Game 29: Blackhawks 4, Avalanche 3
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 12, 2008 10:22 PM MST
in Game Recaps
26 comments
Photo by David Zalubowski (AP)
Well, that wasn't awesome.
The Avalanche started out strong against the Blackhawks, skated hard and generated all sorts of chances in the first period. The line of Ian Laperriere, Cody McLeod and Chris Stewart were all over the 'Hawks in the first period and scored 2 goals (giving that line 5 goals in the last 2 games).
Unfortunately, the team started losing steam after taking a 2-1 lead to the first intermission. The Avs had 13 shots after 20 minutes, but then managed just 9 the rest of the way. Dustin Bufyglien tied it in the 2nd period on a breakaway goal that probably should have been stopped by Peter Budaj. Wojtek Wolski returned the favor in the 3rd, making a gorgeous play to split two Chicago defensemen (both of whom completely stopped after Dubya was by them) before beating Nikolai Khabibulin to give the Avs a 3-2 lead. It didn't last. Andrew Ladd tied it about 6 minutes later, and then Bufyglien scored the winner at the 13:51 mark, just moments after Jordan Leopold emerged from the penalty box.
The Avs didn't play particularly badly - Wolski and Laperriere had fine games, and John-Michael Liles had his best game in weeks. But in the end, the Blackhawks were just too much for the Avalanche - they just seemed to wear the Avs down. With games against Detroit and Philadelphia coming up, that may be a continuing theme...
Quick Hits:
- Philippe Dupuis made his NHL debut and centered the 4th line (moving TJ Hensick to the left wing). I thought he played okay and I thought he had a couple of hits that didn't seem to make it onto the scoresheet.
- The Avs won the faceoff battle for the first time in 6 games. That's not too surprising - the Blackhawks are one of just 9 teams with a lower faceoff percentage this year.
- The Avalanche fell to 2-4 against the Central division, and have been outscored 18-13 in those 6 games. That stat figures to get worse on Monday...
- The Avs wore their road whites, apparently to give the Blackhawks a chance to wear their 3rd jerseys. Why?
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That was quick
I also want to know why they wore their 3rds at an away game. Did they leave straight after a home game they wore their 3rds for, because thats the only explanation I can thing of.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"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 Dec 12, 2008 10:29 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
yeah, quickie tonight to free me up to do some other stuff tomorrow.
The artist formerly known as Draft Dodger
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 12, 2008 10:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Has attendance been bad lately? Perhaps they were expecting a nearly 50/50 crowd, so they took a gamble that people at home wouldn’t notice the gigantic A at center ice and assume the game was in Chicago if and when their fans got loud.
by JonHaven on Dec 12, 2008 10:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Couple quickies of my own, who doesn’t like quickies?
1) I have never seen a team lose late in games like the Avalanche dating back like 3 seasons (or more?). What is the deal? 2 years ago they couldn’t close out wins and were getting ties and it came back to burn them when they missed the playoffs… still it is an issue.
2) The Avs’ effort was better, but I still don’t think you could say it was great tonight. Again. You’re not going to win many games getting outshot 2-1. Ah, were hockey games only 20 minutes long,..
3) Granato wins my douche of the week award for benching Tjarmin Ultra,(which I am ecstatic to see the nickname catching on, btw.) Forget statistics, payrolls and egos, a coach must know the pulse of a team. Tjarmin was bringing an extra spark to a team desperately needing that. Though it came tonight from another unexpected place in Stewart, that in no way justifies a total dick move. Message to the players, “It doesn’t matter how well you play or if you even care, it matters how much money you make.”
4) Say what you want about Budaj tonight, he wasn’t Hall of Fame caliber, but he gave his team a chance to win. The Avs lost by a goal which is about what they earned tonight.
by JonHaven on Dec 12, 2008 10:35 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I like Tjarnqvist, but I don’t see who you can sit instead. If the Avs want to move a Dman because they like the depth that TU is giving them, great, but I don’t think it makes any sense to bench someone else – especially if that’s going to be a guy you’re attempting to move.
He seems to know his role, and to his credit he was ready when he finally got the call after however many games as a healthy scratch.
The artist formerly known as Draft Dodger
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 12, 2008 10:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, perhaps. I’m a big Lindy Ruff fan and I don’t think he ever would’ve taken Tjarmin out until his play tailed off. Hannan, Salei, or Clark have been less then amazing lately, so pitching it as giving one of them a night off since Tjarmin earned the right to stay in the lineup wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world.
Maybe not the best idea in the world, but he could’ve sat a forward and gone with 7 D’s. I just think that for a team that has struggled greatly to get effort consistently from it’s players, benching one of the hardest workers from the last handful of games doesn’t send the best message to the locker room.
Would it have made a difference in the game tonight? Probably not.
by JonHaven on Dec 12, 2008 10:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
But maybe it would have. We really could have used an insurance goal from Tjarmin Ultra at the right moment.
