Game 54: Coyotes At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread
by Joe Dunman on Feb 4, 2008 1:39 PM MST
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Hoo boy. As Drafty's post below eludes, February is a big, important month for the Avalanche if they're the least bit concerned about making the playoffs. Right now, they're on a point-scoring pace to reach the hallowed plateau of 95 points and at least steal the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The fact that that would mean a first-round battle against the Red Wings isn't even comprehensible to me right now. But, neither is missing the playoffs.
The win against St. Louis on Saturday was big. The Avs will need to keep that kind of offensive onslaught going tonight as the Phoenix Coyotes, hot off a great January, cruise into The Can.
I'm not sure if dreaded nemesis Ilya Bryzgalov will be in net tonight for Phoenix, since ESPN says he probably will be and the Post says he probably won't be. I guess I could check a Phoenix newspaper but I'll just assume they don't report anything hockey-related because they're still trying to figure out what "ice" is. Needless to say, it will be much harder for the Avs to win if Bryz is playing. Damn him.
UPDATE: Via new member leftwinglock, we have confirmation that Tellqvist will start for the Coyotes.
For the Avs, Peter Budaj will be in net again, much to the dismay of some. And while he's lost his last two games against the Dogs, he's 6-1-2 lifetime with a 2.65 GAA against them. He's been solid, if a bit flawed, the past two games he's played, so hopefully he maintains his composure and shuts down Coach Gretzky's upstart offense---and that jerk Steve Reinprecht.
The game starts at 7:00 PM Mountain time, 9:00 PM Eastern. Let's get some goals!
ESPN preview.
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Who's dismayed?
Who's dismayed that Budaj is playing? You think anyone in their right mind wants freaking WEIMAN to get the start?
Budaj was more than solid against Detroit, and he was an absolute embarrassment the following night, so it doesn't look like his has any composure at all. If his play is going to be a roller coaster, he should have a good game tonight.
Phoenix is a very good young team though. And Gretzky is the one coach in this league who might challenge Idiot for the Anti-Adams this year.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 2:02 PM MST reply actions
Re: Tellqvist tonight
Gracias! And welcome to the MHH party.
I'm adding Left Wing Lock to the blogroll as well.
Shut down former Avs.....
We need a combination of the last two games. Score 3-5 goals and keep the Coyotes under 3 (if Budaj bounces back that could be done without the defense). Defense needs to play hard nose, hard hitting hockey and clog up that center ice much like we did against Detroit and a little against St Louis. A fight or two in the first period would be too bad either.
Take advantage of power play chances - that means shoot from the point and crash the net. I am pointing the finger at Finger, Clark, Liles and Wolski to shoot from the point and everyone else to crash the net, especially Svatos, Brunette, Guite, Hensick and Hejduk.
Just a note: Coyotes are 19-0-0 when scoring 4 or more.
And Wall has been called up to replace Weiman. Weiman is said to have a foot injury - WTF???
You have to
love the Cody(s)! Sure they don't fill up the stat sheet with points, but they bring a lot of energy and work well on a line together...
Just dropping by
I'm unable to watch the game tonight, but it's good to see a couple of true believers keeping the thread going.
Also good to see the Avs tied going into the second half of the third period. Every point is important!
Richardson out of the box. can't get it by...
Net gets knocked off morrings before richardson get rebound in...Penalty on yotes, but Avs can't get anything again.
Play on power play reviewed
Hensick did score on the power play. Review clearly showed it and Avs have a lead 3-2.
Well...
At least it's a point. The Avs lose in OT after Shane Doan scores for the 'Yotes, but Hensiiick had two goals and both were on the PP. He's single-handedly dragging the team's PP numbers up from second-worst in the league.
Budaj had 30 saves on 34 shots, but let in the game-winner, unfortunately. Still a good performance, but not great. He needs to step it up just a bit more.
And the rest of the team needs to start scoring again. It's good to see Hensiiick getting his crap together, but he can't do it alone. He shouldn't be expected to.
Re: Well...
*Game-winner was actually scored by Vrbata, of course. Another game lost to a former Av. Damn.
There was...
...nothing "good" about Budaj's performance tonight. Drop the fanboy nonsense.
The first goal was bad. Beat him high glove side from the point and he didn't even react despite having a clear view.
Second goal was solid, there was nothing he could do about it.
Third goal was 100% on Budaj. He had his freaking back to the play when Vrbata rolled in. Vrbata could have held the puck for a half-second longer than he did and still would have scored. That's the worst goal that an Avs goalie has given up since Aebischer was still with us.
Fourth goal was Budaj not keeping his legs shut. Another awful awful goal.
Budaj had 29 saves on 33 shots. It doesn't matter if you make 29, 39, 59 or 99 saves if you're going to let in three turds.
If JoeTed's not ready next game, then start Wall. We can't have Budaj giving away games like this, especially not when you're giving points to teams that are chasing us.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 10:07 PM MST up reply actions
First goal
Went top corner stick side, on a 5 vs 3, not glove side.
