Game 2 Recap: Avalanche 3 - Canucks 0

bad ass.

Ton of positives.

Negatives: Can someone please win a face off? If/when they send O’Reilly down pick a veteran to win some. Counterpoint: if they keep winning can they send him down?

Note: Tucker is aiming to have an average career in colorado, one piece of crap season and one awesome one= average two.

This Anderson guy might just work out.

On another note, what the fuck, Avalanche? Last year I expected good and got suck. This year I expected suck and so far I’ve gotten good. You’re making me dizzy.

Speaking of Bernie (what a lame ass stupid name, btw)…before he came out and they were doing all the “hint views” of him, they had a dog print ala the abominable snowman footprint. please tell me they are not going to change it on the jerseys!?!

Great game to watch in person. Anderson got a couple more standing ovations. I believe he’s earned Mr. Anderson; if he keeps it up, Neo is right around the corner.

Wolski looks sooooo much better than last year and I am totally convinced it’s because of the line he is on. And that give and go with him, SoS and the Duke was insane! Luckily I was sitting in that end of the ice and got to see it clearly (from the oxygen level seats, of course). Brought the crowd to their feet on that one.

O’Reilly will be a tough decision for them. He plays hard, does what he’s supposed to and makes things happen…but he does not seem to be transitioning as seemlessly as Duchene. I would bet he sees another 7 and is sent down. But next year?? Watch out.

I’m on my way home to the land of plastic people, obviously not too happy about it. As much as I love walking into enemy territory for games, it’s so much more fun to be amongst Avs family. Oh, btw, I’d say that # on attendance is a bit generous. I’d put it at no more than 60% capacity… But if they keep playing like this, win or lose that place will fill in no time.

Don Cherry just called him the rookie of the year on coaches corner.

I really hope Liles doesn’t get moved to the Canadiens – he’s looked really good through two games and I think in the system Sacco is playing he could have a breakout year.

I don’t think they’ll make any trades unless this team starts to falter.

By jibblescribbits at 2009-10-03

This is me and my sad sad Canuckistani friend.

Unfucking believable seats. The guy in front of us kept heckling the Guys in the penalty box (with no foul or inappropriate language) and Actually pissed Burows off. It was pretty awesome. (this is my first time sitting in the first deck for an NHL game, let alone that close.) I was directly in line with the blue line 6 rows up…

Seriously? Are you guys THAT worked up about Bernie? You can’t really “debut” a new mascot if it was essentially the same as howler, and I thought it was pretty clever to use a St. Bernard. What else would make a good mascot that is directly related to an avalanche?

Despite the complete remodel of the Altitude studio, they STILL can’t get a high def camera in there!?!?

Listened to a post game interview that Norm Jones did with Matt D today. Matt said that some of the Canucks were trash talking to him about his skates during the game. Matt said that he just laughed and told them that he liked his white skates.

And the interview that Craig Anderson did was absolutely AMAZING; Loved it! And I think he played 10 times better than last game….was a lot faster getting up when he was “flopping” around. I dogged him on his flopping last game, but this game it looked like it was actually strategically placed flopping, unlike last game. I think I’m down to four players to buy a player’s jersey… 1. Stastny 2. Duchene 3. Hejduk 4. Anderson
I will wait untl the end of the month to get one.

and Altitude’s picture is AWFUL.

Loved the enthusiasm by Hejduk and the smile on his, and everyone’s face after the leaving the ice and each goal.

I think Clark, Hannan, and Foote’s play has improved A LOT and Cumiskey looked better…. especially liked Foote’s hit on Hordichuk at the end if the 3rd period. I like how Foote doesn’t take shit from players like that, looking forward to the rest of the Avs-Canucks matchups. And I can’t believe we are actually crashing the net finally and getting goals. Thank you, Wolski AND Tucker (didn’t think I would actually say that, but even his on ice emotion and effort has improved).

that is how I would describe the team this year. Lots and lots of fun to watch.

All that debate last year about whether or not coaching had anything to do with the lackluster play; I would say these two games can probably put that issue to rest. This team looks COMPLETELY different than last year, even though their really aren’t that many roster changes.

