Game 45: Avalanche 4, Panthers 3 (SO)
by Joe Dunman on Jan 14, 2008 6:59 AM MST
in NHL News
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photo courtesy of Luis Alvarez/AP
Despite blowing a one-goal lead three times, once in each period, the Colorado Avalanche still managed to win 4-3 against the Florida Panthers, but it took a heroic shootout goal by Milan Hejduk to seal the deal.
Back-to-back road wins have never felt this good. With just one more game to play in a five-game road trip, the Avs are now 2-2.
The offense is once again showing some life, with Andrew Brunette finally taking control in the absence of Joe Sakic as a leader of the team. He scored two goals. Marek Svatos added another highlight to his phenomenal road trip performance by scoring in the second period on the power play. No kidding. Svatos now has 20 goals on the season and seven in his last six games.
The defense is also finally starting to contribute to the offense, with Jordan Leopold, John-Michael Liles and Jeff Finger all adding assists.
Despite allowing tying goals three times in the game, Jose Theodore still didn't suck at all, making 30 total saves and proving once again that he's one of the very best goalies in the league when it comes to shootouts. He's nearly impossible to beat. And his solid performance suggests that we'll be seeing him in goal for at least a few more games---until his eventual meltdown, of course.
Noteworthy from the game last night was the scrappy first period. Cody McLeod and Nathan Horton went at it after just 49 seconds had elapsed, resulting in double minors for roughing for both. At 10:47, Ian Laperriere tangled with Steve Montador. By tangled I mean actually tangled, because the two pretty much just bear-hugged each other and then fell to the ice. Yawn. Then, two minutes later, Brett Clark put his stick in the face of Olli Jokinen but the refs failed to call a penalty. Understandably angry, Jokinen went after Clark and the two tussled but pretty much just fell down like the earlier Lappy/Montador scrap. Not too much to write home (or on a blog) about, but it's good to see the Avs showing some fight (literally).
Strangely, Scott Parker got called for roughing in the third period but didn't really fight anybody. More than five minutes of ice time and only two minutes in the box. What a disappointing outing for him!
The next game is tomorrow night against Tampa Bay, and they suck even worse than the Panthers. Man the Southeast is a lousy conference.
Stars of the Game:
- Milan Hejduk (0g, 1a)
- Andrew Brunette (2g, 0a)
- David Booth (1g, 0a)
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Theo
5 consecutive games
3 wins, 2 losses
11 GA in 139 SA for a .921 Sv%
304:41 for a 2.17 GAA.
Gotta give it to Theo guys... And when he melts down we can't give him the usual shit this time. I mean, even Roy had his bad games and even if Theo becomes the best goalie in the world he will 100% have a bad game. So, avoid giving him a rough time when we lose a game because of him. If we do that, we become like Q who crucifies the losing goalie. Theo will have bad games, Budaj as well. Save it when we lose 3 or 4 because of him. Because this season he's been better than ever with the Avs...
Theo
Yes Theo has played well over the last 5 or so games, but the last two were terrible. The Carolina game he allowed maybe the softest goal I have ever seen, and the Stillman goal was bad.
In the Florida game he allowed two pretty soft goals, the one from Olli Jokanen and the other pp goal. And he damn near gave away the game with his two stickhandling gaffes.
I am not disapointed in Theo's performance at all the last 5 games, I could live with that, but he played well against Detroit, and Washington and the Isles (I think) but his last 2 games he hurt more than he helped.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 8:53 AM MST up reply actions
Re: Theo
You know, seven games ago you could have written almost the exact same comment but just exchanged Theo's name for Peter Budaj. He, too, had a great string of consistently strong performances before giving up a couple of losses. Every good goalie does that. Roy did. I remember streaks where Roy played like absolute crap for four or five game straight, but that never diminished Hartley's and Crawford's confidence in him.
The problem is not necessarily Budaj or Theo as individuals, it's the whole carousel situation and Q's tendency to dump somebody just because they had a rotten game. Theo's been lucky so far. The two games he lost were solid performances and the two games in which he stunk, the team ended up winning. He's been bailed out big time by the rest of the guys.
All the blame for any problems either goaltender have rests squarely on the shoulders of Coach Q.
And I hope Theo delays his impending meltdown until at least game 60. Budaj's great down the stretch.
True
Oh trust me I know it's not all Theo, or Budaj's fault. The goaltending problems are not the fault of the Goalies, it's the fault of the coach.
At this point, we know Q won't pick one, so I want Guiguere to do it for him, especially if he's not going to be fired. I want him to package Liles and Buds (and maybe a pick or a young stud) to the Rangers for Montoya, ride out the rest of this season with Theo, for better or worse. Go to the playoffs (hopefully) with Theo as his main guy, fire Q after the season, let Theo go and let Montoya be the stud for the next 15 years.
