Game 29 Preview: Avalanche at Panthers
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 2, 2009 7:00 AM MST
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| Colorado Avalanche |
5:30 MT / 7:30 ET / 12:30 GMT |
Florida Panthers |
| 15-8-5 | December 2nd, 2009 |
10-12-4 |
| 35 pts | BankAtlantic Center |
24 pts |
| 4th in West |
Sunrise, FL |
13th in East |
The Avalanche got a big win on Monday as they topped the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0 on Monday. They'd like to make it 2-for-Florida tonight as they face off against a Florida Panthers that is, well, kind of meh. The Panthers aren't doing very well in any major statistical category, they've lost 5 straight, and are currently missing a couple of their best players in David Booth, Cory Stillman and Tomas Vokoun
Per Dater, Craig Anderson is the starter. I know it's all serendipitous to have the former Panther Anderson in there, with another game tomorrow night in Pittsburgh, this really should be Peter Budaj's game. Unkind or not, the Panthers are a team you throw your backup against. But, at least we'll get to see Andy firmly focused on...the ice girls. We already know the starter for the Panthers will be Scott Clemmenson (facing the Avalanche for the 1st time in his career). He's in for Vokoun, recovering from nearly being Van Gogh'd by defenseman Keith Ballard.
Speaking of Ballard, there are a bunch of former Avs on the Panthers. Steven Reinprecht is 2nd on the team in scoring. Jordan Leopold is averaging 22 minutes per game and is playing in all situations (he's tops on the team in PK time). And the Panthers also have the enigmatic Victor Oreskovich, a former 2nd round pick of the Avs who retired from hockey early and is attempting a comeback this year.
Happy 23rd birthday today to Kyle Cumiskey. *beep beep*.
Tale of the Tape
(all rankings are from before Tuesday games)
| Colorado | Florida | |||
| 5th | 35 | Points | 26th | 24 |
| 10th | 2.96 | GF/G | 23rd | 2.58 |
| 21st | 2.82 | GA/G | 27th | 3.23 |
| 20th | 19.4 | PP% | 28th | 13.9 |
| 16th | 80.8 | PK% | 29th | 74.8 |
| 30th | 26 | S/G | 27th | 27.6 |
| 26th | 32.8 | SA/G | 29th | 35.1 |
| 29th | 46.6 | FO% | 11th | 49.5 |
| 14th | 13.4 | PIM/G | 6th | 11.3 |
| Stastny | 26 pts | Top Scorer | Horton | 22 pts |
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Comments
Happy days are here again!
I agree that this should be Boods game…which has me thinking that Anderson is going to do back-to-back duty again
Craig Anderson has it stored in his memory.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 2, 2009 9:45 AM MST up reply actions
His view is WAY BETTER than ours. I mean we can’t even see the girl! Al I can tell is she is white, blond and doesn’t have a tramp stamp.
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 2, 2009 12:52 PM MST up reply actions
Although it does look like there’s something written on her back in sharpee for some reason…
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:13 PM MST up reply actions
It say, “Merry Christmas Andy. Please unwrap your present”
Avalanche 2009-2010: We fend off 7 man power plays? Do you?
That would certainly explain the look on his face.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:16 PM MST up reply actions
They have so many members on their ice girls’ squad that they have to have TWO co-captains on the squad. What does an ice girl co-captain do?
This would be a nice win to pickup tonight. Even though the Avs have struggled a bit of late, a win tonight would put them in one of those “hockey” streaks where you can say they’ve only lost one game in regulation in their last six games.
The co-captains have to agree on if they are going to call heads or tails.
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Dec 2, 2009 8:57 AM MST up reply actions
I’m not thrilled with Andy getting the start. I know it’s his old team, but…has ANYONE seen how Crosby is just using goalies like he’s playing NHL10? We have a surging Pens team TOMORROW…and we’re playing a struggling Panthers team tonight, and you put Andy out there? Bad idea, Sacco.
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Is it a white flag for tomorrow?
Is he saying “let’s make sure to get 2 points tonight, and anything we would get tomorrow would be a bonus anyway”?
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Dec 2, 2009 9:01 AM MST up reply actions
I don’t know. It could have been that Sacco asked Andy if he wanted his old team because Andy had to start against the Penguins. If I were Andy, i would deeply want to beat Florida. We’ll never be privy to exactly what goes on in the locker room and if Andy didn’t think he could physically do this, I believe Andy would say something.
Avalanche 2009-2010: We fend off 7 man power plays? Do you?
terrible way to pick a goalie, IMO
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 2, 2009 10:29 AM MST up reply actions
According to McNab
That sounds about how it is done. Sacco checks with Andy to see if he feels alright to play, Andy says yes, and he is in net. I think Andy has a personal goal of setting the francise record for most starts, so he can beat Roy’s record, but that is just my guess.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
I think it’s more that Andy is out to prove he’s a legit #1 NHL netminder. We got him for a bargain price, but I’m sure he knows that his next contract can be worth much more if he posts top numbers and plays 60-70 games. Otherwise, he’ll be stuck in Biron and Nittymaki-land, picking up 1-2 year contracts for under $2 million. I’m sure he wants to be one of the $3-$4 million a season guys.
Andy’s got the skills to be a top 15 franchise goaltender, now he just has to prove he has the durability.
Colorado Avalanche: Preventing itchy playoff beards since '09
by FiveJeffFingerDiscount on Dec 2, 2009 10:51 AM MST up reply actions
This is what I agree with
I just hope the Avs are able to sign him long term, not some other team. Especially not another NW team.
A 2nd round rookie in the race for Calder? ORLY? Ya RLY!
