Game 67: Kings At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread

Well, why didn't you say so.  I get to go to a lot of games ..... lol, who am I kidding, I wouldn't give this ticket to my brother if it was his birthday.

Maybe I'll make a sign that says "Happy Birthday Joe!  But You're Not Here!"

he's making some...distinctive signs.  if they show them, you'll know.

The Canucks are idiots. They did NOTHING at the FA signings and they did NOTHING at the deadline! They don't even deserve to be in the playoffs with such bonehead management.

I wanted to go to this game, but instead I'm going to the Ducks game on Thursday. Do you think there will still be some buzz left for Foppa's 2nd game home?

This sucks, I really wanted to go to this game :( And now instead of going, I have to go to my economics college class and miss the first period of the game on tv too! >:(

In preparation to play tonight, I can only hope that Cumiskey has overcome the blow to his confidence he suffered last Sunday at the Avalanche Charity Brunch where he was forced to appear before a crowd in this:

Where does AD's sudden spunk come from after 13 years of boring, non-enterprising plain-old-vanilla coverage? I mean, I know he's had the occasional outburst before (the ill-advised ESPN rip job) and, yeah, sometimes (OK, very often) maybe (definitely) he's not the most knowledgeable hockey observer (ripping Derek Morris when James Mirtle presents proof to the contrary)...but that blog post was just downright spunky! Crazy, Unpredictable Dater, instead of his counterpart Boring I'd Rather Be on the Rockies/Broncos Beat But at Least I Have a Job Even If I Still Don't Know Much About Hockey After All These Years Dater...could be interesting.

I just read that Dater blog entry! He's crazy! And look at this blog entry!!! What's gotten into him? Whatever it is, I love it!

btw, happy birthday Joe! Let's hope the Avs win for you!

Those Dater blogs are awesome. I love the hate. :)

While in here on the 'puter, the lovely Mrs. asked (while watching the Oil-Preds game) "Is that MARTY Reasoner?"  

"Yeah, I think so."

"How long has he been an Oiler?"

"A while, I think."

"Huh.  I only remember him as a Blue."

Here's his hockey db.

So yeah, we may be making a little @ MHH later.  How can you beat that?  She KNEW an obscure hockey player's history for a team she cares nothing about.  She may be the perfect woman.

On the other hand, she's gloating that the Preds are up 2-0 REALLY early even though that hurts the Avs.  She's a Preds fan, but it may be difficult to look at her.

Now she's starting the "Let's go Pred-a-tors" crap in the living room.  I may have to leave early for an entirely different reason: ie. to bury the body...

I think Forsberg will get checked on the first shift and bam

Season over.

Hockey Gods, please protect Forsberg tonight.

NSH 2-0 EDM late 1st.
CHI 2-1 MIN mid 2nd
CGY 0-0 CBJ 1st.

is STRAPPING ON THE ARMOR according to the Altitude guys.  I hope he strapping his skates correctly more than any armor...

I can't believe this, there's 47 comments on this thread so far and the game hasn't even started yet.

Weird.  It's a home game for the Avs but I have the Canucks feed for the game.  I get spared all the ridiculous Forsberg worship by the Altitude guys.

First period underway.

Forsberg begins the game on the bench.  Arnason loses the opening faceoff.

Arnason-Jones-McLeod

Forsberg's on the ice for his first shift!

Huge save by Theodore after Sauer got hit and coughed up the puck.  The Avs looked lazy on that shift.

Stastny-Wolski-Brunette

The other line was Sakic-Forsberg-Hejduk

Guite-Parker-Lappy

That's a hardcore line right there.

The Avs are on the power play and somewhere a kitten is very, very afraid.

Thousands of grown men in tears as we speak.

I think a tear just slid down my cheek

Son of Stastny scores!!!

Wolski to Stastny, top shelf!

Avs up 1-0!

Lots of flow in the last couple of seconds.  Not sure if that's the game the Avs wanna play, but it's fun to watch.

the Altitude guys have already starting throwing around the "We need to lower our expectations" speak in case Forsberg isn't a world beater out of the gate.

Stuff like "He HAS only had one practice,"  "He hasn't played in the NHL in almost a year," etc.

I think I heard the fans chanting through the TV...

I need to check my hearing

The Avs are controlling the puck far more than the Canucks so far.  If they keep this up they could win by a lot.

CHI up 3-1 on MIN

NSH now up 4-0 on EDM.

CBJ and CGY still 0-0

Theodore and Foote were talking back and forth a ton on that last shift.  Theodore was directing really well and Foote responded.  The puck was cleared and the Avs got a scoring chance.

Alex Burrows wants to kill Cody McLeod.

A lot of fight from the Avs early, with Paul Stastny scoring the lone goal so far.  Forsberg has looked solid, and has made some good plays.  He's skating slower than I remember him skating, but I suppose that's no surprise really.

Sakic is back in business.  It's pretty clear now that his weak play early in the season was due to his as-yet-undiagnosed hernia injury.  He's still got lots of jump left in him.

He sounds winded.  I can't really remember a game where the altitude may have significantly effecting the outcome of a game.  Hopefully he gets lightheaded.

Second period begins with yet another face off lost by Tyler Arnason.

Shouldn't the boys be saving their fists and energy to pound the Dead Wings in the first round?

Avs go on the power play, a kitten cowers.

The game just got kind of dull.  A lot of back and forth but few scoring chances.

Sakic had a chance but shot it wide.

was buzzing around that last shift.  He's got a QUICK backhand too...

