seeing some great action from the Colorado Avs. Craig Anderson has been good, although we are now awaiting word on his injury from warm ups in Vancouver (other than it is a knee injury), and the team has its skating legs. But there is definite room for improvement.
First off, bright spots. John Michael Liles has been a HUGE bright spot. 0 goals, but 11 assists in 9 games, with a record setting assist in each game. He's not a big guy, and he doesn't have a huge shot, but he's a very fast skater who can get the puck to the net and let the bigger guys get things done. With 11 points in the first 9 games, you have to think that cracking 40 points will be a no brainer. Could be a career year for Liles.
Daniel Winnik was possibly the best offseason pickup by the Avs this year. This guy is fast, and smart. He's great defensively, and is able to contribute offensively. He logs a bunch of penalty minutes, and may get you 15 goals, great contribution from a 3rd line guy. I have been amazingly impressed by this guy, and won't be surprised to see his ice time continue to go up.
Chris Stewart. Always wonder about a guy who really busts out in a contract year. Wonder if he can put out that same type of effort now that he got a raise. So far, so good. 5 goals, including that amazing bomb (at 33 seconds) that beat the great Martin Brodeur. This guy is the real deal. I'm expecting 30 goals from him.
Minuses.
Special Teams.
As pointed out by several people, such as Adian Dater, have pointed out that the Avs are very undersized on the blue line, which hurts both your special teams. Hard when you don't have a big guy to get a big shot on the PP, and then you also can't keep your crease clear on the PK. Avs PK is located towards the bottom of the league, and the PP has given up 4 short handed goals, which you just can't do. This could be a big deciding factor in whether or not the Avs make the playoffs.
Defense
Again, thus far, the Avs D has looked about the same. Giving up tons of shots against, and just not getting involved enough offensively (with the exception of Liles of course). They're small, and very young. Holos has been a great surprise, and has even helped out the PP a bit, but this team lacks a really big #1 style shut down defensemen that isn't in his 20th year in the league. I love Footer, but that guy is old, and not long for this league.
4th line.
Really, we don't have one. They play, but we really don't get much productivity out of them. And, again, they are small. Our biggest guy, David Koci, is also our most worthless guy. He was a healthy scratch almost all of last season, and when he was on the ice, his job isn't to play, it's to fight. We lack a strong checking, very physical, and intimidating 4th line.
Question marks.
Craig Anderson
Slow down, I love this guy! The question is definitely not about his ability, it's more about whether or not he can handle the same type of load that Joe Sacco gave him last year. He faced more shots than anybody in the NHL, and made more saves, last year. Had 7 shutouts, and was just amazing. I'm more questioning how he will be used, because I think he was tired by the time we were giving up 50 shots each playoff game to the Sharks. He needs help. edit: Of course, now the question has become when is he going to be back for the Avs?! Currently, he is being listed as indefinitely out. This, needless to say, is bad. So now the bigger question is how will Budaj respond, and will we try and make any moves to get another goalie to help shoulder the load?
Matt Duchene
He's playing well, and has decent numbers (2 goal and 6 assists), but he seems like he is trying to do too much at times. He's getting chances, but really looks like he's trying to be too cute sometimes. I think he'll get through it, but you gotta hope that this Calder finalist won't fall victim to the sophomore slump.
All in all, my general assessment of this team is that they are, by and large, exactly the same as last year. Lots of shots, will rely heavily on their goalie and on a bunch of really young players that we aren't totally sure are going to be able to live up to their expectations. I'm not going to write them off yet, but I do believe that the Avs will be fortunate to make the playoffs this year. So here's hoping. GO AVS!
First off, bright spots. John Michael Liles has been a HUGE bright spot. 0 goals, but 11 assists in 9 games, with a record setting assist in each game. He's not a big guy, and he doesn't have a huge shot, but he's a very fast skater who can get the puck to the net and let the bigger guys get things done. With 11 points in the first 9 games, you have to think that cracking 40 points will be a no brainer. Could be a career year for Liles.
Daniel Winnik was possibly the best offseason pickup by the Avs this year. This guy is fast, and smart. He's great defensively, and is able to contribute offensively. He logs a bunch of penalty minutes, and may get you 15 goals, great contribution from a 3rd line guy. I have been amazingly impressed by this guy, and won't be surprised to see his ice time continue to go up.
Chris Stewart. Always wonder about a guy who really busts out in a contract year. Wonder if he can put out that same type of effort now that he got a raise. So far, so good. 5 goals, including that amazing bomb (at 33 seconds) that beat the great Martin Brodeur. This guy is the real deal. I'm expecting 30 goals from him.
Minuses.
Special Teams.
