Game 58: Blues At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread
by Joe Dunman on Feb 14, 2008 12:46 PM MST
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Man, Mile High Hockey's been on post overload all day. Good lord, I must be bored.
Anyway, let's do this.
The St. Louis Blues have been sucking something awful lately, even if you include the win against Los Angeles the other day. All that momentum they had at the start of the year is gone, pretty much. Now they're just running on fumes and Paul Kariya's nightmares about Scott Stevens. You know he still thinks about it all the time. Ouch.
The Avalanche, on the other hand, are running on prescription pain killers, which might explain why they tend to fall asleep halfway through the second period of almost every game they play. The whole team is hurt and full of Vicodin.
I'm excited about Ryan Smyth returning to the lineup tonight after a six week absence due to a broken ankle, but not because I want to see him play or think he'll contribute to the team. I'm excited to see what new injury he'll no doubt suffer tonight. Skrastins not withstanding, this team is cursed.
Speaking of injuries, Paul Stastny is still cruising on his couch while Kyle "Wheels" Cumiskey and Joe "Burden To The Team" Sakic are skating around here and there trying to toughen up their groins, which is not nearly as sexy a process as it sounds.
Finally, the Rocky Mountain News pointed out something I was trying to forget: John-Michael Liles hasn't scored a goal in 40 games. Somebody better check that guy for hernias. Ladies...
The game starts tonight at 7:00 PM Mountain time, 9:00 Eastern. Unless something horrible happens to me, I'll be around for all the hot game thread action. Thursday games are always big nights at MHH, so I expect to "see" everyone here and ready to post witty comments, racy pictures, and redundant announcements that a goal has been scored.
ESPN preview.
Addendum: Everyone, please remember that it's easier (and more effective) to ignore a comment you think is ridiculous than to respond to it. Keep that in mind at all times. Thanks.
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this game is HUGE
we have to win tonight. St. louis is down, and we gotta knock them out (of playoff contention). Those buggers have games in hand on us, so things could turn sour quickly here.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 14, 2008 12:56 PM MST reply actions
Yes
You could almost call this game a "must-win".
And I probably won't be around tonight, something about Valentine's day. Cool thing is I told my wife i was planning on dinner and a chick flick and she said "not the Avs game" so now I'm making dinner and watching the Avs game...
But i won't push my luck and comment while watching on the couch with her
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 1:00 PM MST up reply actions
must win
I will forever chuckle at those words.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 14, 2008 2:01 PM MST up reply actions
Sakic
Sakic isn't a burden to the team. His captaincy is. As a player, he's still pretty good. Overpaid, but he's a good player.
Strip him of the C and pay him less, and I'd love to see him stick around for a couple more years. But the Avs will do neither, so he needs to get lost already.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 1:05 PM MST reply actions
Sakic a burden?
WTF? They guy scored 100pts last season. And he started of slow then as well. This is the first time he has had this kind of injury and I'll hold judgment on his performance when/if he comes back. He has always been the kind of player to make the big play when the team needs it the most.
If you want to name a captain in his absence, I'll except that. But just dumping him due to an injury, especially after his performance last season is frakked up!
Nobody
Nobody is saying that Sakic should be dumped due to an injury. And what he did last year is irrelevant.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 1:22 PM MST up reply actions
If that is true
Then why do you still like Skrastins based upon his so called 'top 3 in the NHL' 3 years ago?
Sakic has been hurt before (lacerated leg, anyone?) and come back. Sakic always starts slow (saves his body) and comes on strong when the games mean more.
And just you know I am not blidly attacking you - we agree Q sucks. So lets keep it at that.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 14, 2008 1:55 PM MST up reply actions
Well...
Sakic is at the rapid decline stage of his career, while Skrastins is still in his prime.
I never said I liked Skrastins. I don't. I just think it's stupid to bash him when he basically lost his job when he got injured and wasn't given significant playing time to regain it since then.
Further, Sakic's detrimental lack of leadership is tolerable as long as he's scoring. When he isn't, he becomes a liability. Last year, his offense offset the damage his lethargic play and lack of leadership did to the team. This year, not at all.
Given that he's at the steep decline stage of his career, you have to be really careful with him. You can't keep him around because you want to honor all the memories he gave you, because that just screws your team in the here and now when his offense disappears and his defense gets bad.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 5:14 PM MST up reply actions
damnit
this sucks 2-0, wtf? at least Smyth is playing well.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 14, 2008 7:26 PM MST reply actions
Lousy call
The linesman totally miscalled that offsides on Leopold.
