Game 25: Avalanche At Kings, Preview And Open Thread

He playing in his natural position.  Maybe we'll see him light it up.

Now Clark heads to the locker room

playing well again.  Good ol McCormick

Are you watching the game on Altitude or through a different channel on center ice?

For heavens sake get it out of the zone!!!!!!

Don't look at the +/-, it's not a good statistic. Hannan plays with Cumiskey a lot and usually we get scored on because Cumiskey screws up, but it gives Hannan a minus too. So Hannan is being wrongfully blamed if you look at his +/-.

Shouldn't the avs game plan be, stop Kopitar.  How did they let him score so easily?  Nobody else can really score on the kings.

Looks like he got lucky on a garbage goal but hoepfully they will wake up now. 2-0 Avs.

He used to be my favorite player on the Avs.  Why he decided to return to the place where he was booed every time he touched the puck seems stupid.  Did he feel he wronged the fans in LA and decide to make them like him again?

I'm glad LA is in the conference basement.  I have a little resentment toward him.

Good to see somebody keeping the thread going.  I really appreciate it!

I'm watching the game now but I don't know for how much longer.

I always hate it when I hear the p-by-p guy say "played by Scott Parker."  It always ends up with a turnover or a screw up.  The only thing the Sheriff should ever touch is opponents' faces with his fists.

I'm starting to get the feeling that Hlinka is getting a reputation as a push over.  Every time he's on the ice he gets shoved around a lot.  I wonder if he's showing up on opposing scouting reports as a guy they know they can rough up without consequence.

Clark's on the ice.  Looks fine.

actually the sheriff is playing a great game so far. he's controlling the puck and making good passes. Maybe this is his offensive breakout game? lol

All the Avalanche shots are dead on to LaBarbera, and no rebounds.  What a jerk.

LA is doing a San Jose impression.  Dominating hits 18-6

Brad Stuart took a cheap shot on Wolski from behind, Wolski did a good job standing up for himself.  That's the second game in a row he's been involved in a minor tussle.  Good man.

Stuart in the box, Wolski on the ice, as it should be.

Avs PP

Altitude just mentioned that he is not on the bench

first nhl goal baby!! YEAH!

Hensick with his first NHL goal!

Great speed, great shot!!!

Holy crap the Wolski-McCormick-Arnason line looks pretty good.  Who would have thought?

at least we're getting a pp

LaBarbera made a big save on Hlinka.  The Avs really could have killed the Kings on that one.

They showed Hensick on FSN West just after the goal, when he got back to the bench.  He was getting congratulated and was totally playing it cool, like "What, I'm going to do that kind of thing all the time, fellas.  Get used to it."

I like that kid a lot.

Great pressure on this PP!  They've already taken three shots!

On Tivo, so i'll join you guys

There seems to be a conscious effort by the Avs to just throw the puck at the net tonight. There's still too much ticcy-tic-tac-toe hockey going on, but It seems like they are taking a lot more shots from the slot and point.

Why is it every time an announcer mentions Tyler Arnason, they always mention that his dad played in the NHL.  Like knowing Chuck Arnason also played in the league is something cool to know.

The Avs came alive!  They looked like a cohesive unit on every shift, and everybody was peppering the net.  Hlinka deserves at least one goal just for effort.

And Hensiiick was siiick on that breakaway goal.  Just think, in four or five seasons, it will be Stastny, Wolski, Cumiskey, McCormick and Hensick as the big veteran names on the team.  That seems okay to me.

FSN West just broke down (in slo mo) Hannan getting beaten on the PK.  He failed to block the cross pass.

Jerk.

Have they said any more about his injury?

Bill Ranford just said that the Kings should "keep bangin'" the Avs.  Dude, gross.  Let's just play hockey, shall we?  There's kids in the building!

Third period underway, already an goal by the Avs!!!

YEEAAAAAHHH Smyth made a great play again!!!! go smitty!

3-2 Avs, they really should win this game,

C'mon Theo, it's up to you now!  

You can do it!!

I know things are stange... but Arny-Smyth-Parker has got to be the weirdest line combo of the season right?

Good look by FSN-West. Smytty is going to be given credit for that goal soon. SOS never hit it

yep stastny never touched the puck. smitty finally delivers, maybe this is a breakout game for him a goal and an assist, not so bad.

SHHOOOOOOTTTT!!!

LaBarbera is down after getting hit in the junk with Ryan Smyth's stick.  Ouch.

lmao, damn this is an extra good game for him

check out those hugeass pads, they can't possibly be legal! They go up to his waist!

Very stupid slash on someone (didn't see the number) May have been Hlinka. Whatever it was it was unnecessary Despite dominating we're only up 3-2, and an odd goal could be costly

What a save by Clark, maybe Theo. But Wow that was close

FSN West was playing a Rush song during their commercial.  It's not even a Canadian channel!

Helmetless, Shot from point, ugly in front. Perfect

SMYTTY SCORES A GOAL!!!

And no helmet!

Man, does he look like a hockey player or what?

told ya this was a breakout game for smytty! YAY!!

i wish i could actually be WATCHING this game. of course, if i was, they'd probably lose.

GOAL Nice job by Guite to take it in front and Hlinka hammers the rebound home.

OK this game should be in the bag

Finally, Hlinka gets his goal!!!

Man, this game is getting better and better!

He was due.  How many shots has he had?  1,341?

if only this was all happening against the red wings lol

Three minutes left.

Less than a minute left, and I need to get some medicine for the Wife at the store... LAter all, finally a good road effort (minus the first 20 minutes)

All is good with my world again.

i thought that smytty, and hannan were our stars this game. theo played well too, not many shots against, but there were 3 or 4 really good saves, and the goals he let in didn't suck (usually he lets in hella weak goals), they were practically unstoppable. good game overall

The Avs did exactly what they should do against teams like the Kings---DOMINATE.

Ryan Smyth, Hensick, Son of Stastny, Scott Hannan, and everybody else really brought it together with Sakic, Bruno, Lappy, Svatos being out.  

This team is so deep it's ridiculous.