I'm not mailing in the season, but the fact is that Q has mismanaged the goalie situation so poorly that the only solution to salvage this season is to give Q no choice but to pick one. He can't be trusted with 2 goalies on the bench. Budaj has more trade value than Theo, and frankly I'd rather Q just pick one, wither one.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 9:49 AM MST up reply actions
Re: True
I'd hate to see Budaj get sent off, because I think HE should be the stud for the next 15. Or 10 at least.
But I see your point and it's not a bad strategy.
I just hope, if it were to happen, that Montoya is as good as everyone thinks he is. It's not like he's gotten a chance to prove it yet.
Well
I want Buds to be that here too, but it's obvious that Q isn't going to give him the chance. I think it's perfectly clear Q has some sort of problem with Budaj, even though we have no idea what that is.
It's obvious Buds isn't going to get the opportunity to really prove himself here, at least with Q behind the bench. I think he's a stud, but I'd rather see him in a place that will allow him to show himself off.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 10:25 AM MST up reply actions
montoya for budaj AND liles?
that's heavy overpayment. they'd prolly do a swap for Liles straight up. Remember they already have a backup for Lundqvist.
really though, such a move wouldn't do much, because Q would just ruin Montoya. Q has to be moved before any such move. Depressing, but probably true.
the Liles for Commodore rumors coming out of Carolina are certainly interesting. Commodore is definitely more of what the Avs need on D, more stay at home and less dinky.
Rangers
Rumor has it they aren't happy with their Lundqvist backup, and Montoya is the top Goalie Prospect in the game right now, and Liles is essentially a rent-a-player. I think Liles and Budaj is pretty fair.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 11:38 AM MST up reply actions
maybe we could convince them
to take Theodore instead of Budaj! :)
I still think Budaj + Liles is overpayment. We're talking about a decent #1ish goalie and a underpaid, young, premier PP qb here, even if he's only a rental! I'd want them to throw in a conditional draft pick, something like a 1st if they resign Liles, a 2nd or 3rd if not. that sounds about right to me. Maybe they could throw in a prospect or something instead if they were married to their draft picks.
Commodore rumors
are we sure that's what we need? I know we need a righty for the PP, but Commodore has a grand total of ZERO PP points in his 259 NHL games. I bet there's a reason...
Sure he's tougher, and more stay-at-home, but wouldn't that put another chink in our PP armor? Isn't that the concession we made with Hannan?
true
but I like Leopold and Clark on the point better anyways, and this idiocy of Liles skating into the zone on PPs at breakneck speed and then missing his pass to a forward by 10 feet might end too. if you really like that play, Cumiskey can do it too, only faster. :)
A shift like this might allow those 2 to focus more on being "offensive defensemen" and letting the Hannans, Commodores, and Sauers of the world handle PK duties more.
Re: true
Leopold's been on the point in the past couple of games, and it hasn't been a bad setup. I'd like to see him get that as a regular assignment.
Me too
I've been pleasantly surprised with Leoprone's level of play. Of course, we just jinxed him and his left hip will explode as he rolls out of bed this morning and he'll be on the shelf for 7-10 weeks...
No he'll be fine
I've hear the Avs have perfected suspended animation and keep him there in between games. That should help
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 15, 2008 9:01 AM MST up reply actions
Re: No he'll be fine
Leoprone only gets a spot in the Avalanche CryoTube because of Sakic's Super Hernia. Normally Joe is the only one allowed inside.
Super Hernia
I think the Avs should sign Peter's super spleen and put it with Joe's super hernia on the PP. Bound to be more effective than what they have been doing lately.
by Bob in Boulder on Jan 15, 2008 11:11 AM MST up reply actions
Re: Super Hernia
You just know they kept Foppa's spleen in a jar in Pierre Lacroix's office.
Throw in Ray Bourque's invincible hairline of steel and that's one hell of a power play unit.
Parker
Strangely, Scott Parker got called for roughing in the third period but didn't really fight anybody. More than five minutes of ice time and only two minutes in the box. What a disappointing outing for him!
But that roughing call was total BS. He went for a check and whiffed.
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 14, 2008 8:50 AM MST reply actions
Theo has been better...
but as has been stated he gave up some pretty soft goals the last two games. If the airlines hadn't finally found and delivered our offense we would be 0-4 on this trip. 2 goals would have won the first two games, we had to have 5 and 4 in the last two. Theo is great in the shoot out, but it shouldn't have gotten that far. The Carolina game shouldn't have been close, but two soft goals (Cole and Stillman) kept the Canes in the lead until Svatos took over.
Power play finally gets one as the point men are shooting the puck again. On the previous shift, Clark blast three different shots on Vokoun with out his team mates getting on rebounds. Next shift, Liles holds it in, pass to Finger for a blast ans Svatos gets just enough of the puck for a goal. Keep Shooting guys!
Re: Theo has been better...
It's not like it's rocket science, you know? Power play theory is just about the same among every hockey coach everywhere. Booming shots from the point, rebound cleanup by the three playing the slot. This is not hard to figure out.
Re: not sure where to put this
I don't think anyone's quite sure where to put Jeff Freisen.
I can't believe that guy scored 31 goals one season.
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