Red Wings Suck
by texacogirl on Dec 12, 2008 11:31 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
My problem
With 7 d-men is that the pairings have only seemed to be effective lately with 6, and 3 specific pairings at that. 7 being an odd number (duh) its bound to throw more confusion into a group that doesn’t seem to be able to handle that well. I would have, however, put more faith in AD’s suggestion that one was being traded soon if 7 were playing.
I blame it all on my goalie
by TheRed on Dec 13, 2008 2:42 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s a good point, but imho, if you’re an NHL defenseman, you should be able to play with anybody. Obviously, they won’t be playoff-caliber efficient, but last night was a long way from the playoffs. Forward lines get changed all the time, they don’t need any less chemistry than the blueliners.
I guess I’m getting off the point now. If Granato had a clue, he would’ve found a way to keep a guy that deserves to be in the lineup there, especially on a team overwhelmed with underachievers. Mr. Ultra couldn’t have played for; Arnason, McCormick, Hannan, Salei, Leopold, McLeod?
by JonHaven on Dec 13, 2008 8:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
No way would I scratch Hannan or Mcleod out of that group.
by Selanne on Dec 13, 2008 12:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
If they’re ‘showcasing’ Clark for trade bait, I think the most logical scratch if Mr. Ultra was going to continue to play would be Leoprone. He’s been invisible for stretches this season, and a healthy scratch as opposed to a “holy shit my ankle exploded” injury scratch might help wake him up a tad. But, in reality, I agree with others above, there isn’t a clear cut scratch in the D-core.
Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!
by Mike @ MHH on Dec 13, 2008 4:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
There may not be a clear cut scratch, so maybe do some rotating. switch guys every 2 games or so, let them know that any major gafs in their play could earn them a longer sitting. The D has improved, but it wasn’t that long ago we were begging G to bench a few of those D-men for a game or two.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
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 Dec 13, 2008 10:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Budaj
Everyone knows I’m a huge Budaj fan, but I thought he was dreadful tonight. It was probably his worst game of the season and I think the Avs would have won had he been his normal self.
I thought all 4 goals were due in large part to mistakes or misplays by him. Other’s had bad plays too cough Clark Cough but he wasn’t that good tonight
I believe in Peter Budaj
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 12, 2008 11:06 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Q still in his head? I wouldn’t blame him for that.
Red Wings Suck
by texacogirl on Dec 12, 2008 11:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
except I only caught about half the game. From what I saw (The last two goals), he didn’t play very well and on the 4th goal I could see everyone scrambling around and just knew a Chicago goal was coming. I just didn’t expect it to be that weak. Budaj earned my number 1 frowny face of the night.
They call me Bubblegum.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Dec 13, 2008 2:39 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Well,
Give an NHL team 2 full minutes in your zone on the PP and unless they’re too busy slaughtering kittens, they are going to score.. other than that, yeah, budaj wishes he had a few back…
I blame it all on my goalie
by TheRed on Dec 13, 2008 2:44 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Much like me in my game today. We have so much in common.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"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 Dec 13, 2008 3:59 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
If only your salary one was of the things you share with Boods, eh?
by eltharion_doa on Dec 13, 2008 6:46 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
hopefully by the end of my lifetime I’ll have earnt as much as he does in a year.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"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 Dec 13, 2008 5:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Eh
Dustin Bufyglien’s goal that seemed weak was actually deflected off of the Bufyglien’s defender. You have to watch closely to see it. None of the goals I saw him give up were gimme’s (yes I know he needed to step up and be bigger to steal a win, so did the team).
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Dec 13, 2008 8:55 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
That one
his second goal was the only one i couldn’t really tell what happened. It looked weak but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because it may have been tipped.
Either way, not his strongest game at all.
I believe in Peter Budaj
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 13, 2008 9:52 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, the shot definitely could have been saved, but in many regards it was just one of those goals that happens in hockey.
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Dec 13, 2008 11:12 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I had a problem with the two goals going through him more than the final goal. He was working his ass of on the PP, even though he wasn’t necessarily seeing shots. Remember, he’s moving around with the puck, even if nobody else on the ice is. Two minutes of good puck movement + horrible clearing attempts = worn out goalie.
Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!
by Mike @ MHH on Dec 13, 2008 4:35 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Did David Jones even play?
If he did, he was invisible. I can’t remember him at all.
by Selanne on Dec 13, 2008 12:32 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Jones
Had an assist on Wolski’s goal. Of course that was all Wolski…
I believe in Peter Budaj
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 13, 2008 12:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
He threw the body around a little, but other than that, not much, similiar to the SoS, so let’s not throw stones on this game…
Colorado Avalanche: Gellin' and Propellin'!!!
by Mike @ MHH on Dec 13, 2008 4:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
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