The Weakest D-Link

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 29, 2008 11:59 AM MDT

Seeing Ruslan Salei and Jordan Leopold on the ice for two of the three goals last night made me wonder if there was a trend to be found here. I went back and looked at which pairing was on the ice for each of the even strength goals scored against the Avalanche this year.

Foote & Clark	4
Liles & Hannan	4
Salei & Leopold	7
Irregular Pairing	2

Of the 17 even strength goals allowed this year, Salei and Leopold have been on the ice for 7 of them. The two irregular pairings consisted of Foote and Hannan for one goal and Foote and Liles for another.

I did the same thing with the forward lines. These are a little tougher because the lines have changed slightly throughout the year and also will fluctuate a little more often during a game. But it still gives you a rough idea to work from.

1st line (Stastny)	4
2nd line (Sakic)	7
3rd line (Arnason)	3
4th line (Lappy & Co)	3

I have to admit, I was a little surprised by the 2nd and 3rd line numbers. Sakic's line is on the ice for a lot more goals than I realized and, like everyone else, I just assumed Arnason was on the ice for every goal scored against us. It's just not the case.

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Yeah, but how does ice time factor in there? Sakic has many more chances to give up equal strength goals because he’s on the ice twice as often as Arnason, right?

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 12:03 PM MDT reply actions

I think that still surprises me for a couple reasons- first because the RPM line is also low in GA, and second because Joe is a good defensive player and Wolski has improved his D as well. I’ll grant that with the RPM line its hard to score because they have the puck so much, but that second line should too. I’ve been impressed with tuckers hitting so far this year, but that’s about it. I wonder if he’s the weak link? Otherwise, yeah, with more time on the ice that third line is gonna look a lot more brutal. If thats possible. I blame Arny for that first goal last night- he just let that guy walk right around him and pass to the slot. (I’m going to forget that svatos just watched!)

by TheRed on Oct 29, 2008 12:27 PM MDT up reply actions

not twice as often, but he is out there for 2:45 per game more than Arnie at even strength. it’d also be worth looking at the quality of the guys they are playing against (Sakic is probably facing better players than Arnie). But that’s another show.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 29, 2008 1:12 PM MDT up reply actions

Really? Cus he shouldn’t be. If Sakic is on the ice, you’d imagine opposing Coaches to roll out their Checking lines…

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 29, 2008 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Not every team has a checking line to roll against a teams top line though. And given that Colorado has two top lines, there’s always a choice to be made by opposing coaches.

Here’s BehindTheNet’s QoC numbers for the Avs:
http://www.behindthenet.ca/2008/basic_5_on_5.php?sort=7&mingp=&mintoi=&team=COL&pos=

by ShaneG on Oct 29, 2008 2:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah...about that

Any rating that has Arnason with a higiher rating that Sakic can be tossed right out the window. (Corsi rating)

I believe in Peter Budaj

by Jibblescribbits on Oct 29, 2008 2:43 PM MDT up reply actions

Curious – How often does Salei-Leopold play with Sakic-Wolski-Tucker/Jones? I’m sure it isn’t all the time, but it would be interesting to see how that factors into those goals scored.

Arnason’s problem is that most nights he’s invisible (meaning not helping, but not usually hurting the team). It’s those few time like last night where his play is terrible that he’s a problem. And yes I blame him more than Svatos for the first goal last night (Glencross’s goal) Yes, Svatos should have been all over Glencross, but Moss should never of gotten the puck so cleanly from Arnason.

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 1:03 PM MDT reply actions

exactly. What makes it worse was that the next two goals were generated from the same spot (maybe Q was on to something?). You’d think we could figure out not to just let them take the puck out from behind the net unopposed. Its not they are a team full of gretzkys or something

by TheRed on Oct 29, 2008 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions

Q’s problem wasn’t the play behind the net, it was that all 3 forwards were behind the net so there was no one in front to receive a pass.

Those pass from behind the net also don’t work as often if people are picking up their guys in front instead of floating around (Svatos) or watching the play behind the net (Leopold).