They haven't scored again but it's clear the Avs aren't just sitting on this lead.  They're playing hard on most every shift.

And Jordan Leopold just put a great hit on some Canucks player.  Very nice.

Guite do on faceoffs that Arny doesn't?  

I'm going to go with: TRY!

Anybody else?

I just cannot believe my eyes.  Normally, no one is on the point to keep the puck in.  Guys march over our blue line like they are singing "the ants go marching". Passes never connect, Theodore allows simple goals, and Q goes out for another drink while Granato fights his battles.

Now, pucks are finding the net.  The point is covered .Theo actually looks like a goal tender - oops maybe not

Lets see Boods

Q - still drinking

Theodore took a knee to the side of the head, but he's up again and will probably be fine.  He's sexy.

Brunette goes out for tossing his stick to the ice after it breaks.  What an important rule!!!  Uh...

CHI wins 4-2 over MIN

EDM deciding not to help the Avs.  Losing 5-1 to NSH.  End of 2nd

CBJ and CGY hates offense. 0-0 end of 2nd.

Clinton wins Rhode Island and Ohio, Obama wins Vermont.  Texas still too close to call.

Alex Burrows picks a fight with Forsbeg, gets sent to the box to think about how much of a loser he is.

Forsberg goes to the bench, unfazed.

Another kitten starts to cry.

Can we resurrect a kitten each tine we kill a penalty?

Avs back on the PK late in the third period.  The last kill was great---let's hope that continues.

Avs give up a PP goal, game now tied 1-1.

First ten minutes of the second period = great.
Second ten minutes of the second period = crap.

The Avs started well, significantly out-shooting the Canucks and dominating the puck.  Then they got a little laid back.  The Canucks took over and put some serious pressure on Theodore, and managed to score a PP goal.

Lame x one million.

Liles being interviewed on Rogers right now.  He's just wearing his undershirt, ladies.  

I'm trying to figure out why he pronounces his o's like he's from Canada instead of Indiana.

Oh the Avs' woeful special teams. I know all five men on the ice factor into the goal, but hurts giving up a goal to Shannan and his grand total of 3 goals on the season coming into the game.

Without fail, Q sends out Arnason to take another starting faceoff.  This time he actually wins it.  1-3 is pretty much his M.O.

Avs on a new kitten-killing effort.

Back to the game.  SCORE!!!!

BTW anyone want to talk CPA?

No, we are here for hockey :)

Did we just score on the PP? Time to buy my apocalypse insurance.

On the Power play?

Liles scores on the power play!!!  With a shot from the point!!!

It's a miracle.

Kittens rejoice!

The ref just shouted to the players:

"Shut your mouth and play the game!"

CGY wins 1-0 vs CBJ.  Flames suck.

Arnason-McLeod-Jones

Forsberg got tripped hard against the boards by a Canucks player but no call from the refs.  The fans at The Can were pissed.

Forsberg really seems to be holding his own.  In fact, if Parker were on the other team, I would venture to guess he would be stirring it up with him too...

EDM laid a massive turd lossing 5-1 to NSH.  Talks a lot Oilers.  Don't call next time you need a favor.

Forsberg with a body check.  Very nice.

Penalty on Theodore?  

Not sure what Jose Theodore was doing with the puck in his glove, but he skated all over the place and got called for a penalty.

The Avs will go on the kill again.

I may be shot for asking this, but is there any area Forsberg isn't excellent in?

We've already set a new record for the number of comments on a MHH game thread with almost eight minutes left to play.

The Avs neutralize the Canucks power play when Stastny draws a penalty.  It's 4-on-4 for 39 seconds and then an Avs PP and another dead kitten.

Back on the PK...

Even though Sauer just tapped his stick against the 'Nucks player jetting to the net, he got called for hooking.  Avs go back on the PK in a desperate effort to throw this game away.

Did the refs just all of a sudden decide to call it tight?

Good riddance.

Another solid kill by the Avs.

Just 2:35 left.

Come on boys. Now is no time to sit back. Tight defense, but play aggressively.

Some effort from the Avs on offense.

for the Nucks....

Luongo goes off, empty net.

About a minute left.

Anyone see Foote talking louder than Q during the time out?

Behold- Coach Footer

Lappy gets an A+ for stalling the puck with his body after losing his stick.

Avs hang on by a thread, and we take control of 7th place.

Another huge win for the Avs!!!

Are the Avalanche a playoff contender?  Could it be true?

I'd swear Foote was trying to give that game away at the end...

Thank God Theo made that last save.

The Avs have kept up with Nashville and Calgary, and jumped Vancouver.  They've also closed the gap with the Wild.

Win in regulation.  No point for the nucks

Peter the Great had a pretty good game back in an Avs uni.  Unfortunately, tomorrow they'll announce that he was diagnosed with genital herpes by the crack medical staff employed by the Avs.  His wife will leave him, he'll be disowned by all Swedes, and his career will end on a low note.

Three weeks later, we'll find out it was a cracked pelvis.

Thanks to everyone for participating in an epic game thread.  It was entertaining as always!

Looks like I missed a whole crapload of fun. I had college :'(

OK, Joe, you SO totally have to put that cat hi-fiving in the game thread as a symbol of a PP goal. That cat is just too damn sick!

Foppa played pretty well I think, I caught some highlights and it seems he was out there hitting/punching people, ahhh good old Foppa!

It looks like Theodore had the pimp-cane out tonight, a good thing too, this was a must-win.

I'm so happy we won! :D