Last goal was under his hand until Doan pushed Budaj's blocker which in turn hit the puck.
While Budaj made an awful play on the third goal, the main culprit was Arnason for not picking up Vrbata. Budaj compounded that with a bad play, but it was Arnason's man all alone in front of the net wide open.
If you're going to accuse people of being fanboi's and calling Theo's GA soft when they're not you lose credibility when you come back and do the exact same thing on Budaj.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 4, 2008 10:25 PM MST up reply actions
Double-Check
Just to be sure I knew what I was talking about, through the magic of TiVo, I re-watched the first goal. Not only was it top shelf stick side, but it deflected of Finger's stick, which I didn't catch until I put it in slow motion. The first Altitude replay after the goal has a good shot as well.
And I wasn't defending Budaj on the third goal. It was a horrible play and he should have made an effort. However his defense should have been picking that guy up and they weren't.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 4, 2008 10:45 PM MST up reply actions
I will
I will double-check that. If it was tipped, I didn't see it. That would explain him not reacting at all.
You blamed JoeTed for a point shot goal that was tipped on the way to the net, and I said that it wasn't his fault. That goes for any goaltender.
Nobody's trying to blame Budaj for anything that isn't his fault. If the shot was tipped, the goal wasn't his fault. But that third and fourth goal were both definitely his fault.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 10:56 PM MST up reply actions
I'll admit
It was extremely subtle and I only noticed because I was trying to check the placement of original shot. The puck is laying flat, and as it gets to Fingers stick you can see the face of the puck.
Extremely subtle
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 4, 2008 11:04 PM MST up reply actions
It wasn't
his fault then.
So two softies. That's a lot better than three.
Finger, stop deflecting pucks in.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 11:09 PM MST up reply actions
WTF???????????
Why is that a goal????? What about the intent to blow a whistle? It doesn't matter when the whistle sounds, it matters when it was intended to be blown!!!
Am I the only one that thought Doan pushed that puck in with his hand? Did they even look at that???
GAAAAAAHHHH!
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 4, 2008 9:47 PM MST reply actions
I thought so too
Am I the only one that thought Doan pushed that puck in with his hand? Did they even look at that???
I thought so too. I thought he punched at the puck and hit Budaj's blocker, which caused Budaj to push the puck back between his legs. Seems like that shouldn't be a goal, but I'm not privy to the actual rule in that.
Either way, it's pretty obvious the ref's intent was to blow the whistle before the puck crossed the line.
But What the hell was Buds doing on the 3rd goal. I know Arnason completely blew it by not picking up Rbata, and that would have been an extremely tough save to make, but he kind of gave up on it.
That was a frustrating one
yeah
yeah that sucked, it was a bad play all around, but how can you not see the guy RIGHT there. He didn't see him at all, he was completely playing the shot and totally hugging the right post.
And why was Wall the backup? Anyone know? Not that it matters, but I find it absolutely hilarious, first Q goes juggling his starters, now he's juggling his backups???? ROFLMAO! There's just something insanely funny about that. Unless Weiman got hurt or something.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 4, 2008 10:06 PM MST up reply actions
Heh.
yeah that sucked, it was a bad play all around, but how can you not see the guy RIGHT there. He didn't see him at all, he was completely playing the shot and totally hugging the right post.
Heh, that's "rust".
And why was Wall the backup? Anyone know? Not that it matters, but I find it absolutely hilarious, first Q goes juggling his starters, now he's juggling his backups???? ROFLMAO! There's just something insanely funny about that. Unless Weiman got hurt or something.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 10:11 PM MST up reply actions
Buds
Well like I said that would have been a tough play to make. I was mad he didn't go for the puck at all, but even had he gone for it, Vrbata would have had a basically open net. The real culprit on the goal was Arnason. There were 3 Avs on Vrbata on the face-off and not one picked him up. That was a monumental brain fart by the whole team.
Budaj looked pretty good other than that play though. He made some good saves, and neither of the other 3 goals were bad goals at all. No chance on the first two and the last one was pretty flukey.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 4, 2008 10:21 PM MST up reply actions
oh man
I knew the backup-juggling would've been too funny to be true, lol.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 4, 2008 10:25 PM MST up reply actions
By the way,
By the way, Idiot, leave Richardson in the lineup. You were a...well....an idiot for sending him down in the first place.
Two more goals for Hensick. He's earned his spot once everyone is healthy again. He needs to be on a scoring line. Or hell, just have him with Arnason and Hlinka as the third line full time. It looks like Hlinka and Hensick are actually able to get something out of Arnason. Keep that going, because if you send Hensick down, you eliminate Arnason's streak of usefulness as well.
Looks like Lappy's on one of his useful streaks. First time since 05-06. Nice to see.
JoeTed's coming back Wednesday they say. Thank Heaven. I honestly expected Budaj to come in and light things up. Sadly, the only light we've seen recently is the rotating red one behind Budaj.
