Game 34 Recap: Avalanche 2 - Lightning 1 (SO)
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 11, 2009 10:10 PM MST
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I'm still kind of scratching my head a bit, wondering if I really saw what I just saw. I've decided that this was some sort of Freaky Friday puzzle, and I'm supposed to find all the things that weren't normal about the game. Let's see how I do...
- The Avalanche started slowly and, get this, got better as the game went on! (I could stop there and that would be freaky enough. But wait, there's more).
- The Avs won the faceoff battle (handily: 54%-46%)
- The Avs outshot the other team
- The Avs outshot the other team in the 3rd period
- The Avs outshot the other team in the 3rd period by a wide margin (18-4)
- The Avs got better defensively as the game went on
- Brett Clark and John-Michael Liles both played excellent, in both ends of the ice (okay, this might be a little hyperbolic, but I sure did love seeing Brett Clark rub out Alex Tanguay in the corner).
- Speaking of, those two played terrific on the powerplay and both were firing bombs from the point
- Scott Hannan and Kyle Quincey did not play well, and were probably the two worst d-men out of the six
- Darcy Tucker had a whale of a game
- The Avs won a goal review
- Antero Nittymaki is, apparently, a bona fide NHL goaltender. He's the only reason this was close.
- Craig Anderson stopped the first attempt in the shootout
- Wojtek Wolski scored in the shootout (first time time this year)
- The Avs actually played one of their more physical games of the season
Did I get them all? So many things in this game that I'm just not used to seeing; forgive me if I've missed a couple. Oh, and, Marek Svatos left the game midway through the 2nd period and did not return - but that doesn't fit into any of the bullet points above.
Big, big game on Sunday as the Avs host the Flames; winner gets 1st place in the Northwest.
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Found a way
They must have found a map telling them how to win in the second intermission. Only way I can explain it. As for Svatos, he wasn’t there all game so I didn’t notice him not being there.
Agree on Liles and Tucker. Too bad Tucker couldn’t bury any of those chances so it was still frustrating to watch him (even if it wasn’t entirely his fault).
Disagree on Clark. I wish I had DVR but I am pretty sure he single-handedly created that 2 on 0 chance. Also, I think several of his point shots killed momentum as they were blocked and led to Tampa clearing the zone.
Hopefully #9 is not ten less than #19
At least he created it by shooting…but he paused too long, and the shot deflected off the guy standing a foot in front of him and they were gone.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 11, 2009 10:36 PM MST up reply actions
The big difference between Liles and Clark taking point shots is Liles tends to wait too long to shoot and then pass, and Clark tends to wait too long to shoot and then shoot directly into the guy standing right in front of him anyway.
Foote was Mr. Turnover last night too…and Wolski, while he had a great game, was pretty much responsible for goal number one. If he doesn’t fudge that clear from 1 inch behind the blue line (all he needed to do was take one more step)…that whole sequence of defenders watching Andy flail all over the place doesn’t happen
In Wolski’s defense on goal number one:
If the pucked hadn’t bounced over his stick, he was gone for what would have probably been a one on goalie. Maybe he should have just tried to clear the puck, it looked like he was trying to take it and make a break after he deflected the initial pass from Downie. Stewie was also there and skated right past the puck with Wolski. Quincey and Stewie both got turned around in front allowing Downie to come in untouched (Stewie got sucked into the center of the crease, if he stays out closer to the right circle he’s in Downie’s face).
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 9:39 AM MST up reply actions
The fantastic Lightning announcers replayed it and discussed it. They said how crazy a bounce it was when it hit it spun backwards over Wolski’s stick. They commented that it should have been a scoring chance for us but sometimes you get crazy bounces.
Remember in the playoffs two years ago with Les Ailes. The puck defelcted off Theodore, hit the ice with apparent backspin, and went in the goal. Odd how bounces work.
Avalanche 2009-2010: They'll beat your 7 man power play; we'll take down your announcers.
Nitty’s a very good goalie. Probably not a guy that can play 60+ games a season. But, the only “chance” that he had at being an NHL number one was in the Flyers’ disaster of a season a couple of years ago in which he hobbled through the season on two bad hips.
But, when he’s on, he’s on. Remember that he was named the top goalie of the 2006 Olympic tournament, guiding Finland to a silver medal.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 11, 2009 10:28 PM MST reply actions
Reminds me of a certain Avs’ D man that now plays in Florida.