He seems like the guys
who will show respect for the club that put faith in his ability to be number 1. Unlike Theodore who turned his back. Andy seems generally honored by the way the Avs treated him
I didn’t hear what McNabb said but I just guessed that. As long as Andy thinks he capable of playing I will defer to him.
Avalanche 2009-2010: We fend off 7 man power plays? Do you?
I disagree
The team needs wins right now and has been struggling against weaker opponents (Wild, Oilers). There’s more risk of going 0-2 if you play Buds tonight and Andy tomorrow. Play Andy tonight, and then the game tomorrow becomes less important if the Avs win.
What if you start Buds tonight and he has an off night and they lose to the Panthers, and then Andy plays tomorrow and they lose to the Pens despite a strong start by Andy.
That’s 0-2 and a confidence killer. If they play Andy tonight and win, then play Buds tomorrow and they lose, well who cares, they lost to the Cup champs. No shame there.
I just don’t see the risk involved.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 2, 2009 9:49 AM MST up reply actions
The Avs are going to have to play like they haven’t played in a month to beat the Pens, no matter who is in net. They have a reasonable chance of beating the Panthers, but Anderson clearly makes those odds a little better. Add in the fact he’s playing his ex-team and I think playing Andy tonight is the right choice.
And this isn’t to say that putting Budaj in is a guaranteed loss, and I get the feeling that most of this discussion stems from the fact that this is a lot of people’s perception.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 2, 2009 10:02 AM MST up reply actions
Honestly, I would rather get the win tonight…and if the Avs beat the Pens (whoever is in net) that’s just gravy. I’m not entirely sold that any version of “this year’s” Avs could beat the Pens the way they are playing. (unless maybe we get Brent Johnson, though even he has been playing well)
Didn’t the Avs beat the Pens last season? Yes they did 5-3. Granted that was in Denver, but any team can win on any night.
Maybe the Pens have been playing well, but are 4-4-0 against teams in the West. They’re also 7-3 in their last ten. Tomorrow is a good night for them to have a bad night.
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 remember that game, I was there. Dr. Jones scored 2 :D
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:16 PM MST up reply actions
I was still living in Pittsburgh then and I recall the local Pittsburgh announcers being impressed with the size of some of the Avs forwards, like Jones, and McLeod.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 2, 2009 3:16 PM MST up reply actions
That’s a funny way to put it considering 90% of his goals are “stand in front of the net, let someone else do all the work and watch it go in off my stick” sort of goals.
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:15 PM MST up reply actions
Guess you haven’t seen too many of his goals this year then…I’m usually not one to defend Crosby, but he has been doing a lot on his own this year (considering the team’s injuries)
He also switched to a one piece stick and it has made his shot noticeably faster.
by c0nquistad0rian on Dec 2, 2009 3:15 PM MST up reply actions
All Stastny’s are allergic to fiberglass.
Avalanche 2009-2010: We fend off 7 man power plays? Do you?
easy now..
as a 20 year old that uses a wood stick, i got stastny’s back
"Four goals in sixteen shots... I'm really tired of the...............25% rule." -John Tortorella
I used wood for a long time. Had the cash to buy a one piece last year. It took a few games to get used to it but unless I’m broke I won’t be going back. That being said, use what you’re comfortable with.
Get rid of the loser point
09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!
Used to use wood as well (oh, lord, I know Canary’s running with that) because I never liked the composites I borrowed from friends to test out. But I recently bought a stick by Demolition. The thing is freaking awesome. Incredibly light but strong, great flex. I love it. Won’t go back.
My friend sells them on his website in case anyone’s interested: hockeyone.com
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 3, 2009 3:34 PM MST up reply actions
Those are pretty much my thoughts exactly. Pitt on the road is going to be a real tough game. One of the worst matchups of the year for a back to back on the road.
by Dario on Dec 2, 2009 4:33 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
Andy may be thinkin'
this’ll be an easy game. He’s physically capable of the work load if the rest of the team plays for the full 60, as well.
Aye, but there’s the rub.
Plus, the Avs have been playing better on the road than at home lately.
The bottom line tonight…we cannot play down to them, this team has the potential of being good, and might be a surprise team in the 2nd half of the season.
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Also
Can we kidnap David Booth and leave Svatos in his place. Florida might not notice at first, then we’ll be in Pennsylvania.
Avalanche 2009-2010: We fend off 7 man power plays? Do you?
Phoenix and Ottawa are playing tonight?
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 2, 2009 12:46 PM MST up reply actions
Hey, I like Phoenix’s 3rd better than their regular…
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:16 PM MST up reply actions
Yuck, that black monstrosity with the fox on it? Their regulars are some of the best in hockey.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 2, 2009 1:22 PM MST up reply actions
win tonight = slightly expected, hopefully we andy owns his ex team
and hopefully a building block to a…
win tomorrow = true test, can we run with the champs
'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!'
- correction *
we own them like we owned tampa for parts of last game AND andy owns his ex team
'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!'
Cliff Viner & Stu Siegel do.
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Dec 2, 2009 1:11 PM MST up reply actions
Uwe Krupp?
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Dec 2, 2009 1:17 PM MST up reply actions
Uwe reference!
Bout time!
"Four goals in sixteen shots... I'm really tired of the...............25% rule." -John Tortorella
By the way Mr. Haynes,
its pronounced – OO-vah
NOT – You-EE.
The man only got the SCF winning goal for Christ’s sake. You’d think that the team’s longtime announcer could learn to say his name right!
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Time to grow a pair, boys!
Thank god...
Mike Krzyzewski isn’t a hockey player…
"Four goals in sixteen shots... I'm really tired of the...............25% rule." -John Tortorella
Damn Poles.
I had a coach in college who was of Polish decent. They seem to not like having vowels in their names.
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.
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