Game 38: Blue Jackets 6, Avalanche 1
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 3, 2009 8:30 AM MST
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The Avs showed a lot of fight...for about 20 minutes
Photo courtesy Michael Martin (Getty)
Well, so much for being in the top 8 in the conference. The Avalanche were completely embarrassed by the Columbus Blue Jackets last night, 6-1. With the win, the BJs moved past the Avs into 8th. Frankly, based on their play last night, they deserve it.
Like so many recent games, the Avalanche came out with a lot of early jump. Chris Stewart fought with Jared Boll early in the game. He kicked butt, and that helped set the early tone. The Avs had a couple of early powerplays, and Darcy Tucker scored late in the 1st period to give the Avs a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
And that does it for the positives column.
The 2nd period was marked by domination from the Columbus line of Rick Nash, Manny Malhotra and Kristian Huselius. Huselius was fed twice by gorgeous bang-bang passes from Nash. On the first goal, at the 2:28 mark, the puck was in the net before Peter Budaj reacted. The line was causing all kinds of fits for the Avalanche defensemen - especially Adam Foote who was called for interference on Nash and was on the ice for all three of the lines' goals.
Well, except for one - a Nash penalty shot. That shot was awarded when Brett Clark hooked Nash from behind on a breakaway. It was controversial, as it appeared that the play was just going to result in a delayed penalty. Play continued for some time before being whistled down (Nash had even gone off on a line change) when the Avs finally touched the puck it was time for a TV timeout. When we came backf rom the break, instead of the obligatory camera shot of Clark in the penalty box, we were instead greeted by one of an incensed Tony Granato on the bench. After that long stretch of play, Nash was awarded a penalty shot. He promptly buried it for what would turn out to be the game winner. The homers covering the Blue Jackets were under the impression that plays get whistled down immediately for a penalty shot, and I thought the same thing. Turns out, that's not the case.
25.7 Timing - If the foul upon which the penalty shot is based occurs
during actual playing time, the penalty shot shall be awarded and
taken immediately in the usual manner notwithstanding any delay
occasioned by a slow whistle by the Referee to allow play to continue
until the attacking side has lost possession of the puck to the
defending side, which delay results in the expiry of the regular playing
time in any period.
At any rate, the Avs were already sliding downhill and once the penalty shot happened they became completely unraveled. The only thing the Avalanche were able to do the rest of the game was hit people. All other aspects of the game - offense, defense and goaltending - were completely abandoned. It was gruesome. If you really want to re-live it, the video highlights are included below.
Hey Tony, if you are going to continue to pull Arnason off the first line (a good move, in my opinion) why not do it from the start of the game? Why wait until the 2nd period?
Granato has been rather Quenneville-esque in the way he's throwing all his lines into a blender each night. One of the oddest combinations to fall out in the 3rd period: David Jones skating with Ryan Smyth and Milan Hejduk for 4 shifts.
- Columbus' Mike Commodore was on the ice for every one of his team's goals. He and his partner Jan Hejda were +4.
- Ben Guite won all 7 faceoffs he took.
- Last night's reported attendance was a dismal 14,482 (including two groups of Blue Jacket fans that FSN Ohio showed ALL NIGHT LONG). Of the 18 games at the Pepsi Center this year, 9 have drawn fewer than 15,000 fans.
The Avs host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday - the first NW matchup for the Avs since December 7th. The Wild beat San Jose on Wednesday, but have been sluggish overall lately. Since we beat them 6-5 on December 1st, the Wild are 4-8-1.
The Avalanche dominated the opening period, then went dormant, much to the dismay of coach Tony Granato. "We lost the game in the second period," he said. "That pretty much sums it up." - Pat Graham, AP (Rocky Mountain News) "We weren't prepared for the competitive level at the start of the game," Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said. "But we really adjusted. We played our game in the second and third period. We played very, very well." - Aaron Portzline, Columbus Dispatch Peter Budaj just isn’t a No. 1 goalie. Sorry, Boods backers, but he’s not good enough. Period. He’s a good kid and I hate to keep knocking him, but he’s not good enough. He’s just not. Don’t give me any “Aww, the D didn’t play that great in front of him and it’s not his fault and blah blah blah.” He was awful tonight, and he’s lost Huselius had his first multi-goal game of the season, scoring both times on pinpoint passes from Nash. After being held pointless for five games in mid-December, Huselius has three goals and three assists over his past eight games. - AP four of his last six starts. Not good enough, sorry. I wish I could say different. But I can’t. - Adrian Dater, All Things Avs
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Of course AD would lay it all on Boods. I no longer read his column. Lappy called the entire team out after the game. This poor performance falls on the shoulders of everyone.
If I have to hear one more time about how “we didn’t play a 60 minute game,” I think I will go and burn something down, maybe the Family Fun Center where the Avs practice. The players cannot control which players are on the team, or the injuries to the players, or decisions the franchise makes. They can, however, control their work ethic. The ONE thing they can control is playing a 60 minute game. It is inexcusable. This team does not have the talent to win on talent alone – they HAVE to work 60 minutes. So freakin’ do it!