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Also,
the Tampa Bay local feed showed Budaj leaning over the bench and talking to Anderson prior to the shootout before they went to commercial. Not only is Budaj good at shootouts, he also seems to have a very good mental “book” on shooters – I recall reading comments in the past from Theodore saying that Boods helped him out. I was glad to see that Anderson looked pretty calm in net during the shootout for once. He didn’t seem to be moving his feet very much. But, he kept pace with the shooter.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 11, 2009 10:32 PM MST reply actions
Wolski said after the game that Budaj called him over and told him to change his shot after watching Nittymaki through two shooters.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 11, 2009 10:37 PM MST up reply actions
Wolski should have known to chance his shot after going o-fer…but Budaj seems to yap a LOT on the bench. I see some coaching in his future
It’s not as though Wolski’s been using the same shot every time. He talked about it in the post-game interview that Dater put up. He had a few moves that he used last year with which he was obviously very successful. But, coaches and goalies have had a chance to study video of these moves. He’s got to keep evolving, trying new things. Some times, they don’t work and we wonder why he changed to begin with. But just as Budaj’s got a good book of shooters, so do other teams and other goalies.
He and Budaj talked about which move to use before the shoot out. But after seeing Nittymaki’s tendency to slide to the right on the previous two shots (something that I noticed when I went back and look at the replay. Even when the puck was going to the glove side on the save he made on the first shooter, he was sliding to the stick side), Budaj told him to switch it up.
It was obviously a very good call and another team aspect of Budaj’s game which I think adds value to him as a solid back up goaltender.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 12, 2009 1:33 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I have to tell you I always enjoy your analyses of goaltending stuff. You always explain the technical aspects (such as what the goalie did correctly or incorrectly and how they can improve). Interesting and informative to read.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
Some not so good numbers for the Avs…
The Avs had been held scoreless for 119:27 over their last three games (last score was at 7:16 of the third period against St Louis)
The Avs had not scored at home in 154:31 (last time was at 17:40 of the first period against Minny on Nov 28th before the road trip, it also gave them a 2-0 lead, which of course the blew losing 3-2 in the SO)
The Avs are 0-9 on the power play in their last 2 games
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
meanwhile, Andy set a career high in minutes tonight and tied his career high for wins
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 11, 2009 10:49 PM MST up reply actions
And the Avs also won the faceoff battle tonight and outshoot their opponent in the third period for once.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 11, 2009 10:50 PM MST up reply actions
Sharks – Stars go 11 rounds in the shoot out before Niskanen wins it for Dallas
5 of the 8 games tonight went to OT/SO.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
and somewhere high in a new york penthouse...
Gary Bettman laughs to himself before falling asleep next to his stuffed penguin he named Sid
'I googled what the white stuff in a Ho-Ho was, i found out it has NINE cups of sugar..that will KILL YOU, it would turn your blood into fruit punch!'
Completely off-topic question, but I picked up NHL10 yesterday and am doing music playlists since I am a geek. Does anyone know the name of the song the Avs use in their intro video this year? I know both of them for last year, but that doesn’t help me much, since that was last year.
I must be living in the “Brett Clark Alternate Universe”. I thought he sucked tonight. Usually I’m pretty slow to bag on him, but wow, every time I looked he was doing something that did not exactly scream “I am a bona fide offensive defenseman”.
Personally I thought we stole a point getting to OT, and another in OT. The shoulder was not part of my equipment I was taught to score with, but hey, it worked. Good on Boods for being the team guy in the SO.
What was with the rubber sticks tonight? Besides all the broken ones; I didn’t think the avs could make a pass to save their lives without it bouncing off the stick or flubbing off the passer to begin with.
Get rid of the loser point
09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!
A win I'm happy about!
Only got to watch the last half of the game, but I liked what I saw.
18 shots in the 3rd?!? 34 shots for the whole game?? That’s good stuff!
I wish the Avs could play like that most of the time instead of just every once in a while.
Does Budaj get an assist on the shootout goal? :P
Wolski said. “I had to try something. Peter called me over and told me, ’You’ve got to switch your move and try this,’ and I did.”
I should never be taken seriously.... Seriously!
Half the game? You saw more than I did! I turned the TV on in time to see the shootout. ha.
Forever grateful that Joe Sakic isn't a douche bag like Brett Favre.
by Rather Dashing on Dec 12, 2009 7:39 AM MST up reply actions
Just a couple of other things
1) On Clark…he had a MAJOR gaffe that led to a 2-0 break
2) Duchene really stinks at the shootout…it might be time to pull him off that
3) At the same time, and to be fair to Duchene, the whole team cant score in a shootout
I agree about Duchene, and I that his major offensive flaw so far is finishing his moves…. great at creating opportunities, but hasn’t learned to finish it very well yet.
It’s pretty well documented that in all things Duchene needs to build up his confidence. If he scores once on the SO, I think it will start to roll for him.
Sakic sucked in the skill competition until he went when the forehand deke to backhand top shelf. Ditto with Hejduk and it’s what Wolski scored with last night. Duchene shouldn’t worry about reinventing the wheel with highlight shootouts and just perfect one move. When a goaltender makes the save on that top self backhand, it’s usually a really good save.
