Game 31 Preview: Avalanche at Blue Jackets
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 5, 2009 7:37 AM MST
in Game Previews
53 comments
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| Colorado Avalanche |
5: MT / 7 ET / 12 GMT |
Columbus Blue Jakcets |
| 15-9-6 | December 5th, 2009 |
13-10-5 |
| 36 pts | Nationwide Arena |
31 pts |
| t-4th in West |
Columbus, OH |
10th in West |
The Avalanche continue their 5-game trek tonight with their first visit to the fine city of Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. For whatever reason, these matchups always seem to be entertaining. There's been some chippy games and some back-and-forth games in the last few years. There's that annoying cannon, of course, and, if you happen to watch the Columbus feed you'll be watching two of the biggest homers in all of sports. Actually, analyst Danny Gare left after last season, so I don't know that new analyst Bill Davidge will be as bad, but given that he played for (*sigh*) The Ohio State University and coached at Miami of Ohio and that he's paired with pom-pom-toting Jeff Rimer, I think it's a fair guess. Neither team is playing well right now (both teams are3-4-3 in their last 10)
There's added intrigue in the game as it's the first return to Columbus for Adam Foote since his "controversial" trade to Colorado in 2008. When Foote missed both trips to Columbus last year, we was quietly (and not-so-quietly) accused of having a touch of Columbus flu to avoid any controversy. Sadly, I have another engagement tonight and will not be able to see the game until tomorrow. I won't have a recap up for this one.
Craig Anderson (neck) is not expected to play tonight, which should give Peter Budaj his 2nd straight start. Statistically, he's the better goalie. Columbus' Steve Mason has had a tough sophomore season, with a 3.46 GAA and an .888 save percentage. In his 22 starts, he's allowed 3 goals or more 14 times. The Jackets are 3-7-4 in those games, so I think the Avs goal tonight is clear: score.
As strange as it is to see the BJ's goaltending collapse (they went from 9th in the league last year to 29th so far this year), it's nothing compared to what happened to their powerplay. They had the worst PP in the league last year (yes, even worse than ours). This year? #1. They have almost doubled their PP efficiency so far, improving from 12.7% to 24.8%. Amazing.
Besides Andy, the Avalanche will be without the usual suspects tonight - David Jones, Ruslan Salei and Kyle Cumiskey. The BJs are without Rusty Klesla, Derek Dorsett, Andrew Murray, Frederik Modin. Raffi Torres and Marc Methot are both questionable.
Avalanche vs Blue Jackets coverage
| Colorado | Columbus | |||
| 7th | 36 | Points | 15th | 31 |
| 9th | 2.97 | GF/G | 7th | 3.04 |
| 21st | 2.93 | GA/G | 29th | 3.46 |
| 17th | 19.7 | PP% | 1st | 24.8 |
| 18th | 79.4 | PK% | 23rd | 78.2 |
| 30th | 26 | S/G | 17th | 29.4 |
| 26th | 33.1 | SA/G | 23rd | 31.4 |
| 29th | 46.7 | FO% | 13th | 50.2 |
| 16th | 14 | PIM/G | 20th | 14.4 |
| Stastny | 30 pts | Top Scorer | Nash | 30 pts |
0 recs |
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Altitude2
Since the game will be in SD I have opted to spend time with my family tonight instead of watching the game. That’s how much I now hate SD.
Wow, that kinda came out wrong…
I’m confused, I thought all Alt games were in HD?
(this coming from the last person on the planet without HD, so I don’t pay much attention to that)
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Dec 5, 2009 8:43 AM MST up reply actions
I don’t have hd either, I don’t miss it therefore.
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
They keep advertising that, but it isn’t true for alot of the Alt2 channel people, and the bandwidth or whatever (I’m not techie) is low or super compressed or some such on that channel and that makes it worse.
I laughed at the people at work that used to complain about it, called them HD snobs. Guess what? It’s AWESOME, and now it just makes my eyes bleed to watch SD. It’s very frustrating.
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 10:01 AM MST up reply actions
Still shaking my head….
I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Dec 5, 2009 10:50 AM MST up reply actions
…at lack of HD for above people living in caves? :)
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 11:18 AM MST up reply actions
understood, we dialed back the ticket buying to pay for the TV, increased cable bill, blah blah, it’s all our fault the game attendence is down
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 11:21 AM MST up reply actions
I thought it was only the home games that were guaranteed to be in HD. But then, I’m to poor for HD as well, so… HOwever, most of the games I watch are a t work and we have HD there. Seems like most of the alt 2 and away games are SD. Maybe i’m wrong.
