Game 47 Recap: Avalanche 3 - Flames 2 (SO)
by Dustin Burfiend on Jan 11, 2010 11:47 PM MST
98 comments
Man, does Anderson get up for Flames games or what? He came up huge in this game, stopping 44 shots to lead the Avs to a 3-2 shootout win. The Avs don't move into first in the NW since the Flames grabbed a loser point but this is still a huge win and the Avs move to 4th in the West since Nashville beat Vancouver in regulation.
The first period started with a bang as 20 seconds in, Stewart and Robyn Regehr dropped the gloves. Minutes later the Avs and Flames enforcer-types, Koci and Brian McGrattan, pounded each other in a fairly entertaining, if kind of pointless, fight. Seconds later, McLeod and Brandon Prust went at it. Usually I like a good scrap but five seconds after another fight? Right off the faceoff and with no real reason? And McLeod lost. With all the fighting, the players seemed to forget they were playing hockey and there was only one shot in the first 8 minutes. The game had a decided Avs tilt but they weren't putting shots up even with two powerplays. They payed for it later when Daymond Langkow beat Hannen and Wilson to a loose puck and slid a pass to Rene Bourque for an easy goal. Ryan Wilson should have been on Bourque but it seems like Hannen was maybe signiling him to pick up the puck? I'm not sure what happened but the period ended with the Flames up 1-0.
And they owned the Avs in the first part of the 2nd, outshooting them 8-1 in the first five minutes until Dustin Boyd backhanded one past Anderson and the Flames went up 2-0. Radar O'Reilly was caught a puck in the face during the play and moments later JM Liles also caught a puck in the face. Both would return to the game, however. Everyone's new favorite rookie, Brandon Yip (who had another great game), then drew a penalty and, surprisingly enough, the Avs managed to convert. Liles did what he does best and got the puck on net for a Statsny tip-in and the Avs were back within one. Statsny continued his great play by outhussling a Flame to a puck and then setting up a hell of screen to let Stewart send a weak wrist shot past Miikka Kiprusoff to tie it up.
In the third period the Flames came out determined to win the game and the only one standing in their way was Craig Anderson. They dominated play in the 3rd, out shooting the Avs 17 to 4. Jarome Iginla, in particular, pressured and got quite a few chances. Anderson, however, made brilliant save after brilliant save to preserve the tie. With a minute to go in the 3rd, the Yip took a bad penalty but the Flames (who's powerplay is...just awful) couldn't convert. In OT the Flames powerplay continued to suck and Statsny decided to taunt them by taking a delay of game so they could look awful on a 5 on 3. The Avs managed a whole 1 shot in OT and the game went to a shootout. Hejduk and Stewart got a couple of pretty goals to win it for the Avs.
Dustin's Three Stars
3rd Star - Paul Statsny - 1 goal, 1 assist. A solid game. He's been invisible lately so this was nice to see.
2nd Star - Chris Stewart - 1 goal and 1 hell of a fight. Damn its nice to see him achieving his potential.
1st Star - Craig Anderson - 44 saves. Isn't it lovely having a goalie who can steal games again?
Minus of the Game - Miikka Kiprusoff I think. He didn't have an atrocious game but he was throughly outplayed by his counter part.
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Dreams and nightmares...
I am so happy for Anderson! After a game like that, he knows his acrobatic mojo is back Not that it had ever left, but mental fatigue can blind someone; Sacco, I like your coaching, but there was a lesson for you to learn here: alternate golaies more often.
Is Anderson’s dream of becoming a Number One goalie turning out to be a nightmare for his opponents’ coaches and stars? I’ve seen the likes of it on some Calgary’s players face.
BTW, I’ve listened to the game on the Internet via a russian tv station. Didn’t get a word
they were saying, but damn! these guys get excited when a goal is scored.
.
I knew that when I did the evil clown's eye to Bonnie Lindros, she wouldn't even consider Eric playing in Quebec city. That evil eye got us Fosberg, Ricci, Hextall, other players plus around 16 million dollars.
Directly from Quebec city, a Nordique's fan since the WHL, the brillant, gentle, sweet and mostly humble god's clown. ;-)
I agree with your comments
That is the best game I have seen Anderson play since October; and thank goodness for that! Giving him a break now and then from carrying the team on his back, mentally, is going to keep that goalie alive and well. I want him hungry to play.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
He keeps playing like this, when he comes back to the Chicago-area in the summer…I am buying the man a beer (he’s buds with one of my old bosses)…regardless of the fact he makes about a million more bucks than I do
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
I posted before that we met him at the 24 Hours of Hockey benefit. Super nice guy, and completely shocked when I asked for his autograph and picture with my son. I up with a goalie having a swagger without being an a-hole; I don’t think those things are mutually exclusive.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
I laughed when I interviews him in the locker room at the UC earlier this year. I said “for a guy who grew up in Lake County, Illinois, you sure have a nice Canadian dialect.” He said if you are around hockey to much, eventually you will start saying “eh” and calling everyone “boys” regardless of their gender. Funny guy, even after a loss
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
I agree with your comments
You do? … … … Mom! I knew it was you!