What? No Haiku yet?
We must all still be asleep
great game the Avs WON!
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
considered last night
to use haiku for recap
but then I did not
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 12, 2009 9:00 AM MST up reply actions
Though goal not pretty
Thanks for shooting the puck guys
Win ugly, just win
I’m starting to question my masculinity…..
"We're going to have to learn the rules and how to play,"
Red Wings quote
Really?
LOL!!
If DDC can
you can write poetry too.
its not just for girls.
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
While not just for girls
Poems have come too easy
Maybe I am gay?
"We're going to have to learn the rules and how to play,"
Red Wings quote
Really?
Haiku Master Boo
If naked girls make you hot
Then gay you are not!
Don’t sweat the haiku
Sexy chicks dig poetry
just ask John Mayer.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
by hockeymom on Dec 12, 2009 2:13 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
thank god for a bigfoot sighting
He stuck around for while to be filmed it seems. He might like the spotlight.
Avalanche 2009-2010: They'll beat your 7 man power play; we'll take down your announcers.
I'll just post twice in a row
NHL.com knows something we don’t
Captain Paul Stastny said the team matured as a result of all the travel.
Avalanche 2009-2010: They'll beat your 7 man power play; we'll take down your announcers.
Am I the only one that thought Tucker didn’t have a “whale of a game”? I thought his swipe at the puck and get behind the defense move worked twice so it looked good. However, that play usually results in him being behind the defense while the puck is going the other way. When he did break in to the clear he made that damned blind backhand pass to no one. At the end of the game he did have a real quality shot on goal but then stood there instead of fighting towards a rebound. Tucker, as always looks like he’s playing with some sort of entitlement in a game.
I wasn’t happy with him early in the game, I even busted out the Sham Wow pic.
But he, like most of the team, seemed to get better as the game went on. I still would have liked to see him finish on at least one of those chances late in the game…
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 9:27 AM MST up reply actions
to be fair, I dozed through most of the first two periods. so, by whale of a game, I really am saying whale of a 3rd period.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 12, 2009 9:49 AM MST up reply actions
I felt he completely blew a chance to win it at the end, standing there staring at the puck that was waiting to be jammed into the open net. but hey, that’s just me i guess.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 12, 2009 2:23 PM MST up reply actions
Oh yeah, we must be TOTAL FUCKING BAND WAGONERS since all we do is sit here and whine…wah wah wah…oh noes there’s flaws in the team…oh no keep em hush hush…don’t want to ruin all the fucking sunshine and lollipops.
Look, we play in a REAL division. With REAL teams. Yes, we get concerned when we beat pissant teams like the Lightning 2-1 in a FUCKING SHOOTOUT. Yes, we get concerned when we trail 1-0 FOR OVER HALF THE FUCKING GAME.
Sorry that we ruin your day. :)
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Stop scaring the new people.
Also the Mild are not a real team.
Avalanche 2009-2010: They'll beat your 7 man power play; we'll take down your announcers.
1) I’m taking a stand against the Kool-Aid crowd.
2) The Vile is not a real team, yes, but for now, we have to call them daddy.
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Darcy Tucker.
Darcy Tucker.
Darcy Tucker.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 12, 2009 2:24 PM MST up reply actions
Why do we watch the games? First and foremost because we are fans. Secondly many of us are players and/or coaches and so it is in our nature to critique the game. We look for what is working and what is not. We discuss it, that is one of the things that really separates this blog community from so may others. It’s also pretty obviously that we all see things a little differently, so discussing it give each of us a different look at what was happening on the ice.
We are happy that the team won, we don’t necessarily have to be happy with the way they won. Most people here were happy with the teams performance in Pittsburgh a couple of nights ago despite the loss. We just want the team to play well and when they don’t we are going to call them on it.
If you want the “Everything is rainbows and puppy dog tails” take on things this isn’t the place for you. But since you are new, you’ll want to realize that some comments, OK, a lot of comments, should be taken with a bag of salt. Sarcasm is a necessity here.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 11:21 AM MST up reply actions
I’m beginning to wonder if you ever have anything else to bring to the discussion. All of your posts here have been in the vein and you have always gotten the same response.
We are all happy that the team won last night! We just also enjoy having intelligent conversation about what could have been better.
Please feel free to join in this discussion, but I am personaly offended that you seem to think that the rest of us aren’t real fans because we don’t immediatly just drop the conversation at YEA!! We Won!!
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
No, that was me.
I’m the Yay We Won guy, not this guy. But we are both deserving of your scolding! We will strive to do better in the future, right “helgothjb”?
LOL
If you look at his comments, all three of them are like this. ;) But I can tend to be that way also. Don’t worry about it! I just want people to see that this particular group are all die hard fans who like to have intelligent conversations.