As pointed out by several people, such as Adian Dater, have pointed out that the Avs are very undersized on the blue line, which hurts both your special teams. Hard when you don't have a big guy to get a big shot on the PP, and then you also can't keep your crease clear on the PK. Avs PK is located towards the bottom of the league, and the PP has given up 4 short handed goals, which you just can't do. This could be a big deciding factor in whether or not the Avs make the playoffs.
Defense
Again, thus far, the Avs D has looked about the same. Giving up tons of shots against, and just not getting involved enough offensively (with the exception of Liles of course). They're small, and very young. Holos has been a great surprise, and has even helped out the PP a bit, but this team lacks a really big #1 style shut down defensemen that isn't in his 20th year in the league. I love Footer, but that guy is old, and not long for this league.
4th line.
Really, we don't have one. They play, but we really don't get much productivity out of them. And, again, they are small. Our biggest guy, David Koci, is also our most worthless guy. He was a healthy scratch almost all of last season, and when he was on the ice, his job isn't to play, it's to fight. We lack a strong checking, very physical, and intimidating 4th line.
Question marks.
Craig Anderson
Slow down, I love this guy! The question is definitely not about his ability, it's more about whether or not he can handle the same type of load that Joe Sacco gave him last year. He faced more shots than anybody in the NHL, and made more saves, last year. Had 7 shutouts, and was just amazing. I'm more questioning how he will be used, because I think he was tired by the time we were giving up 50 shots each playoff game to the Sharks. He needs help. edit: Of course, now the question has become when is he going to be back for the Avs?! Currently, he is being listed as indefinitely out. This, needless to say, is bad. So now the bigger question is how will Budaj respond, and will we try and make any moves to get another goalie to help shoulder the load?
Matt Duchene
He's playing well, and has decent numbers (2 goal and 6 assists), but he seems like he is trying to do too much at times. He's getting chances, but really looks like he's trying to be too cute sometimes. I think he'll get through it, but you gotta hope that this Calder finalist won't fall victim to the sophomore slump.
All in all, my general assessment of this team is that they are, by and large, exactly the same as last year. Lots of shots, will rely heavily on their goalie and on a bunch of really young players that we aren't totally sure are going to be able to live up to their expectations. I'm not going to write them off yet, but I do believe that the Avs will be fortunate to make the playoffs this year. So here's hoping. GO AVS!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Avs out, Sharks move on.
Well, after 4 games in the playoffs that nobody expected to go the way they did, the Avs finally succumbed to the attack of the Sharks in games 5 & 6. The Sharks win, Avs go home, but all is not so bad. Sure, the sting of losing in the playoffs is never very fun, but there is so much positive for the Avalanche as they look into the up-coming offseason.
Firstly, the Avs should be congratulated, and should feel very good about their season. Most people picked the Avs to, once again, be the bottom-dwellers of the Western Conference, have no shot at the playoffs, and barely be a blip on anybody's radar. Well, they definitely overcame that, and while the whole team is obviously to be given credit, there are 3 people, in my opinion, that did more than their share. 1. You can't turn things around without a coach that people believe in, and the players clearly believe in Joe Sacco. Many people were thinking that Patrick Roy may make a return to Colorado to coach the lowly Avs team, mostly as a ploy to get people back in the stands, but they went with Sacco, who had been the coach of their AHL affiliate in Lake Erie. Great move. Makes total sense, especially for a young team. Bring up the coach that most of them have already played for, know what to expect of him, and know what is expected of them. Sacco could be considered for the Jack Adams trophy with the huge turn-around the Avs had this year, but probably won't be given all the credit he deserves.
Second, Matt Duchene. There were some who thought it would be a mistake for Duchene to come right up to the league so quickly, and thought that he might need some more time with his junior team to develop. Well, a season later, Duchene led all rookies in points, in the top 2 for rookies in goals scored. In my estimation, he WILL win the Calder, for rookie of the year. He provided energy, tenacity, and amazing maturity from a kid, yes, a kid, who is only recently 19 years old. If I'm the Avs, the second this kid's third year comes up, you sign him to a HUGE contract extension and keep him around until he's 80, just to be safe. The Avs will continue to get great things from him.
Third, and most obviously, the signing of Craig Anderson. Nobody knew who this guy was, as he was an underused back-up in Florida, though last year he was third in the league in save %. Again, I know he won't win this award, but you look at things, and what player has been more valuable to his team than Anderson has been to the Avs? He played 71 of 82 games, faced the most shots of any goalie in the NHL, had 7 shutouts this year, and still kept a very respectable .917 save %. Without Andy in net, the Avs would have been those bottom dwellers. It seems there is finally some stability in the Colorado net again. Though I don't know if playing him another 71 games would be wise. Yes, he's young, but that many games and that many shots will wear down anybody.
