Game 61: Ducks 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)

by Joe Dunman on Feb 21, 2008 6:48 AM MST in NHL News

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.

"S-O-L" means a lot more than just "Shoot Out Loss" to the Colorado Avalanche these days. It also means shit out of luck, which is what they're going to be if they don't get their crap together and start winning games again. The playoffs, I'm sad to say, are becoming a distant memory to this franchise.

Last night, the Avalanche once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, giving up a 1-goal lead in the third period and losing 3-2 to the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout. Though it was the fifth straight loss for the Avs, at least this time they salvaged a point out of it. That's something.

I'm not even sure it's worth mentioning again that trying to hold a one-goal lead by abandoning the offensive attack is a horrible strategy that almost never works. How many leads do the Avs have to blow? How many close games do they have to lose in the third period or in overtime for them to get the memo? Getting a lead and then letting off the gas is not a successful strategy. Knock it off.

Jeff Finger and Andrew Brunette had the regulation goals for Colorado, and Peter Budaj stopped 20 of 22 shots. Teemu Selanne scored on the power play late in the first period for his second goal of the season---both of which have come against the Avalanche. Rob Niedermayer tied the game mid-way through the third period.

Scott Parker played more than five minutes but didn't fight anybody.

Dater's recap says Ryan Smyth got a significant hair cut prior to the game to try to shake the losing streak, but I can't find any good pictures yet and I'm not even sure the effort is worth my time. It didn't make any difference, obviously. He's been held pointless in all four games he's played since his return from injury in December. His contract seems pretty pointless these days, too.

The Avs continue their five-game road trip tomorrow night against the Phoenix Coyotes and Avalanche-killer Ilya Bryzgalov. So that's good news.

Stars of the Game:

Scott Niedermayer (0g, 0a)

Teemu Selanne (1g, 0a)

Jeff Finger (1g, 0a)

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Comments

a small

bit better effort, but the team is still just to conservative in too many areas in their style of play. It's like they are afraid to do things to be proactive because Q will bench them if they do.

Getting Cumiskey back seemed to help the transition game with Clark out. Not playing him in the 3rd seems like a good decision but it left the team pinned in the Avs zone alot.

Q shortened the bench alot and the team looked very very tired in the last 3 minutes and OT.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 21, 2008 8:33 AM MST reply actions

hmmm

Maybe everyone else should get a Smyth-ish mullet. Perhaps that would help.

by JDunman on Feb 21, 2008 5:23 PM MST reply actions

Defense must have been tired...

Sauer played almost every single minute of the pk during the night (7:15 of 10:59) because Hannan's was too busy trying to get closer to the blonde right behind the penalty box...He must have told the other d-men how cute she was and they all had to take a shift in the sin bin to gawk at her (with the exception of Liles and Finger). Sauer must have gotten sick of being on the ice all that time and he also took a penalty just to see why Hannan kept going back.

by Americanario on Feb 21, 2008 6:49 PM MST reply actions