I like to listen the Brian Engblom’s analysis after the game. To me, he calls it like he sees it. Twice now in the last two games, Hannan has screened shots for the other team causing goals. Engblom’s comment: “Budaj had no chance on that one because Hannan was blocking his view. He never saw it coming.” He has also commented on how the Avs continually leave men wide open in the zone where, unbelievably, the puck is passed to them and they score. Amazing how that works! I was at the game last night and the BJ’s were crawling all over the Avs not allowing opportunities to score. Why can’t the Avs play like that?
Is Budaj good enough? I guess my question is this: would Mason have faired any better if the BJ’s had played as poorly as the Avs? The one goal Mason let in was a play comparable to the plays the BJs made all night. I guess if Boods played for a team with a wicked defense and continually let in soft goals (kind of like what Huet was doing at the Winter Classic) I would say, he doesn’t cut the mustard. To put the loss of last night on Budaj’s shoulders is unfair: the entire team stunk it up.
Avs, if you don’t want to show up for the game then literally don’t show up for the game. Just quit the team. Go start deliverying pizzas. Then, we can keep the guys who are really passionate about playing, we will have the cap space to bring in talent that really wants to play, and maybe this team can go somewhere.
I really have to stop watching “Miracle” before I go to an Avs game, because then I actually expect to see a hard working team out on the ice.
Sorry Tommelot, my pessimism has already set in.
Awesome post
The ONE thing they can control is playing a 60 minute game. It is inexcusable.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They haven’t been playing complete games since the season began. The season is now half gone. The only difference is now Granato and Giguere have excuses in the form of injuries. The extra super duper pathetic part of the injuries is this team wasn’t winning any more with Sakic and Stastny in the lineup because nobody really skates anyway. If the Avs genetically clone Gretzky and Bobby Orr, they’re still going to lose by 4 every night when they only skate for a period.
There is some talent on this team. There is a ton of potential for this team. That is why the season is so high/low, at least for me. The Avs are capable of coming out and A-bombing any good team in the NHL when they have their full arsenal and are playing like, you know, it’s their job. Unfortunately, they’ve played that way about 4 times and it is now acceptable culture in the organization to half ass games. Apparently, nobody in the locker room takes this team seriously. The only way for Giguere to change that is to start canning people, beginning with the coach. If the team continually plays like shit with a new coach, start sending players packing. If Arnason doesn’t want to skate and nobody else wants him, buy him out. Now there’s a message to a locker room of lazy douchebags; Move your ass out there or you will not have a job tomorrow. It shouldn’t have to be like that in the fucking NHL, but it is, so deal with it, Giguere.
I think I will go and burn something down, maybe the Family Fun Center where the Avs practice.
Do the Avs really practice? Can anybody confirm that this team actually goes out on ice and tries to get better? Judging from the on ice product, this team “practices” by locking themselves in the dressing room and circle jerking, which is probably the real reason they brought in Tucker. He’s a circle jerk specialist.
by JonHaven on Jan 3, 2009 3:22 PM MST up reply actions
I think I will go and burn something down, maybe the Family Fun Center where the Avs practice
Atleast you know no-one will get hurt, The Avs sure don’t use it.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
hockeymom
I too was at the game and thank you for comments. That is the way it was. I watch Engblom’s comments too because he is accurate and fair. The puck was in Budaj’s face most of the last 40 minutes. The Avs could or not would not figure out how to get the puck across the blue line. Rotate Lappy and TJ on the first line and move on. At least you have defense and energy when Lappy is out there with energy and some playmaking when TJ is out with them.
Midway through the 3rd
I took off my Avs jeresey. My girlfriend asked why, and i replied, “Because I’m angry at them. It’s like being stood up by a friend when your supposed to meet somewhere. Until they show me that they care, why should I?”
Yeah. Not too happy about this team. It would be something else if they got blown out in a game they played hard for a full 60 minutes. I would fell better about that.
No. I’m not withdrawing my fandom. Though I feel a little disinterested in this season.
A lot of us are starting to feel that way. I mean, if the players, and the organization aren’t going to show any interest and put a quality product on the ice, why should we continue to buy it? Why should we put our time and effort in to cheer if they aren’t going to play? I’m still a fan, but much like the Cowboys this season, I am disgusted with the effort that has been shown on the field of play. I might just find myself doing to the Avs what I did to the Cowboys last Sunday…tune in for the game, see that they don’t give a shit, turn the channel to something else as half time/intermission.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-
Though the Cowboys were super bowl favorites which is significant for the analogy. However, both teams have another thing in common. Both teams have “player’s coaches”. The only bright side that I think is starting to happen (Arguably should have happened a month ago) is that Granato is getting angry. This team needs a drill sargant (sp?) coach.
Wolski moved back to center. Finally.
I started wondering toward the end of the game whether the players have “quit” on the coaching staff or the Avs management. I mean, it’s not a secret that the GM’s moves in the past 2 years have not proven to be the best given the circumstances and a lot of people are questioning the coaching strategies as well. Maybe it’s not that the players are lazy; who knows what’s going on during practice, on the bench during games or in the locker room. Maybe they just think some changes need to be made and those things will only happen after the team looks bad enough to get the owner’s attention.
