Game 57: Ducks 2, Avalanche 1
by Joe Dunman on Feb 13, 2008 7:27 AM MST
in NHL News
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His name is Samuel Pahlsson. His name is Samuel Pahlsson. His name is Samuel Pahlsson.
Leave it to the Avalanche to get beat by a forward known more for his defensive prowess than his offensive skills. Pahlsson scored a late third period goal to lead the Anaheim Ducks to their fifth win in a row, 2-1 over the Avs.
The Avs also gave up a goal to a former member of the team, a recurring theme this season, when Teemu Selanne scored with a wicked wrister over the glove hand of Jose Theodore early in the second period. Theodore left a huge gap between his right shoulder and the near post, and you just can't leave that much space to a guy like Selanne, one of the best goal-scorers in NHL history. It was Selanne's first goal since returning to the NHL five games ago after taking a sabbatical during most of the season.
Theodore didn't make many other mistakes, though, and had another strong game overall. He stopped 27 of 29 shots and lost the game because the Avalanche offense fell apart, not because of a poor showing in net.
In a bizarre twist of fate, the Avs are now losing games at home and winning on the road. It's a good thing, too, because the entire last week of February will be spent away from the Pepsi Center.
In injury news, things just get worse and worse. Cody McCormick was out because of a bruised chest (according to the AP recap) which means he has a broken leg. Scott Parker missed the game (and a sure fight with George Parros) due to the flu, which means he has a ruptured spleen. Brett Clark went down during the game with what appears to be some kind of shoulder injury, but as of right this second, the severity is unknown. Coach Q thinks it's bad:
The outlook for Clark, Quenneville said, is "probably not good. We'll know more (today)."
No doubt Clark has a brain tumor. You can never be too sure with the Avalanche medical team.
The good news is that Ryan Smyth is expected to return to the lineup any second. No doubt he won't actually play in a game until April, the way things have been going.
Man, I bet I seem cynical.
The next game is tomorrow against the Blues, who finally won a game by beating the lowly Kings last night. Hopefully Manny Legace's strange Avalanche mind-control powers don't return.
Stars of the Game:
- Jean-Sebastian Giguere (32sv, .972)
- Samuel Pahlsson (1g, 0a)
- Jose Theodore (27sv, .931)
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You gotta love it....
Fans must be jumping to by tickets to see Quenville let his team play offense just long enough to get a lead (1st period) and then shift to that glorious defensive shut down scheme through the remaining 40:00 to get the win.
OK, so the Avs played pretty decent offense for 40:00 and shut down defense for the last 10:00. Result is the same. We blow a game we could have won.
And the call on Lappy at the end of the 1st period - Asinine!
Defensive letdown
The first goal WAS on a 5-on-3. Everybody scores on a 5-on-3, except Colorado. The VS guys said so, so it must be true.
I can't fault Theo for butterflying on that shot given his depth to Teemu. He forced the shot to his strength, which is his glove side (short side in this case) and he got a piece of it. Let's give Teemu some credit too, he's a perennial all-star sniper (again, that's why the VS guys told me).
Lot's of poor, sloppy positional play in our own end last night. It's like the whole D was channelling Skratch to make him feel more welcome. Slow of foot, bad turnovers without much pressure, sloppy clears, etc. Even the last goal was endemic of the problem. Somebody should have picked up Pahhlson. Leo had his guy tied up in front of the net, so it wasn't his responsibility. So who blew their assignment on that one? He's a defensive defenseman for chrissakes! Was Arny on the ice?
Must we assassinate Q?
Minnesota, Detroit (twice), Anahiem, Phoenix (twice), Columbus.
Common theme? A goal scored against us with under 4 minutes remaining as the Avs clam up hoping for OT or win. Then there is no time to score one ourselves. Fuck you Q, Fuck you. There, I said it.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 13, 2008 8:51 AM MST reply actions
SJ-too
As someone who was at the San Jose game, he tried doing it there too. José just happened to play phenominal and the Avs got a little lucky (OK very lucky) a few times.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 13, 2008 8:55 AM MST up reply actions
Re: SJ-too
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 13, 2008 9:04 AM MST up reply actions
Mad Man
Whoaaaa boy was Lappy mad with that "broken stick" call. Don't think I've ever seen him that mad.
Speaking of "brain tumors"... when Clark was injured (looked like a dislocated shoulder to me, the way it was hanging) a lady behind me said, "I wonder what's wrong with him".
The guy with her said, "Ohhh probably just a brain tumor." hahaa!
Get better Clark, damn you.
A brain tumor...
...would explain a lot about Clark's defensive play.
