Avalanche: Fair AND Balanced

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 21, 2008 5:55 PM MDT

It's early, but the Avalanche are presently on a pace to score 328 goals this year. I believe that would be the highest output since the 1995-1996 Pittsburgh Penguins (great team but, for some reason, I don't think they won the Cup that year). While I think it's going to be tough to keep up that frenetic pace (those Penguins had two 60-goal scorers), there is one factor that leads me to believe the high scoring will continue: balance.

At first glance, the Avalanche seem a bit top-heavy in the scoring department. 11 of the 20 goals scored by forwards this year have been from the RPM line. That's a ridiculous 55% of the overall scoring. But, a lot of that comes from the Avs suddenly mighty PP numbers (Hejduk, Stastny and Smyth have 6 PP goals).

At even strength, the Avs are quite balanced:

	ESG	ESP	+/-
Stastny, Smyth, Hejduk	5	11	+6
Sakic, Tucker, Wolski	3	9	E
Arnason, Jones, Svatos	2	5	+1
McCormick, Laperriere, McLeod	3	5	-1

That's a good spread. If every line is going to contribute an even strength goal every other game, this team should be in great shape offensively. As an added bonus, the Avalanche aren't just sharing the offensive load. Take a look at the hit totals:

	Hits
Stastny, Smyth, Hejduk	16
Sakic, Tucker, Wolski	24
Arnason, Jones, Svatos	12
McCormick, Laperriere, McLeod	28

Every line features at least one banger with hits in the double digits (okay, Jones only has 9 hits, but they count as 10 because he hits extra hard). Jones' 3rd line is definitely the weak link on the team, but, for now, the contributions are passably adequate (I copied that phrase from my last performance review).

As long as the Avalanche can roll 4 lines that can score and hit, the Avalanche will continue to be a team that strikes fear into the eyes of opposing goaltenders. All we need to do now is find a way to cut down the scoring against us...

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by ShaneG on Oct 21, 2008 9:26 PM MDT reply actions

when your 4th line of grinders is outscoring your 3rd at ES, there’s an issue. I must admit Arnason has played much better this year in his own end, and I’ve seen more hustle, but he’s selfish as ever on the attack. Sad to see Svatos forced to play with him.

What would you think of Guite as the 3rd line center, DD?

by thedoctor on Oct 21, 2008 10:15 PM MDT reply actions

yeah, Arnason is trying harder, but he’s still Arnason. I don’t know that Guite is the answer on the 3rd line – just not enough offense. Maybe McCormick, but I’m not sure I like that one either.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:43 AM MDT up reply actions

of course, a 3rd line of Jones, Forsberg and Svatos would be pretty fucking hot.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:53 AM MDT up reply actions

The obvious solution. Maybe Granato won’t play Forsberg 23 minutes a game if he were on the ‘third’. Sheesh.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Oct 22, 2008 7:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Now even knows my wet dream.

by Drakenlot on Oct 23, 2008 6:30 AM MDT up reply actions

This offense makes me feel sexy

What?!?!? It does!! Shut up!!!

InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Oct 22, 2008 12:11 AM MDT reply actions

Jones’ 3rd line is definitely the weak link on the team

Change Arny with TJ and you’ll see every line has a perfect fit in any team!
Maybe the 3rd line would check a little less than score, but we’ll live.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 22, 2008 2:10 AM MDT reply actions

Does Arny check?

I don’t really notice it much, which is why I’m asking.

by A.J. Haefele on Oct 22, 2008 4:22 AM MDT up reply actions

BEST case scenario, as Jones has 9 checks, would be that Svatos has 0 checks and Arny had 6. That would triple his YEARLY checking-number. So I doubt it.

Even though he’s not draggin his line down as much as he used to, it’s fairly obvious Svatos is no playmaker and needs someone to do that work for him. If he doesn’t get shifted to another line sometime soon, this could become a bad year for him.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 22, 2008 6:33 AM MDT up reply actions

Jones has 9, Arnie has 1 and Svatos 5 if I remember correctly

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:46 AM MDT up reply actions

or shocker alert my math could be wrong. Svatos has 2. I’ll fix the table.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:48 AM MDT up reply actions

well, I thought I fixed it. oh well.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:52 AM MDT up reply actions

Sidenote

One of those 3rd line goals was Arny’s empty-netter. I don’t want to count that one, as it’s probably one of the reasons TJ isn’t back with us yet.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 22, 2008 6:35 AM MDT reply actions

and the other was a shot by Jones from inside the blueline that every NHL goalie but Jason LaBarbera is able to stop. so, neither were tough, but they do count as goals.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 22, 2008 6:45 AM MDT up reply actions

Ya, but don't forget

While Turco was behind the net, he dove back to the side of the crease, while Arny had to shoot through two D-men. Ya, he’s lazy, but it wasn’t exactly a gimme.

Mir ist egal.

by Selanne on Oct 22, 2008 8:08 AM MDT up reply actions

Maybe

it was the fact he had to shoot through people that allowed him to shoot. He probably couldn’t see the net.

"To have arrived on this Earth as a product of a biological accident, only to depart through human arrogance, would be the ultimate irony"
R. Leakey, Origins; 1977
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost

by Savage33 on Oct 23, 2008 4:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Just curious

by why do you mostly post in the middle of the night?

I mean, I do, too, but I know why I do it.

by A.J. Haefele on Oct 23, 2008 4:40 AM MDT up reply actions

Err

middle of the night in the Central Time Zone in the US.

by A.J. Haefele on Oct 23, 2008 4:41 AM MDT up reply actions

Because thats between 4 and 10 pm over here and i work during the day and with the time differences it ends up night over there.
This post is at 9.17pm in Perth, Western Australia

by Savage33 on Oct 23, 2008 7:17 AM MDT up reply actions

That’s 9:17AM over here in Eastern Canada TZ.

So does that you usually watch the games at work, since it should be about 10am over there? If so, I want to apply for a position at your company.

by Drakenlot on Oct 23, 2008 7:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Sadly

i’m a plumber so i can’t get to a computer at work. I don’t watch the games unless their on Foxtel (Cable provider) which is incredibly rare and never live. I listen to the radio feed if it’s on a friday or saturday night in the Us otherwise just read the game thread when i get home and find out what happened.

by Savage33 on Oct 24, 2008 8:25 AM MDT up reply actions

Websites

I’m assuming you go to NHL.com and watch highlights when you get home?

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 24, 2008 9:13 AM MDT up reply actions

Actually

i never really thought of that, my computers so crap i don’t know if it’ll handle it but i’ll give it a go after the next game.

by Savage33 on Oct 24, 2008 7:53 PM MDT up reply actions

NHL.com and Yahoo

actually both have pretty good highlight packages they put together.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 25, 2008 9:55 PM MDT up reply actions

Savage

Is an Aussie mate.

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 23, 2008 8:26 AM MDT up reply actions

But you have to credit Wolski for the heads up and being able to put the puck in a spot where even Arnason couldn’t miss. I now it hurts to do it, but you count the goal….

Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-

by Americanario on Oct 22, 2008 11:08 AM MDT up reply actions