Don't look now, but Jordan Leopold has been in the lineup for FOURTEEN DAYS without getting hurt or sick. I know, I just jinxed him and he's going to contract leprosy. But it is nice to have our #1 in there and playing well. One of my biggest peeves is people who think the Tanguay trade was a bad one.
BTW guys, as bad as things may get, at least Wyatt Smith isn't in the lineup.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 4, 2008 11:09 PM MST reply actions
Leoprone
When he was tripped in the game (1st period I think) I saw who it was and went "crap he's hurt". Anyone else and I wouldn't have given it a second thought.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 4, 2008 11:14 PM MST up reply actions
Re: Leoprone
No kidding! I saw that leg/foot twisted behind him, then he took a moment to get up and I thought the same thing. Whew.
Softies
yeah that sucked, it was a bad play all around, but how can you not see the guy RIGHT there. He didn't see him at all, he was completely playing the shot and totally hugging the right post.
Playing the shot, hmmmm. Maybe cuz that's his job?!?!?
Seriously, Thomas aside, you expect Boot's to play the shooter AND pick up the guys his defense didn't feel like covering? So which is it, play the shot or cover his defenses' asses? You can't have it both ways. He DID made a play in my opinion. He tried to cut off the pass from behind the net. The position you aluded to as hugging the post was not really the correct position from a behind-the-net-shot, but it appeared to me that Budaj was trying to keep the puck from getting out front to the streaking Vrbata. He didn't, and it was a tap in. If he was playing the man in front and not the guy in behind, he would have had a vertical-horizontal position on the right post and excecuted a butterfly slide across the crease on the shot. He tried to make up for Arny buying a ticket and watching the game from the outside of the faceoff circle. I'd crucify him if he was one of my players who let that happen.
Let's go through the progression on that goal: Arny gets tossed from the circle, Svats gets beat like a rented mule, Hannan gets spun around and makes a half-hearted attempt on the centerman moving behind the net, Arny watches Vrbata skate right by him, Boots isn't six-feet wide by four feet tall, and they score the tying goal. Yep, that was all Budaj.
On the OT goal, his team makes a horrible line change, and then after he makes the first save, the all play grabass and fall over each other in the crease. It appeared he made the first save and Doan or whoever falling on him and punching the junction between his blocker/stick and thighrises on his pads punched the goal in. I couldn't believe they didn't call that. The whistle was a tad suspect too.
He wasn't stellar, but he didn't get much help on any of the goals scored against him, IMO.
Heh
Budaj was turned around and out of position. Had his angle and positioning been right from the start, it would have just been a matter of sliding to his left and taking away any shot that Vrbata had. Budaj wasn't even crouched, he was standing upright.
The whole team was caught off guard there, but the simple fact is that Vrbata not only had a second and a half to take his shot, but he had an ENTIRE net to shoot at from point blank range because Budaj couldn't keep his head in the game.
And they lost because of it.
You have to place the blame on those who earn it, just like you have to place the praise on those who earn it as well. You being ridiculously biased serves absolutely no purpose.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 5, 2008 12:26 PM MST up reply actions
You misunderstand
I'm not saying he isn't at fault, but rather that I think he DID try and make a play, it just wasn't the right one. He stood up at the right post, facing Reinprecht in the corner, hoping to cut off the pass. It was an all-or-nothing save selection. Either the puck hit him, or it popped into the slot for a quick tap-in. If it was me, I'd expect it to have been in the back of the net by the time he turned his head around, but Vrbata fanned on it, like twice, which made it look worse. Basically, I think he gambled and lost. I just think that laying the blame at his feet on that one overlooks the series of pee-wee level mistakes by the rest of the guys on the ice.
Still, you're right, he COULD have gone to a V-H position on the post and slide across for the impending shot, which he would have then been in a position to stop since Vrbata didn't get it off quickly, but he chose to try and stop the pass. In fairness, he put about as much effort into it as Hannan did. I've always wondered why a light tap on the shin pads is considered an effective defensive technique on a puck-carrier...
You may see bias, but it's not the bias you think. I'm not biased for Boots on this one, I'm biased for the goalie, whether he's wearing #31 or #60, on that play.
Interesting...
...spin. I don't know you well enough to know if you were one of the many who bashed JoeTed for things that weren't his fault. I had been here a few times, but I didn't actually read closely until someone forwarded me a piece that you wrote to insult me and I saw that you had a separate category just for posts that referred to me.
Flattering, but you're not the first. Heh.
Funny though, I am a "Budaj slapdick" on some forums. I am a "Red Wings troll" on others.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 5, 2008 3:18 PM MST up reply actions
I rarely bash goalies
as a rule. My first position 9-times-out-of-10 is that somebody else (usually more than one) had to make a mistake before the goaltender even get the CHANCE to make a mistake. It's just that it's a high-focus position where mistakes are obvious, but steady play is rarely observed or praised. Add to that the instances of phenomenal play that are often attributed to luck, and it tends to get me fired up.
I do have a problem with goaltenders that exhibit poor technique or make mistakes that are detrimental to the team. Every time I see Hasek play, I want to stab my eyes out...
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