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
I find it offensive that you say all we do is complain.
Brett Clark and John-Michael Liles both played excellent
Not only is Budaj good at shootouts, he also seems to have a very good mental "book" on shooters – I recall reading comments in the past from Theodore saying that Boods helped him out. I was glad to see that Anderson looked pretty calm in net during the shootout for once. He didn’t seem to be moving his feet very much. But, he kept pace with the shooter.
meanwhile, Andy set a career high in minutes tonight and tied his career high for wins
You and whoever else comes on this board to bitch about our critical analysis of the games and the players need to simply shut the fuck up. We compliment the players when they deserve it. We criticize them when the deserve it. We joke around ALL the time and throw out sarcasm like we need it to survive. I’m tired of my loyalty for the team being questioned because I’m not constantly “Yay team” whether they win big or squeak out a win they barely deserve (which is exactly what happened last night).
Yah, I’m being a bitch and calling you out. Deal with it or go away.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 12, 2009 2:34 PM MST up reply actions
Though it would be fun to see Beachie in a “cheerleader outfit” jumping around in the stands saying “yea team”
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 3:00 PM MST up reply actions
“Check Ovechkin, knock him on his boom boom!”
“F-A-C-E-O-F-F, that’s the way we spell Face Off”
“The Avs are number one
Can’t be number 2
And they’re going to beat
The whoopse out of you!”
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 12, 2009 3:23 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Hey
They won. I’m excited.
Am I a real fan now?
Do I pass your cool kid test?
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by A.J. Haefele on Dec 12, 2009 11:50 PM MST up reply actions
You would think that the fact that we aren’t content with a win would, in fact, separate us from the fans that are. The fact that when we watch the Avalanche play we are looking at what they are doing well, well they need to improve and also what they lack to take this team well into the playoffs. The fact that this board chooses to look all facets of the game which can include power play, penalty kill, the third period, the players, management, coaches and medical staff and chose to look at them in an intelligent manner beyond just the “Oh, we won” or conversely ""Oh crap, we lost" does not mean we are bandwagon fans.
Hell, most of us have been fans for a number of years. I have been a fan since the Nordiques days… and trust me those were not pretty days to be a fan. When you come onto this board and say something like that you do one (or more) thing(s):
a) Cause me (I can’t speak for everyone) to want to ignore you
b) Cause me to get defensive
c) Cause me to think that anything you say in a future post is irrelevant because you only want to see this team through rose coloured lenses.
Yes, we are quick to jump on mistakes. but we are also quick to compliment… especially if the thing we are noticing has been an issue in the past.
Sandie
by Sandie Gauthier on Dec 13, 2009 2:53 AM MST up reply actions
right on, sista!
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 13, 2009 10:38 AM MST up reply actions
and you can speak for me! wait, you already do…before i even say it. lol.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 13, 2009 11:00 AM MST up reply actions
Cause me to think that anything you say in a future post is irrelevant because you only want to see this team throughroseBurgundy and Sakic Blue coloured lenses.
Fixed!
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 13, 2009 12:04 PM MST up reply actions
You are right, that’s much better!
Sandie
by Sandie Gauthier on Dec 13, 2009 12:32 PM MST up reply actions
3 comments
You have 3 comments at MHH now. here are the subject of all three:
fans?
fair weather fans?
fans?
I am going to completely ignore now.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 13, 2009 12:21 PM MST up reply actions
Only if they are these muppets
Dater’s Muppets are fair game.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 13, 2009 3:34 PM MST up reply actions
I am curious, though. How can we be fair weather fans when we criticize them when they win? Wouldn’t fair weather fans bail out when they lose and say “Yay team” when they win like he’s suggesting we do? So he’s really telling us to BE fair weather fans, right? I don’t really get the logic in his comments, but logic isn’t welcome here anyway, so….
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 13, 2009 3:32 PM MST up reply actions
I know, that’s what I was thinking. I didn’t get it…
Sandie
by Sandie Gauthier on Dec 13, 2009 4:53 PM MST up reply actions
Galiardi’s hit on Ohlund was one of the NHL best hits last night….
It was a hard hit, but not sure it was one of the best. Wilson had a pretty good hit a little later in the game as well.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
I thought it was best just because of the excellent camera switch to see the hit right as Ohlunds head smashes into the glass. I’m not sure Ohlund knew who he was there for a minute
Get rid of the loser point
09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!
The camera angle was a nice touch, and the timing was perfect.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 3:01 PM MST up reply actions
Aren’t they 1-1-1 now in the smurforms? Since they went form a blow out loss, to an OT/SO loss, and now a win, I’d say its a good improvement at least.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Dec 12, 2009 4:37 PM MST up reply actions
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