And I just heard a player yell "hold that fuckin' stick!"
They really should turn down the ice mics.
HUUGE save
Legace totally stoned Hensick after a sweet pass from Ryan Smyth. Damn.
And the refs just blew another call. Skrastins makes a perfectly legal hit and gets called for interference. The hit was just a split second after Kariya made the pass. The refs are sharp tonight.
First period
Okay, I'm still trying to figure out what happened. Kariya scores, then Jay McClement scores. Was Theodore completely asleep or was the defense horrible?
Why do the Avs hate me?
Lake Erie
In better news, the Monsters just won in a shootout against Hershey. Final score 5-4.
Two observations:
- Wall is a rebound machine. He needs to work on that.
- The Lake Erie ice girls are hot.
Sooooo
I come back from picking up the V-day dinner, and the Avs are down 2-0 to the Blues, at home, after one period.
I'll see you guys tomorrow...
Well
the goals can't be blamed on theo. watch the replays in the intermission. one was a tip that went from being 4 inches off the air to 4 feet off the air in a split second, the other one was lame defense. The blues guy shot it from around the goal line about 10 feet to the left of Theodore, it hit him and bounced to his right to a wide open guy who no one picked up, he buried it (naturally, unlike our guys)
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 14, 2008 7:50 PM MST reply actions
Hejduk
Wow, for a guy that's been in the NHL for ten years, Hejduk is pretty lousy at English. He sounds like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but without all the charisma.
Still no replays.
Second period
Game on!
No replays of the Blues goals during intermission. Altitude is so full of crap.
Seriously?
A shorthanded goal by the Blues. Only Wolski was back to play defense, and Theodore got beat on the near side.
Theodore out.
Budaj in.
FSN Ohio is WAAAAY better than Altitude
The Lake Erie game went off and FSN Ohio is now showing Best Damn Dream Girl, which seems to be sponsored by Hooters.
Way better than the Avs game.
Oh, and the Avs get a brief 5-on-3, now almost a full two more minutes of 5-on-4.
Like it's going to matter...
Legace
Manny Legace just told the Avs to suck it. Again.
For like the millionth time.
God I hate him. Maybe the Blues will trade him for Theodore.
Less Hate
He's at least on my fantasy team. Not that that makes it better, but it does
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 10:20 PM MST up reply actions
Ryan Smyth
Smytty is banging away, just like the old days. He's definitely being aggressive but Legace is in the zone.
Legace
The Avs already have 18 shots after 28 minutes. And Legace has stoned them every time. Somebody cheap shot him or something.
McLeod, know your role!
Avs look like crap
Sure we are keeping the Blues out of our zone now, but we can not connect a pass once we hit their blue line...
Lame
I'm about thirty seconds from turning this off and playing Eve Online instead. Spaceships are awesome.
Adios
I'll leave everyone with a video clip from one of my favorite bands from a few years back. Very Valentine's Day-appropriate I think.
And also a good representation of how I feel about this game.
The band is "Love Lost But Not Forgotten," and they had the sickest screams I've ever heard. Highly recommended.
I'm out. Later.
your ears...
At least it doesn't hurt as much as watching this game.
by Americanario on Feb 14, 2008 8:41 PM MST up reply actions
WTF was Idiot thinking?
Why on Earth did Idiot yank JoeTed? What exactly did he think he was accomplishing with that?
The third goal was a bit soft, yeah. But you finally get JoeTed playing well by building up his confidence and now you risk that by yanking him for no reason?
And some fools think this idiot deserves the Jack Adams? Laughable.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 10:10 PM MST reply actions
I thought
I saw Theo head back to the locker room as he was being pulled. Even though the Avs announcer's never mentioned it. They definitely showed him leaving the bench and heading back to the locker room. Whether that was a skate problem or what, I do not know, but I got the impression he didn't just get pulled. The third goal was soft, but I'll give José the benefit of the dount and guess he was injured on the play.
I would bet he was hurt, or pulled a muscle or something.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 10:19 PM MST up reply actions
oops
too much V-day wine that was a choppy comment and I meant doubt , not dount
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 10:22 PM MST up reply actions
Well...