So what's next? Well, for a while the Avs must watch the playoffs with everybody else, but I think there will be a very active free agent market this year for the Avs. Mueller will be an obvious person they will want to re-sign, as he came alive the second he step foot on the ice in Colorado. I think we'll have a decent amount of cap space to play with as well. By my guess, I doubt we will see the following people back in an Avs jersey next year, at least not at the price they currently have. Darcy Tucker, Marek Svatos, David Koci (a rather stupid signing in the first place), Brett Clark, Ruslan Salei, maybe Adam Foote (depending on whether or not he decides to retire). Svatos made 2.35 mil this year. Clark made 3.5 mil. We've already got 7.7 mil in space before letting those guys go, add in their salaries to that, and the others that are going, then there could be room for a run at a serious D-man, which may be a HUGE help to the Avs. Never know, because there are also some big offensive names coming up for free agency as well. Ilya Kovalchuck, Patrick Marleau (will depend a lot on how the Sharks do the rest of the way in the playoffs), our old buddy Wojtek Wolski is a free agent again. The Avs could add some serious fire power on to what is a very talented squad.
In the end, the Avs are in good hands. I look forward to free agency, and to the next season for the Avs. Who knows, in a couple years, my wife may even let me get season tickets! **crosses fingers!!** I'll be writing another big on the Sharks very soon, probably tomorrow.
Firstly, the Avs should be congratulated, and should feel very good about their season. Most people picked the Avs to, once again, be the bottom-dwellers of the Western Conference, have no shot at the playoffs, and barely be a blip on anybody's radar. Well, they definitely overcame that, and while the whole team is obviously to be given credit, there are 3 people, in my opinion, that did more than their share. 1. You can't turn things around without a coach that people believe in, and the players clearly believe in Joe Sacco. Many people were thinking that Patrick Roy may make a return to Colorado to coach the lowly Avs team, mostly as a ploy to get people back in the stands, but they went with Sacco, who had been the coach of their AHL affiliate in Lake Erie. Great move. Makes total sense, especially for a young team. Bring up the coach that most of them have already played for, know what to expect of him, and know what is expected of them. Sacco could be considered for the Jack Adams trophy with the huge turn-around the Avs had this year, but probably won't be given all the credit he deserves.
Second, Matt Duchene. There were some who thought it would be a mistake for Duchene to come right up to the league so quickly, and thought that he might need some more time with his junior team to develop. Well, a season later, Duchene led all rookies in points, in the top 2 for rookies in goals scored. In my estimation, he WILL win the Calder, for rookie of the year. He provided energy, tenacity, and amazing maturity from a kid, yes, a kid, who is only recently 19 years old. If I'm the Avs, the second this kid's third year comes up, you sign him to a HUGE contract extension and keep him around until he's 80, just to be safe. The Avs will continue to get great things from him.
Third, and most obviously, the signing of Craig Anderson. Nobody knew who this guy was, as he was an underused back-up in Florida, though last year he was third in the league in save %. Again, I know he won't win this award, but you look at things, and what player has been more valuable to his team than Anderson has been to the Avs? He played 71 of 82 games, faced the most shots of any goalie in the NHL, had 7 shutouts this year, and still kept a very respectable .917 save %. Without Andy in net, the Avs would have been those bottom dwellers. It seems there is finally some stability in the Colorado net again. Though I don't know if playing him another 71 games would be wise. Yes, he's young, but that many games and that many shots will wear down anybody.
So what's next? Well, for a while the Avs must watch the playoffs with everybody else, but I think there will be a very active free agent market this year for the Avs. Mueller will be an obvious person they will want to re-sign, as he came alive the second he step foot on the ice in Colorado. I think we'll have a decent amount of cap space to play with as well. By my guess, I doubt we will see the following people back in an Avs jersey next year, at least not at the price they currently have. Darcy Tucker, Marek Svatos, David Koci (a rather stupid signing in the first place), Brett Clark, Ruslan Salei, maybe Adam Foote (depending on whether or not he decides to retire). Svatos made 2.35 mil this year. Clark made 3.5 mil. We've already got 7.7 mil in space before letting those guys go, add in their salaries to that, and the others that are going, then there could be room for a run at a serious D-man, which may be a HUGE help to the Avs. Never know, because there are also some big offensive names coming up for free agency as well. Ilya Kovalchuck, Patrick Marleau (will depend a lot on how the Sharks do the rest of the way in the playoffs), our old buddy Wojtek Wolski is a free agent again. The Avs could add some serious fire power on to what is a very talented squad.
In the end, the Avs are in good hands. I look forward to free agency, and to the next season for the Avs. Who knows, in a couple years, my wife may even let me get season tickets! **crosses fingers!!** I'll be writing another big on the Sharks very soon, probably tomorrow.
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