Anderson was lights out – during the game and during the interview.

Duchene is just a marvel to watch. Boy Wonder he is. Calder trophy candidate?
I would imagine his enthusiasm is contagious. It’s like he has had this love affair with the Avs since he was a child, and he finally gets to be with his soulmate and he is just head over heels in love with being an Av. That has got to be rubbing off of the players.

Hope they just continuing playing like they are now, because it puts a big smile on my face watching them. They look like they are actually having fun out there this year.

It’s like he has had this love affair with the Avs since he was a child, and he finally gets to be with his soulmate and he is just head over heels in love with being an Av. That has got to be rubbing off of the players.

It’s almost like he’s come in and said, “Hey guys, what’s NOT to love about this organization?? There’s this, and this, and this, and don’t forget about this!” and the rest of the rookies that came up last year are saying, “See, guys, we told you the Avs rocked!” and the vets on the team are looking at everything again and remembering why they fell in love in the first place.

because I’m as excited as everyone else at how the team looks…but we’ve GOT to get Duchene better linemates. Duchene is the only guy getting anything going on that line.

I really want to see Galiardi on Duchene’s wing. Stewie too. What about…

Wolski – Stastny – Hejduk
Galiardi – Duchene – Stewie
McLeod – O’Reilly – Tucker
Koci – Hendricks – Svatos

/me loves that 3nd and 3rd…

It’s really early so I’m reserving judgement on some things. However so far this is what I’ve noticed.

*Duchene is worth the price of admission. The combination of hand/eye coordination, skating and hockey sense are just off the charts.

*The Avs are using a lot of support on the puck this year. When taking the zone they aren’t spread 3 wide looking to just win a 1 v 1. They are layering their attack in the zone. I’ve seen it on several occasions in both games where a forward will try to stick handle through the neutral zone or in to the offensive zone and he will have a trailer right behind him to handle any kind of bobble with the puck. It’s exactly how the trailers going to the net are getting their chances. It’s something to watch both on offense when taking the zone but also in the defensive end. Players just aren’t on an island any more. Puck support is really the greatest change I’ve seen so far besides the sustained energy levels.

*The gap control is much, much better among the defensemen. They aren’t giving all that space to guys coming in with the puck to their zone. They have much smaller gaps and the puck support to keep those gaps tight.

*The communication has ramped up. First and foremost (I cannot emphasize this enough. I’m sure Justin could write six paragraphs on it) the goaltender is communicating. I heard at the game and on the TV Anderson barking to his defensemen, “man on, man on!” or “time! time!”. During an interview with Quincy he remarked that Anderson is tells his defensemen when there’s a rebound out. So when they are tieing up sticks or have their back turned to the play, they know when to push their assignment or give that burst of energy because there’s a free puck. O’Reily is a really good talker on the ice. At the opening game he was talking to his linemates a lot to let them know what he was going to do or what’s going on. During one rush he yelled to Clark that there was an early change, “Change! boards!” Clark then fed the puck up the far boards to try and catch them in a change.

I want to give the Avalanche management some credit on several items. First, I think Bernie is fine. He’s for kids and less scary than a crazy monster type. They are adding another reason for kids to beg their parents to go to a game. It’s smart marketing and more importantly it’s adding to the experience at the arena. All positive things. The Avs also began to show replays of the opposing team goals. This may sound dumbfounding to some of you but it’s true, they would only show goal replays of Avalanche goals last season. They are also showing replays of penalties both for and against the Avs. Next, the music is better in my opinion. They are mixing some classic rock in with some modern fare and nothing totally obnoxious. Last, and to my hockey supersticious self most important the Avs are skating through some “thing” when they go on the the ice. It’s not the awesome mountain they had before but it’s a lighted blue gate thing with the Avs symbol on top. The Avs won two cups skating through something that is dropped from the rafters. I just feel better knowing they are doing so again. I know it’s totally unrelated to hockey performance but it’s another example of Avs management adding something back. They didn’t have to invest however many thousands of dollars to do that, or hire a mascot etc… but they are investing back into their fan base. I’ll never critisize that.