On the Avs’ website, there are interviews of the players all saying after the Phoenix game that they need to play a full 60 minutes. Why are they all saying this but then not doing it?
I think you could be spot on. My only frame of reference to draw on is what’s going on around my office. Management sucks big time. They don’t seem to care about any of us unless they are “chosen one’s” meaning management is playing favorites and basically saying screw you to everyone else. They are making decisions which jeopardize the integrity of our work, our profession, and the public’s perception. Needless to say, we show up to work but there is no energy or passion to do anything. Most of us want to quit but can’t afford to. Things all around suck and I suspect something similar is going on either in the organization or in the locker room for the Avs to be performing like this.
Red Wings Suck
Sounds like everyones job, I seriously believ 100% that if playing Ice Hockey becames like a job to you and not a hobby then you should quit. There are billions of people who would kill to do what they love for a living instead of their job.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
I am completely with you on that one! If this team gave 100% every night for 60 minutes and lost every game, I think I would have a lot more respect for them than I do right now. It is about personal/professional integrity and work ethic. I want my team to have that. They are our heroes, so I expect that of them.
And yes, they did beat the Wings, which shows that when the put the effort in they can do it!
Lappy’s comments were “We need to play as a team and we need to play for each other.” Hopefully he can get through to them because something needs to. I don’t know what a hockey epiphany would look like, maybe a high stick to the face, but that is what this team needs.
Hopefully something will get to motivate them. Talent can’t be fixed over night but work ethic can. Wolski is excited to be back at center (see the link in my reply to Canary). Maybe he can make the most of it.
Like I wrote in my reply to Americanario above, I am beginning to wonder if the players are sensing that there is something fundamentally wrong with management or coaching that they think no amount of hard work and effort on their part is going to overcome. Or are they using injuries as an excuse for losing? If so, why are they being allowed to do this?
Not making excuses for the players; I’m just trying to dig deeper to see what else might be going on. It’s hard for me to understand people repeatedly saying something (like the players saying they need to give more effort) and then actually going out and NOT doing it.
Get with the program
Its The Canary, sheesh. I know you’re a drunk but that craps inexcusable. You got it, good.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Until they show me that they care, why should I?"
Can we make this the theme of Mile High Hockey? I couldn’t have summed up my feelings of this team, this organiation, or this season any better.
Well done.
Earlier this year, I called for a bunch of injuries to save this team, but since Giguere is too busy (humping the doorknob in his office) to bring in a coach or any talent worth a damn, I think I’d prefer this team tanked it so badly over the next 3 months that he and Granato lose their jobs. The douchebag has done nothing since he became the Avs GM except saying “Ok” when Peter Forsberg called and asked, “Can I play for you?”
by JonHaven on Jan 3, 2009 3:29 PM MST up reply actions
One that that superpisses me off
and it’s been beaten to death but, The muppets saying he has poor rebound control and stick handling. You know another goalie that had poor rebound control and stivk handling? He was some guy that has 551 wins, 4 Stanley Cups and one of the few, if not only players to have mnore than 1 Conn Smythe(3) I think his name was Patrick Roy or something, I doubt many people ripped his rebound control and stick handling every game.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Have you noticed how much better Budaj’s rebound control has been? He is now jumping at covering the puck, or deflecting it to this or that corner.
I remember at the Buffalo game when it went into shootouts, I looked at my husband and said, “This isn’t good. He doesn’t have a very good shootout record.” Well, what do you know, he has a great record now.
Remember the wrap around problem he was having, I think it was really bad in the San Jose game. He wasn’t completely covering the side and corner of the net. No longer an issue.
Chalk some of this up to the Goalie Whisperer, but also to the fact that Boods is the hardest working member of the team. If he has an area of weakness, he works at it. That is the kind of player you want on your team: someone with some raw talent who is willing to work his butt off to do well. I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg right now with him. This is his first year starting, he is dealing with lots of stuff for the first time, and he seems to learn with every game he plays.
Of course, a player like this certainly does not belong on the Avs. He might destroy the whole underachieving energy they have going on.
Roy, he could have gotten points for assists for the nice juicy rebounds he let out.
Roy, he could have gotten points for assists for the nice juicy rebounds he let out.
Isn’t that how he got half of his assists?
Of course, a player like this certainly does not belong on the Avs. He might destroy the whole underachieving energy they have going on.
Unfortunately you might be correct on this…I just hope he doesn’t get traded, because he’ll probably come back and bite us in the ass.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
Now and then we had the hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be PIRATES.
-Mark Twain-
Him being traded would be one of those decisions that i’d be 50-50 on. I’d love for him to retire an Av and it would be awesome seeing 31 next to 33 but If he got traded I’d be happy)depending on the team obviously) because he might get a fair chance from the coach/fans/media and everyone would see just how good he can be.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Theres no doubt he’s getting better because he’s such a hard worker but it seems nothing he does is good enough, If he plays great then people nitpick about something little and If he plays badly, like every goalie does from time to time, they rip him apart like they’re looking for WMD’s.
The Savage - Game Thread Leader and King Of The World
"Two roads divurged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
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