Hell, it would also explain why FG signed him to an extension, much less at $3.5m a year.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 13, 2008 10:05 AM MST up reply actions
Another thing that pissed me off
Could Eddie Olzchek (or however you spell his name) have been a bigger Ducks-blower last night. He sounded like the Detroit guy all night, except at least the Detroit guy actually announces, Detroit games, not national ones.
Stuff like defending that "broken stick" call, and then saying "LaPerriere got his elbow up" on the hit on Huskins that started the brawl, and just general comments like that all evening.
Man Bad officiating, bad coaching, bad announcing, and a dirty team, led by a despicable GM (the Ducks and Burke).
No wonder that game has me all riled up this morning
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 13, 2008 9:32 AM MST reply actions
I hear what you're saying, but...
...Lappy did get the elbow up on Huskins.
Man, I'd absolutely love it if Lappy would be a good character guy like he already is AND would go out there and cheapshot people. He'd be my favorite player.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 13, 2008 10:08 AM MST up reply actions
Re: Another thing that pissed me off
In Olcheck's defense he did have his Avs moments, there was the all around greatness of Theodore, who is apparently one of the comebacks of the year according to eddie, fair enough cause i've been thinking the same lately but his obsession with theo goes back to the detroit game around christmas.
He also talks about the greatness that is coach Q, who is definately coach of the year, or on a very short list, as told by the great Eddie. I must have heard how the only reason the avs are in a playoff spot is not because everyones worked their asses of, Skrastins not withstanding, but because of Q's genius about 50 times. Q's also great at motivating AHL call ups as well because we all now when you're a call up the last thing on your mind is scoring points, you need someone like Q to motivate you on that.
Re: Re: Another...
Maybe that's what pissed me off more, was that everything he praised the Avs for was asinine
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 8:48 AM MST up reply actions
Pahlsson
Pahlsson is also a former Av. Sami was sent with Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier and a 1st for Dave Andreychuk and Ray Bourque.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 13, 2008 10:03 AM MST reply actions
It was...
...Martin Samuelsson. Shitty player.
Incidentally, that first round pick was acquired with Brian Rolston from the Devils for Claude Lemieux, a 1st (David Hale) and a 2nd (Matt DeMarchi)
Lemieux, of course, was acquired for Wendel Clark, who was acquired for Mats Sundin.
Incidentally, we still have something from that Rolston/Grenier/Pahlsson/1st for Bourque/Andreychuk trade (besides the 2001 Cup). Andreychuk left the Avs for Buffalo after the 2000 playoff run, and we received a compensatory pick. We used that pick on Cody McCormick.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 13, 2008 12:35 PM MST up reply actions
lmao
@ Clark's "brain tumor"! But OK, seriously, this SUUUUUUUCKS! Imo, Clark is our most valuable defenseman, he can still play decent defense, he's 2nd in the league in blocked shots and his puckmoving abilities are greatly underrated. And let's face it, Hannan hasn't been all we wanted him to be. If Clark's out for a long time, we are very very screwed. This will be a much more severe impact on the team than if a forward like Stastny got injured. He'd better be healthy or I'm gonna be pissed >:( What about Stastny? I heard he pulled his groin, does that mean he tore his abdominal muscle?
About Smytty; we shouldn't rush him, I know they say he's ready to go even tomorrow, but he's still waaaaay ahead of schedule, I say play him either Saturday at Chicago or Monday vs. Detroit. Cause if he comes back and re-aggravates it or what-have-you, then we are even more screwed then we are right now. And we're pretty screwed right now, missing our best dman and 3 best forwards. AND we're now in 8th place in the west, yet with a win, we'd be oh so close to catching Anaheim for 5th.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 13, 2008 1:24 PM MST reply actions
Re: Stastny
A pulled groin muscle is not a torn abdominal muscle. They're attached in the crotchal area, but they are not the same thing.
However, a sports hernia, while technically an abdominal injury, causes pain in the groin. Weird, huh?
What happened with Stastny was he spent three weeks laying around recovering from his appendectomy and then tried to skate too hard or too long in practice and made his unconditioned groin muscles sore. A groin pull is the most common injury suffered by hockey players.
Depends....
I don't have a problem bringing Smith back if we don't try to play him 20:00. Keep the top two lines intact and work him back on the 3rd or 4th lines. Use him sparingly this first game back and see how he does/feels.
Stastny: I agree...as a coach we always have to watch the guys returning from injury to make sure they don't over do it. As an athlete I know it is hard to finally get back on the field/ice and take it easy the first time back. Stastny probably is so eager to get back that he pushed himself to far, to fast.
Skrastins not withstanding....
by Americanario on Feb 13, 2008 2:52 PM MST up reply actions
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