Preview: Calgary at Colorado

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 5, 2007 6:45 AM MST in Avalanche Previews

The Avalanche hope to rebound from a disappointing effort against the Canucks on Saturday. The 2nd place Avalanche (16 pts) face the 3rd place Flames (15 pts) in a key divisional matchup. Some might even say "must win". Both teams lost on Saturday.

The Avs have won the first two meetings this year, even though the Flames had leads in both games. Both games went beyond regulation. The Avs have outscored Calgary 8-6 (7-6 when you take out the shootout goal). Not surprisingly, the Flames have won 53.3% of the faceoffs in the two games so far. With the man advantage, the Avs are 1 for 9 and while the Flames are 0 for 10. Calgary has outshot Colorado 70-57.

As scheduled, Jose Theodore will start against the Flames. He's 2-0 against Calgary this year, with a 1.52 GAA and a .966 save percentage. That's all good news. What's the bad news? Adrian Dater thinks Theodore will become our number 1 goalie again soon. Now, where did I leave those Tums? He's been good...but even casual observers of the team know that he can unravel in a hurry. Hopefully, tonight's not the night for that to happen.

The Avalanche lost on Friday, which means one thing: Quenneville will be changing the lines again. From the Dater article above, it sounds like the first two lines will be:

Sakic - Wolski - Svatos

Stastny - Smyth - Hejduk

Dater thinks that Jaroslav Hlinka may be a healthy scratch, and that Jeff Jillson might finally get into a game (someone finally heard my cries).

As far as injury news goes, Karlis Skrastins appears to be ahead of schedule, and may return to action next week. He's been practicing, but without contact. Meanwhile, Jordan Leopold has begun skating but is still a ways from returning - mid to late December.

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Comments

This week’s platter of games is definately a bunch of “really shouldn’t lose” or “must win” games. How they fare at home this week in the division will set a pretty good tone for the remainder of the first half of the season.

by Mike Thompson on Nov 5, 2007 9:27 AM MST reply actions

Who knew you could grab a starting job with three “OK” outings yet couldn’t do so by shouldering a 15 game winning streak to end a season?

by Dario on Nov 5, 2007 10:11 AM MST reply actions

Dario, I totally agree! Budaj must be a complete jerk to Coach Q or something—-the guy can’t do anything to get the starting job. What happens when Theo starts falling apart again? Hopefully it never happens, but c’mon!

And it’s good to see that the “Must Win” meme lives and breathes in other places.

by Joe on Nov 5, 2007 11:56 AM MST reply actions

I think I understand now.

Coach Q hates Christians.

by Draft Dodger on Nov 5, 2007 12:19 PM MST reply actions

Heh.

I really do hope Theo take a turn for the better and can be that guy but I, along with too many Avs fans to count have said that same sentence like 1,456 times. While he’s won games, I can still see some of the flaws in his game from last year. Times where he’s lost focus, time where he’s not getting across the crease with any speed etc… I’ll be the first to admit that a few soft goals isn’t the end all be all of goaltending. Roy let in plenty of those, but he always did so with one eye on the scoreboard. If Theo can win games while still giving in to those softies then I got no problem with that.

What I do have a problem with is not if, but when Theo has a bad game that Q yanks him for Budaj and the defense has to learn to play with another goaltender. Both Budaj and Theo once again learn that nothing is safe and have to play in fear of losing their job on every start. Roy was a crazy sob but not even he would do some of the outlandish stuff on the ice he did if he knew his job may be gone the next night. I happen to think one of the things that made Roy so great and other good goaltenders so good is that their idiosyncracies are not only tolerated but considered so part of their makeup and mojo that they are almost encouraged. I don’t think the current Avalanche goaltenders can do any of that, they work on eggshells every night.

by Dario on Nov 5, 2007 1:17 PM MST reply actions