Game 9: Flames 3, Avalanche 0

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 6:12 AM MDT

With a frustrating loss like this one, doing a recap/review of it seems like a chore. So I'm not going to write much. The Avalanche were playing well for two and a half periods, and Peter Budaj was stopping everything he faced until the middle of the third period when the wheels fell off. Colorado lost to Calgary 3-0.

The Avalanche offense couldn't do jack against Miikka Kiprusoff and the defense started allowing too many Calgary chances down low in the final twelve minutes. Budaj wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but without the goal support from his own forwards, allowing three goals was more than enough to lose the game. He could have allowed just one goal and still lost.

At least Dater was somewhat generous:

Budaj was fine through two periods, but allowed another horrible short-side goal to Rene Bourque on Calgary’s second goal, which positively sank any hopes of an Avs point. But he wasn’t the reason they lost tonight.

Don't send Budaj flowers or anything.

There was only one fight, between Cody McLeod and Brandon Prust, and just five total power plays between the two teams. Neither Colorado nor Calgary scored with the man advantage.

The Avs' five-game winning streak is now over. They are now 5-4-0 overall, and have slipped into third place in the Northwest Division, ceding their previous spot to the Flames.

The next game is Thursday night against the Blue Jackets at the Pepsi Center.

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: avalanche, flames, game recap, loss

Comments

It’s probably a little unfair to blame Budaj for Bourque’s goal. He was right on the post, and Borque somehow found a puck sized hole. The first and third goals were huge defensive miscues though.

It was a strange game, to say the least. The Avs frustrated the Flames attempts to clear the defensive zone time and time again, but never could capitalize. Hell, Colorado only had two shots in the final 31 minutes. Nystrom missing that wide open net in the first, while the Avs hit the post twice. Could have gone either way.

Gotta say, Budaj was a hell of a lot better last night than he was the first time he rolled through Calgary. I thought his career was nearing its end after his first week of the season.

by Resolute on Oct 29, 2008 11:49 AM MDT reply actions

You weren’t the only one thinking that, however wrongly.

Budaj is as good as the defense in front of him. If they fall apart, he’s vulnerable. If they keep things in check, he’s a solid presence, stopping all the shots he needs to stop. Last night the team wasn’t on his side.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions

Boods

It looks like he’s always seemed to have trouble with keeping against the post on that side.
It’s almost as if his arm is blocking his pad from keeping flush against the post.

by Drakenlot on Oct 29, 2008 1:14 PM MDT up reply actions

I watched a couple replays of Bourque’s goal. It almost looked like the puck hit the blade of Budaj’s stick and jumped just enough to get over his pad. However that goal found it’s way into the net. The rest of the team had already given up on this game since they had only one shot at that point and only tallied another when they had the man-advantage in the diminishing seconds of the period.

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 29, 2008 1:10 PM MDT reply actions