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 1:27 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh c’mon that wasn’t svatos or leopold, that was all budaj’s fault… Just kidding, had a dater moment…..

by TheRed on Oct 29, 2008 1:43 PM MDT up reply actions

I didn’t watch the whole game but the pieces I saw, there were still times where the Avs had 5 defenders down low chasing 3 Flames forwards. You’d think the coaching staff should see the math doesn’t add up.

by ShaneG on Oct 29, 2008 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions

I know in the earlier games Salei/Leopold were on the ice most often with Arnason’s third line.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 1:17 PM MDT up reply actions

As a whole

The defense aspect of the entire Avs has been horribly under-achieving so far.

by Drakenlot on Oct 29, 2008 1:41 PM MDT reply actions

Yes, with the exception of games 7 and 8, overall a pretty lackluster performance.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 3:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Footer

Is it just me, or do you also think Foote is underperforming a bit this year when it comes to defense close to his own goal. I’ve seen at least 2 goals where Foote is just too far away from the man in the crease he should be defending (he’s usually behind the net then).

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 29, 2008 2:18 PM MDT reply actions

There is and should be some criticism of Foote. It maybe the difference in the pairings this season. Clark was injured when Foote returned and this is the first they’ve played together (9 games now), but they should be starting to find that chemistry. If things don’t change, then we need to shake up those pairings.

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 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions

I’ve been holding back on my criticism of Foote, because every time I see him do something I don’t like, he seems to make up for it by playing a man-to-man situation perfectly or making a critical poke check. I have to be completely honest in that I have been underwhelmed by his and Salei’s overall play this season. I’m starting to think that they weren’t much of an up grade of Finger/Sauer/Skratch as a whole…

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 29, 2008 4:38 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree on the Footer part. He’s money on all other defensive aspects, but his net defending is questionable.

I don’t agree on the other part. First of all, I don’t think Finger/Sauer and Skratch should ever be named in one sentence, as Skratch was making Tyler “I don’t care where Svatos is, I’m going for it” Arnason look good, especially in his last period with the Avs.

Salei currently isn’t looking much better than the Finger/Sauer duo, I agree. But he was great vs. The Wild in last years play-offs. He deserves more slack, regardless of what Joe says dodges banhammer.

Foote is one of the best defenseman Colorado has had in the last few years, together with Blake. It was very clear last year and I hope he will improve near the net, as he was on the ice for 6 goals already this year. At least 2 of which were his fault.

26 Card Jet

by Tommelot on Oct 29, 2008 5:00 PM MDT up reply actions

The Ban Hammer is impossible to dodge, and you’ll never see it coming.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 29, 2008 7:17 PM MDT up reply actions

But is it any match for the unbanned shovel. Think about it.

"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 30, 2008 2:31 AM MDT up reply actions

I think an invisible ban hammer trumps ANY shovel, unless it’s wielded by The Shoveler.

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 30, 2008 8:30 AM MDT up reply actions

But a shovel can do anything a hammer can do, plus dig holes. Also i had a shovel just like that and i snapped the handle, i was super pissed.

by Savage33 on Oct 31, 2008 1:39 AM MDT up reply actions

Leopold’s useless, which explains most of it*.

*Possible overreacted caused by irrational and unexplainable hatred.

by eltharion_doa on Oct 30, 2008 7:32 AM MDT reply actions

Just don’t start writing that in all your newspaper articles.

Go Avs! Let's get some goals!

by Joe Dunman on Oct 30, 2008 8:16 AM MDT up reply actions

Actually, most newspaper articles would be better with more unexplainable hatred, IMO.

Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!

by Mike @ MHH on Oct 30, 2008 8:31 AM MDT up reply actions

Dater definitely agrees with you, not sure about anyone else.

by Savage33 on Oct 31, 2008 1:40 AM MDT up reply actions

I don’t mind Leopold as much any more. The Tanguay trade really was a fluke, and the fact we got ‘lucky’ * and got Stastny for it in return doesn’t cancel that. Also he doesn’t have much of that offensive potential as he was showing off while he was still a Flame.

On the other hand, the fact that he took a discount salary because he was injured a lot and felt like he wanted to prove himself to the Avs means more to me than any amount of goals. That type of character is what builds teams and some people should want to learn from that.