Game 17: Flames 4, Avalanche 1
by Joe Dunman on Nov 19, 2008 6:39 AM MST
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photo courtesy of Jeff McIntosh/AP/Canadian Press
Sometimes a team has to rely on their goaltender to "steal" a game and get them out of a jam. Making that the strategy for every game is probably not a recipe for success. The Colorado Avalanche once again put all their eggs in the Peter Budaj basket, and this time they got burned for it. And not because Budaj failed to produce, but because one guy can't be expected to carry a team that doesn't look like it wants to play hockey at all.
The Calgary Flames took advantage of the Avs' ambivalence and crushed them 4-1. Budaj, for what it's worth, stopped 47 of the 50 shots he faced. That's right, 50 shots, which don't include the 25 his defensive teammates managed to block.
"We were in the box all night because we were second on the puck. That's all of our faults. Except for Boods tonight, nobody showed up."
Seriously, except for Peter Budaj and maybe Marek Svatos, nobody on the Colorado Avalanche came to play hockey last night. According to Adrian Dater, it was one of the worst games of all time for the franchise.
There's really not too much else to say. I'll let commentator "Neil" over at All Things Avs take it away:
Was that the ‘89 Quebec Nordiques out there? That was just awful. Nobody played the game last night other than Budaj - everyone else should feel embarrassed to be a professional athlete with that effort.
I completely agree.
ADDENDUM: Reading through last night's game thread, I really have to compliment the participants for keeping their comments humorous despite the atrocious play on the ice. Of all the great quips, my favorite had to be Bob in Boulder's "18 Arnasons and one real goalie" comment. Well done, sir, well done.
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Don’t tell me the pattern will continue and we’ll have a 5 game losing streak now.
I’m actually glad this game wasn’t on TV as far as I know.
Budaj
Budaj was fucking spectacular last night. I know it was a loss, but that might actually have been his best performance ever, minus the one shot/goal after the empty netter.
Mir ist egal.
Also an interesting stat from last night: The RPM line was -3 on the night. WTF?
Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!
I feel really bad for Budaj. He played out of his mind and his team wasn’t there to back him up. I would say like several people said last night that he needs to “kick some arse” like Roy used to do, but I don’t see him doing that. I just don’t think he has the same hot temper as Roy. Personally I think that Roy just scared his team by all of his Terret’s (sp?) i.e., cussing at himself and posts.
Budaj sets an example by his play, and his team needs to support him with theirs.
Yeah, you’re not going to find another person in the league with the same temperament as Patrick Roy, that’s for sure. Especially not in a goalie. He was one of a kind.
You mentioning his cussing in the crease made me think of all the times after a big save the camera would focus on him and you could see him nodding his head and cussing under his mask. What a lunatic.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
FUTILITY
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 Nov 19, 2008 8:21 AM MST up reply actions
Brett Clark
I think people are generally too critical of Clark, but I counted 3 lousy clearing attempts – ALL ON THE BACKHAND – in the 2nd period.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 19, 2008 8:29 AM MST reply actions
First Game....
This was the first game I have seen all year (I know) and a few things stuck out to me.
1) Budaij is still a very solid goaltender. In this game he was stellar.
2) Lack of leadership. This is weird, because there are lots of guys with leadership qualities but there is not anyone providing a spark on the ice. Having leadership roles in limbo with Joe’s status may not be helping either.
3) Arnason still can’t pass but his effort on D looks better than last year at least.
4) Brett Clark is a smart player that I like, but his outlet passes where terrible. I know he has taken a while to get going whenever he has missed time – I bet that shoulder really set him back and I hope he returns. We need him to do so.
5) Coaching. This could turn into a long rant. I will just say that a number of things had the same feel as last year.
6) I am almost glad I will be missing alot of games this year. What a load of stink.
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Nov 19, 2008 8:35 AM MST reply actions
2) Lack of leadership. This is weird, because there are lots of guys with leadership qualities but there is not anyone providing a spark on the ice. Having leadership roles in limbo with Joe’s status may not be helping either.
Maybe that is the problem. Too many guys with leadership abilities…could it be like too many cooks in the kitchen? They spoil the broth.
Joe is/has been the leader, but he has always been soft spoken and leads on the ice. I always thought it was Roy and/or Foote the were the outspoken leaders; the one who would put their foot in a players ass if he wasn’t performing. We don’t seem to have that guy…maybe Foote never was that guy? Sounds like Lappy might be trying to be that guy.
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 Nov 19, 2008 9:57 AM MST up reply actions
Most wtf stat I have ever seen
According to the box score I just looked at, the Flames had 17 giveaways last night, the Avs only had 3. I am speechless.
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
Well, you have to actually have possession of the puck to give it away.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
Maybe. But if they kept a stat for “Failed clearing attempts,” or another for “Not really looking like you give a rat’s ass,” the Avs would have hit triple digits in both last night. When a team just flat out looks like they don’t care out there, is that on the coach? It’s not like they’ve had a full schedule, either. That was just ridiculous.
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 19, 2008 8:58 AM MST up reply actions
I just wish there was someone out there whose job it was to tell us what’s really going on in the Avalanche locker room. Man, if only there was somebody who had that kind of access.
Go Avs! Let's get some goals!
Really though. ;) I get all of my “inside scoops” from Altitude. Could someone please get all of this sunshine out of my ass?
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 19, 2008 9:09 AM MST up reply actions
The rebuilding process
Has to start with getting rid of guys who are overpaid. If you judged this based only on last night, that would be everyone but Budaj. However, you have to build around something, and right now, the only other guys I see with potential to build around are Stats and Liles. Seriously. I’m not 100% sold on Hensick yet. Wolski comes and goes, as he has his whole career so far. Svatos has potential but is Leoprone. Same with Leoprone.
The first two guys I would try to unload would be Clark and Hannan. I’m sick of waiting for Hannan to be worth his contract or to be what we thought we were getting. And Clark is horribly overpaid for what he is. Also, as much as I like Smyth, his salary and age aren’t conducive to the rebuilding process. He might become great trade deadline bait. Oh, and they could use an NHL coach, too. Might want to actually interview folks this time around, FG. But speaking of FG, they could use an NHL GM too. I’m still thinking PL would be worlds above FG, even with the screw ups he made later in his GM career (including TG and FG).
Other than all of that, I think the team is in great shape!
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
everyone you mentioned wanting to trade but Clark has a NTC of some sort. ( http://www.nhlscap.com/no_trade.htm ) He seems a likely target for trading at this point.
I think we’re over-reacting a bit here — let’s see how they come out in the next game. teams have bad games. what makes this whole thing interesting is that they’re playing the same team next time. they have a chance for redemption right now. But if they lay ANOTHER egg against this same team, then heads will roll.
Oh, I know I am over-reacting. But I think I need to blow off steam. But they weren’t good against Edmonton either. And neither Edmonton or Calgary are world beaters.
I think I’ll just give it a rest now and see what happens tomorrow. And you’re right, there is no excuse for another egg tomorrow. I know it is still fairly early, but if they shit all over the ice again tomorrow night, I really hope Granato is gone on Friday. Some type of intervention will be necessary at that point.
MHH: Shagging Dater one contributor at a time.
by Bob in Boulder on Nov 19, 2008 9:47 AM MST up reply actions
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