I wish the Avalanche would play at more decent hours for me to be able to see them more. 7 hours of difference between Denver and Portugal kind of sucks.

Here's hoping that the NHL gets a more balanced schedule next season, which (among many other good reasons) would mean more trips to the east and more games starting at decent hours for me. 7pm ET is good enough for me.

Good luck Avs, it's time to start making a difference when comparing this season to the last.

The game is blacked out on Center Ice Online for me since I live in the Fox Sports Net Ohio region (also in the FSN South region, too, but I digress).  The game is on TV here so I won't be able to live blog as easily---the computer is another room than the TV.

But I'll still be around.  Post away!

Thank god Budaj is in net.

And Clark blew it on the first play, almost gave a goal to Steve Nash.  Lame.

Pascal Leclaire is looking scary good so far tonight.

And the Avs couldn't convert on a freakin' 5-on-3.  Crap.

Finally, the Joe Sakic line scored at even strength!!

Avs 1-0.

appear to be what was used late in the St. Louis game, with Wolski up with Joe and Brunette.

At least Brunette is crashing the net...

Seems Coach Q is running Wolski with Brunette and Sakic on the top line tonight.  So far a good choice.

Is Hlinka down with Arnason?  WTF??

Finger's looking good again tonight.  Physical.

Put a great hit on a Jacket in the corner and then got in a scrum around the net.  That's my boy.

Nash if fully-growed.  Yikes!

Great save by Budaj, though.

Can somebody explain to my why we need Parker for this game?

Avs are 3-3 on the penalty kill.  Still losing every face-off, though.

Budaj got LUCKY on the Rick Nash shot---it bounced off the right post while Boots pulled a Hasek.

Overall, good effort by the Avs but Stastny doesn't seem to be doing much out there tonight.  Ryan Smyth and Wolski look strong---very active in the Jackets' zone at all times.

The Jackets' announcers have flubbed some names tonight.  Svatos got called "Svinkas" and Kurt Sauer got called "Sawyer".  Somebody get those announcers some programs!

You still with us?

Budaj got beat by Sauer's skate on that shot by Klesla.  Bad deflection, not his fault.

Stastny and Smyth with the assists on that Hejduk power play goal.  Avs 2-1.

The Avs seem to be buzzing a little now.

Crazy deflection on Budaj.

The 'book' on Leclaire must have something about wraparounds cuz the Avs have tried that at least three times in the 2nd period.

Stasny-Hejduk-Smyth strike again!

Hejduk scores another goal on a great wrist shot that caught the outside corner.

Nice work.  He's cruising this year.

Huge series of saves by Budaj.  He's looking fantastic as usual tonight.

Why again does Coach Q even consider playing Theodore?

For the most part, the Avs controlled the 2nd.  Columbus had some streaks, like the one in the last two or three minutes, but a good period overall, and not just cuz of the goals.

Faceoffs seem better.  At one point the Altitude broadcast showed a graphic and out of almost 20 FO's the Avs won over 15.  Not bad.

I like the forecheck of Hejduk's line.  Good aggressive and keeps the D honest.

Watching the replay of the last save sequence for LeClaire.... Wow.  Mad athleticism and skill.  Just... Wow.

Avalanche looked better in the second period.  Jeff Finger is playing really well, along with Budaj, who's extremely strong in net.  He's keeping his rebounds under control and is perfectly positioned at all times.

Up front, the top two lines are playing well.  I wish they could find a good place for Hlinka to play---he's not clicking with Arnason and Svatos.

Wolski's playing his heart out as usual.

So far so good.

The bad news is the Avs just LOVE to blow two goal leads in the third period, so anything could happen.

Beautiful wrist shot by Super Joe!  Ping!

Sorry, Rick Nash, but Budaj has your number tonight.  Another great save.

The Avs are looking great, killing every penalty.

Scoring so far tonight for the Avalanche:

Hejduk: 2 goals, 1 assist
Sakic: 2 goals
Stastny, Liles, Wolski, Brunette, Hannan and Smyth: 1 assist each

KEEP WOLSKI ON THE 1ST LINE.  BEAUTY GOAL BY SAKIC!

Gorgeous pass from Wolski to Super Joe for the easy one-timer wrist shot.  Three goals tonight and 614 for his career!!

Avs 5-1.

The Altitude Crew figures 30+ games for the guy that tried to decapitate Parker.

The shot of Parker in the box reminded me of a picture of Ozzy Osbourne after he bit the head off a bat.  Scary.

#55 for the BJ's get my vote for pussah of the game.

Big thanks to Mike Peca who felt the need to make three trips to the box tonight.  Thanks, Mike.

Great game by the Avalanche.  They owned the puck all night.

Everybody, with the exception of Brett Clark and Scott Parker, played well.  

My new favorite player on the team is Jeff Finger.  From this point on, if he's in the game, the official Mile High Hockey chant is "Give 'em da Finga!!"

I'll do a full recap tomorrow.  Thanks everybody for reading along, and thanks to Mike as always for his great participation.