Game 16: Avalanche 3, Oilers 2 (SO)
by Joe Dunman on Nov 16, 2008 8:23 AM MST
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photo courtesy of Jimmy Jeong/AP/Canadian Press
Claude Lemieux was a dirty player. But he was a clutch dirty player, a pest who could score that late tying or game-winning goal when his team needed it the most. He was a complete jerk who annoyed and injured opponents but could also carry a team to victory.
No doubt about it, Darcy Tucker is also a dirty player. He's a pest and an annoyance. But he's also starting to make a case for himself as a go-to guy when the team needs it the most. He's got a long way to go (and a lot more rings to win) before he's reached Claude Lemieux status, but last night's game against the Edmonton Oilers was a good start.
The Avs were down 2-1 late in the third period when they were gifted a 5-on-3 power play by two late, stupid Edmonton penalties. Coach Tony Granato pulled goalie Peter Budaj to make it 6-on-3 and the Avs didn't waste the opportunity. With just ten seconds left in regulation, Darcy Tucker put a feed from Jordan Leopold into the back of the net and took the game to overtime. Tucker would then go on to score the winning goal in the shootout, leading the Avs to a 3-2 victory.
All of that almost didn't happen, though, because the Oilers nearly scored on the Avalanche empty net just seconds before, but Brett Clark was there to kick the puck away. So toss him on the list of game heroes with Tucker.
And add one more name, too: Peter Budaj. Playing in his sixth straight game, Budaj stopped 33 of 35 shots and held the Avalanche in the game when they were clearly being outplayed. He also won his second straight shootout, a situation he has not previously excelled in.
From Adrian Dater's recap in the Denver Post:
Avs goalie Peter Budaj deserved the most credit for the victory. He was excellent, stopping 33-of-35 shots, including four-of-five in the shootout. "We won because Peter kept us in it," Avs coach Tony Granato said. "He gave us a chance to get not only one point, but then two in the shootout. And Clarkie — he was just standing there on an island on that empty net, and then Tucker made the play when we had to have it. We didn't play especially well at times, but Peter gave us a chance tonight."
Budaj's record now improves to 6-7-0, with a GAA of 2.83 and a save percentage of .898. Just a couple more ticks in that last category and he'll be back in decent goalie territory. A few more wins like the last three and he'll be back in "cornerstone of the team" territory.
The downside of this divisional road trip so far has been the Avs' inability to win in regulation. They've gifted points to Vancouver and Edmonton now, and next play Calgary on Tuesday. It's tough to catch up in the standings when your opponents are inching ahead with you. But a win is a win and we'll take as many as the Avs want to give us.
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I also noticed how we keep on giving our divisional opponents points every team we play them, but I have good hope the Avs are finally starting to hate the Flames enough to actually show up this time.
Last game was ridiculous, time to make up for it. Burn those Flames (pun SO intended).
Oh, btw, I recommend everyone to watch the Lappy pre- and postgame interviews here. They’re crazy funny.
26 Card Jet
The downside of this divisional road trip so far has been the Avs’ inability to win in regulation. They’ve gifted points to Vancouver and Edmonton now, and next play Calgary on Tuesday.
I feel more like Budaj has stolen 2pts for us in each of those games. In both games the Avs played from behind. In Vancouver it was the questionable penalty shot that gave the Nucks their only goal. The Avs went to sleep in the second period before finally get one under Luongo in the third to tie. Without Budaj (a a little luck) the Avs would have lost in regulation because the Nucks simply out played us in the 2nd, while the third was pretty even. Last night the Avs got out played most of the game. Budaj again had to save his team’s bacon for most of the game, especially early in the 3rd when the Avs gave Edmonton back to back power plays. The third period almost looked like Q era hockey, just faster. The Avs probably shouldn’t have won either game, but especially not last night.
After the game, NHLN had E. Moreau in the booth and he was whining about the tripping call in the third. He’s right that he didn’t trip Svatos, he slashed him. Svatos was tripped by Souray. Still the penalties were legit and Roloson needs to play the puck instead of trying to knock Smyth and Tucker down in front of him. The replay was almost funny as Smyth and Tucker were playing musical chairs in front of Roloson and he just keeps pushing and whacking them in the back…whoops there’s the puck. Karma?
Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-
Budaj SUCKS!
oh wait….have we moved on from that?
Budaj is the GREATEST!
No…not that either?
Ok….Budaj Sucks for some……Budaj is the greatest for others.
Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.
Budaj had a great game
But the coach is still…not so hot. It’s kinda ironic—as soon as Budaj is solid, the offense is bad. If the Avs ever get both of these things going, they’ll be very dangerous.
On a sad note, the Avs PP has slipped into 25th in the league again, making it nearly as impotent as last year’s dismal 14% or so. In addition, the PK is a marginal 79%—good thing the Avs don’t take many penalties.
To Granato—square these areas away fast…or I feel (see also: Hope) you’ll be going the way of Melrose.
Why would you talk smack about Granato this early in the season? He has (statistically) been the best coach the Avs ever had (winning %) and he makes the Avs look A LOT better than the Q “slow-show” era.
There’s just some chemistry issues in the locker room. Most noticeably by the lack of faith in Budaj (allegedly) and the lack of work ethic of some players according to Lappy.
Now I will stop feeding the trolls.
26 Card Jet
I'm skeptical of Granato too
I didn’t hate promoting him to head coach but I wasn’t thrilled with it either. I really think he is a filler coach until Roy’s son is done in major juniors. The backing to this conspiracy theory was the reports that Roy wasn’t interested, then all of a sudden he WAS interested, and then he said “I want to finish coaching my son.”
Something strange was going on.
InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace
Picture worth a 1,000 words!!
"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy
Good to see
Boods may have finally figured out NHL shotouts, hopefully the Avs can win in regulation and they won’t have anymore this year.
That Scoreboard will the link to the game thread at the top of the page during games is good but is there any way to get a live updating one.
"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
Budes vs. Vancouver
I missed the game day thread against the Canucks because I made the 3 hour trip north from Seattle, and some of the saves that he made that game against the Canucks…and to beat probably the best goalie in the game today in a shootout?? That is saying something about how Peter is playing and what he means to this team right now.
"I can't hear Jeremy because I have my 2 Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears!" -Patrick Roy
Wow, 6-on-3?!
The mind reels at the possibilities (“You run the slant route, I’ll go wide…”). I’m gonna have to look up the video and give that one a look.
SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.
IF
The Avs couldn’t tie the game with a 6 on 3, I was going to give up on the season. Seriously.
InYoFace Phadouche! InYoFace
yep
and it seemed like a lot of luck involved in scoring, if Roloson had worried about doing his job and not trying to take out Symth and Tucker he might have saved 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
Alas, Roloson embraced douchery as a goaltending style and karma kicked him squarely in the balls. I don’t call that luck, I call that a life choice backfiring horribly.
Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!
chorus: “Amen.”
So Smyth and Tucker were serving as screens? That’s awesome. I was thinking about this 6-on-3 in the shower — what…? what do you think about? — and I decided I would treat it like a 4-on-3, except put two massive bodies in front of the goalie.
SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.
Wait a minute
Does that mean Dater didn’t say anything bad?
I’ll be heading to my shelter now, awaiting the Armageddon.
Another note, I’d say Boods stole the game for us. Definitely the Avs were outplayed for most of the game.
Yeah, there were definitely some game-stealing moments. And, by the way, a certain third line center’s new nickname is officially “Arnageddon.”
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
Shocked
I was shocked that the SOG were fairly even at the end of that game. It just seemed like Edmonton carried the play and had many more quality scoring chances. Props to Budaj for playing his 3rd stellar game in a row! But wasn’t his rebound control a little bit shaky? (I’m wearing a cup as I jokingly type this)
In all seriousness, one of the poorer performance by the Avs this season and Budaj absolutely helped them to steal 2 points. As did Tucker (my fingers bled when I typed that).
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 17, 2008 11:33 AM MST reply actions
You’re wearing a cup and there’s blood all over the keyboard. Just another day at BiB’s house.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
LOL
Wow, did I ever set myself up for that one or what?
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 17, 2008 12:24 PM MST up reply actions
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