...he was screened on the shot. I think he should have been able to stop it, but it's not like anything on that play (or anything all night) was done right. It was nice to see Budaj play well when he came in.
You'd think that if it was a skate thing, he would have gotten it fixed and come back out. That, and the timing leads one to believe that he was yanked, either because Idiot doesn't trust him or he was hurting.
Tomorrow should be interesting. If Idiot makes JoeTed the starter without the announcement of a JoeTed injury, I'm not going to have any hope for the rest of the season or any season during Idiot's remaining tenure. Not that he or anyone else cares.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 10:26 PM MST up reply actions
Sorry
Tomorrow should be interesting. If Idiot makes JoeTed the starter without the announcement of a JoeTed injury, I'm not going to have any hope for the rest of the season or any season during Idiot's remaining tenure. Not that he or anyone else cares
I don't understand this comment. could you clarify
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 10:38 PM MST up reply actions
Oops
"If Idiot makes Budaj the starter..."
Does it make sense now?
Sorry, was listening to the wife while I typed.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 10:50 PM MST up reply actions
Yes
It makes much more sense now. Budaj looked good. But Jose has clearly earned the starting position.
(I'm still under the impression that Budaj was never given a fair chance to earn the starter's spot, especially at the beginning of the year. But not being fair to Budaj is no reason to not be fair to Jose, he's earned the starter's spot)
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 10:55 PM MST up reply actions
I agree, but...
...it's not like Budaj wasn't given that shot all year up until JoeTed took the spot. I mean, he was never given the benefit of the doubt after a couple losses, but it's not like the Avs weren't looking for Budaj to take the job. Seemed pretty obvious to me that the Avs went into this season expecting Budaj to be the #1 and JoeTed to hit the bricks (or be re-signed as a backup) after this season.
I've always said I just wanted a solid #1, no matter who it is. Looks like we have one. Though with Idiot behind the bench, we could see Weiman as starter with Wall, Budaj and JoeTed as backups next game.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 14, 2008 11:13 PM MST up reply actions
What I meant was...
Even though Budaj performed marvelously at the end of last season he was given three games to start the season before Theo got the start, despite Theo being hurt for all 3 of those games. Yes he played only okay in those three games (getting pulled in the Nashville game that everyone, including Buds, was bad in). But in the first month (11 games) he played 7, went 5-2. Sure he had a GAA of 2.57, but the Avs were playing a game that was more offensively inclined, going after the net and outscoring the other team.
After the tail end of last season, and the relatively strong start to this season, he deserved the chance to be the starter he earned it, yet was never given a fair opportunity.
When he was given more than 3 starts in a row (finally started 8 of 9 in mid-December) he played well. Not spectacular, but well. Since then Theo has played well, and has also earned the chance to be the #1, no denying that, but Budaj hasn't been treated fairly this season at all.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 11:35 PM MST up reply actions
Well...
...that's coaching. Which is exactly your point.
Yet some people think this idiot deserves the Adams?
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 12:06 PM MST up reply actions
Sooooooooo
Who starts next game? It is the first of a b2b. I expect Budaj to start one of them, but if he starts both games I will personally fly my dad's car off a ramp straight into the pepsi center as a sign of my protest. >:(
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 14, 2008 11:43 PM MST reply actions
Theo
Since I feel Theo has earned the starting spot (and god Q pick a starter this season) he should start the 1st vs Chicago on Sunday. Budaj should get the Detroit game on Monday (I think only world beaters like Luongo or Brodeur should get back-to-backs) and Theo should get the Weds game at Anaheim.
Like I said earlier, Theo looked a bit slow tonight, but he may be hurt. If he's healthy he should be the starter, I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that he's earned it.
MY 2¢
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 14, 2008 11:48 PM MST up reply actions
Nooooo
no way he's hurt. he made a couple of pretty good saves on some dangerous shots. the first two weren't his fault, the third one was. Q just pulled him to spark his team I guess.
It sucks that Theodore is going to be hated even more by the pepsi center crowd now. He was just starting to win some people over, now Q goes and yanks him, Buds comes in and makes some great saves, and the crowd starts thinking it's allll Theo's fault. This is a big part of why Theodore isn't that good at home, his mental game isn't at a very high level right now and he needs the support from fans when he's playing at home. He's just not getting that support at all. When he makes a great save, the crowd doesn't react, but when Budaj makes a better-than-average save the crowd goes wild.