Get rid of the loser point
09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!
Every game is in HD this season
Altitude’s HD feed finds a period to suck, but Altitude 2 also has a HD channel. Maybe not on Comcast? I don’t know. I get Altitude 2 in HD on DirecTV.
"I intend to kick your ass today." - Denver Broncos legend Tom Jackson
how expensive is HD there?? it’s $5 a month here.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 5, 2009 1:06 PM MST up reply actions
I’m not sure how much for me now, when I first looked into it they wanted like $20 extra a month. I can’t even really afford the $100 for cable and intertube now, so any extra sucks.
Get rid of the loser point
09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!
I’ll be at DU/CC tonight, so I’ll only be able to take in the first period.
Go Avs!
Go DU!
Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)
by Angélique C. Murray on Dec 5, 2009 8:41 AM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Keys to the game:
- As DDC said “SCORE!”
- Stay out of the penalty box (special emphasis goes out to Svatos and Clark)
___Then again the Avs seem to play their best PK against the top PP units, and let the worst teams score on the PP - Play the third period! Any shoot is better than no shot.
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.
Other keys
4. Contain Rick Nash and don’t let his skate get anywhere near Budaj’s leg. If the game goes to shooutouts, the Avs are screwed, because Nash owns the shootouts.
5. Solid defense. take away the BJ’s time and space, because the Avs allow the BJ’s to freely skate into the zone and start firing away at Budaj, it’s over. They have some players with some killer shots.
GO AVS!!
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
Nash: did you see the SO against the Hawks where Huet(?) poke checked the puck AND Nash into the corner? That was awesome!
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 12:48 PM MST up reply actions
I'll be missing the game too
I’m going to the Parade of lights tonight.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 5, 2009 10:27 AM MST reply actions
Jibbles gonna freeze!
I’m going to the less popular but traditional (for us) parade in Boulder. I’ll watch the game when I get home, if I haven’t had too many Rio Margaritas!
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 10:35 AM MST up reply actions
LOL, Shit, I’m a lightweight! 3 is plenty!
by From the Point on Dec 5, 2009 11:27 AM MST up reply actions
I shall be here for some of it unless I can convince my friend to delay her bday sushi dinner to watch the last period. Thankfully, she’s as nuts about hockey as I am (tho misguided – Kings fan) so it may not be too difficult of an idea.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 5, 2009 10:50 AM MST reply actions
Mmmmmmmmmm sushi
But it can always wait until the game is over. And this game is super early!!
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
well, i have a game at 10 pm so we gotta squeeze it in
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Dec 5, 2009 1:07 PM MST up reply actions
Ah, I see
Thats ok then, you have my blessing to miss the 3rd if necessary;)
This is a hockey board — You fuck with our Hejduk, and the spirit of Lappy is coming. =)-Jibbles
Avalanche players please take note:
Thats ok then, you have my blessing to miss the 3rd if necessary;)
This DOES NOT apply to you!
Not even Hot Pocket! You might be her boyfriend, but…
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Time to grow a pair, boys!
i might be around tonight
if i manage to get to work through the 7.9 in of snow (converted to imperial for y’all)
'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!'
"The" Ohio State University?
Including the “The” is letting the terrorists win. But I’ve been corrected enough times by annoying OSU alums to know it’s not a battle worth fighting.
Damn straight
/tOSU alum
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Dec 5, 2009 11:26 AM MST up reply actions
Win one for the Barrel Man
Even though he wore a Broncos barrel, he’s a Denver icon that passed away this morning. The Avs can give his family some love as well with a win tonight.
"I intend to kick your ass today." - Denver Broncos legend Tom Jackson
Crosby’s out with a groin injury tonight…MUST…RESIST….BETTMAN….JOKE…..
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
That's what Bettman said
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
I ain't saying this is a "must-win"...
…but with all the games in hand that the 5-8 teams in the West have, if they don’t win, there’s a possibility that once all those games-in-hand are played, we’re in 9th.
Therefore, while I will not say that this is a “must win”, I WILL say that they absolutely must win it.
VooDoo Bob
Well ill beat the shit out of him tonight for you all. I love using his head as a stress squeezer.
Feel free to poke pins in his eyes.
A vasectomy means never having to say you're sorry.
-- Anonymous
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