Not to bash Budaj or anything, just my $0.02
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 14, 2008 11:59 PM MST up reply actions
I don't know
I swear he went back to the locker room after he was yanked. I didn't save the game, but they cut out to Theo walking back to the locker room.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 15, 2008 12:06 AM MST up reply actions
well
it could mean he was pissed, i know i'd be.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 15, 2008 12:12 AM MST up reply actions
He did.
He went directly to the locker room. He wasn't throwing pads or slamming sticks or anything. If he was pissed, he didn't show it.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 12:08 PM MST up reply actions
I would have pulled Theo as well...
Not because he sucked (which he did, sorry but 3 goals on 7 shots is a terrible night), but because the team needs a wake up call when you are down 3-0 and have just given up a shorthanded goal. Budaj played well in relief but his team still couldn't get a puck past Legace. Guite seems to be the only guy not effected by kryptonite.
Theo should get the Chicago start; get him right back in the net. Hopefully he will bounce back and continue to play the way he has recently. Budaj should start the next game, Q needs to stop playing the goalie in back-to-backs.
Yep
I totally agree. And also, I think leaving Theo in net would have hurt his confidence even more? What if he gave up another goal? Or two? He'd feel even worse.
Pull him, let him rest and get his mind right, and then start him the very next game just as planned.
I actually agree with Coach Q for once.
3 goals on 7 shots...
...is incredibly misleading and short-sighted.
He allowed 1 bad goal and 2 that he had no chance at.
I can see Joe's argument about how allowing more goals may have hurt his confidence. But then, I don't think a former Vezina winner's confidence is going to be shaken because of a bad game (which JoeTed hasn't had in a long time, including last night).
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 12:11 PM MST up reply actions
Well
I can't put myself in Theodore's mind, or any goalie's mind, but I know that if I had given up three goals on seven shots, even if they weren't technically my fault, I'd still feel pretty rotten about it.
But that's just me.
To me it is simple
He's being paid a ton of money to stop pucks. Last night, he didn't do that. Period. Hopefully he will bounce back as he has been very good for the most part in 2008. If he returns to his form from the previous 5 years or so, the Avs postseason hopes are toast.
by Bob in Boulder on Feb 15, 2008 12:43 PM MST up reply actions
Wow.
Wow. That's probably the most short-sighted argument I've read here.
You can't over-simplify things like that. Yes, he's paid to stop pucks. But you can't expect him to be six feet wide and four feet tall. You can't expect him to be able to single-handedly play the shot AND the pass. When the defense breaks down and allows guys to be wide open, you can't expect him to stop one shot on his far left and then another from his far right immediately afterwards.
I realize you're just being hyperbolic here, but get real.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 1:33 PM MST up reply actions
Legacy made several saves
last night on better scoring opportunities than any of the first 3 Blues' goals. He was earning his salary. Theo didn't. I'm dead serious here. He stopped at least 4 great back door opportunities. I would expect an elite goaltender to make those saves. And Legacy isn't even an elite goaltender. Theo once was one and we are all hoping that he's getting back there.
by Bob in Boulder on Feb 15, 2008 1:48 PM MST up reply actions
Legace
That save he made on Hensick (the cross pass from Smyth that looked like a sure thing) in the second period was unbelievable. Had it gone in, instead of bouncing off his left blocker, I doubt anyone would have said that it was his fault he got scored on. It was a perfect play that he stopped quite amazingly.
We could have used more of that from Theodore last night. I understand why he let in the goals that he did, but a bit more "Oh My God How Did He Make That Save?!" would have been nice. The Blues got that from Legace. The Avs had to wait until Budaj took the ice.
It's one thing to marvel at a play like that...
...it's another thing to expect it.
You can't just say that since JoeTed is making $6m this year that you expect him to make next-to-impossible saves. Sorry, just isn't going to happen. You cannot expect that from ANY goalie.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 4:20 PM MST up reply actions
Yeah, but...
...you bounce back. A Vezina-winner does, anyway.
How many times did you see Roy get lit up for six, only to have a shutout the next game? That's what they do. If JoeTed is so fragile that he would let one bad game (and he didn't even have a bad game last night) send him into a tailspin, then he has no business as an NHL #1.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 15, 2008 1:30 PM MST up reply actions
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