.
Alors, je vais vous le confier...
Oops, this is an an english speaking forum... Sorry, I truely forgot...
From Nordiques to Avalanche, from Quebec city to Denver, it's a neverending exciting love story! :)
by god's clown on Jan 18, 2010 11:53 PM MST up reply actions
You do? … … … Mom! I knew it was you!
I am waiting for you for my bedtime story tonight…
by god's clown on Jan 19, 2010 12:03 AM MST up reply actions
I would read you one of your own books or poetry
but I don’t know which ones they are, and I don’t speak French :-(
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
Oops, forgot to say: good recap, Dustin! I liked how you inserted the 5-3 penalty, shaming the Flames’ power play. ;-)
I knew that when I did the evil clown's eye to Bonnie Lindros, she wouldn't even consider Eric playing in Quebec city. That evil eye got us Fosberg, Ricci, Hextall, other players plus around 16 million dollars.
Directly from Quebec city, a Nordique's fan since the WHL, the brillant, gentle, sweet and mostly humble god's clown. ;-)
Nice work Dustin!
My observations:
1. David Koci – Thanks for proving all of us who thought that you should just stay in the pressbox and read to the local kindergarten correct tonight. Thanks for wasting a roster space and making a tough game even harder. You, sir, are most truly TEH SUXXORRZZZZ!!!
2. Mr. Anderson – Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You, sir, ought not have to buy another round all year!
3. Sacco – It’s all a lot easier with Andy getting your back, but Koci over Durno? Really? And do you think you might, well, get them to, well, you know, kind of try a little bit and stuff after the second period? Just a bit? This is getting more than a bit tiresome.
4. Yip – Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Heeellllzzzz Yes!
5. Duke & Baron – I know you guys are ostensibly nobility & all, but you can’t score on the peasants if you don’t SHOOT THE !#@%$^ING PUCK!!!
6. Darcy “Wow, what a Sham!” Tucker – You are beginning to rival Trailer Arnizons in your suckitude. You are, most definitely a gravity well, a brown dwarf, well on your way to Black Hole of SUXXXORRZZ status. Anybody else note how well Radar & Highlander played when Shamwow’s blinding speed kept him on the bench while his linemates had made the line change and they got to play with Yip, Wolski, Galiardi, anybody, or in one case, nobody else? Hey Darcy, I hear Tuommo told his big brother on you. On a not totally unrelated note, you probably ought to head down that dark alley over there. I heard a shampoo truck broke down and it’s all you can carry.
7. Can anybody make the case to me with a straight face that Peltier is not a substantial upgrade over Clark? I mean hitting, playing the puck, it’s kinda crazy really. It’s almost as though he knew he was a hockey player and not a fencepost.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - Time to grow a pair, boys!
I thought Koci fought well AND it fired up the team.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 12, 2010 5:26 AM MST up reply actions
I didn’t really like the 3 fights in 2 minutes…but the Koci fight was exactly what the Flames announcers said it was…“bombs with no defense.”
I though the same DDC
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
I could have used about 6 fights in 1 minute. Almost double of what you didn’t like. Odd.
I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 12, 2010 9:12 AM MST up reply actions
I’m actually not very fond of fighting in hockey… I prefer to keep my sports separate, as it were. My favorite type of hockey is fluid, fast, and skilled. If I want to watch fighting I’ll go hit up the UFC.
I understand the fighting is part of the game, and sometimes its necessary, but I don’t always enjoy it. Last night got a little ridiculous by the third fight.
Thanks Joe...
by mfured20 on Jan 12, 2010 10:07 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I agree the third fight was ridiculous. The first was awesome. The second was cool though I think it would/could have been better served a little later in the period.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 10:21 AM MST up reply actions
Rec’d for all around truthiness. I don’t mind fights after dirty hits and in the heat of the moment but when two knuckledraggers like Koci and McGratton drop the gloves seconds after a faceoff I tend to go grap a drink or something to eat when I’m watching at home. That stuff is a waste of time and I’d have no problem if the NHL got rid of staged fights.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Koci didn’t get his hindquarters handed to him as is his wont, but the fight was a draw at best and I’m not sure that it did all that much to fire up a team that had already seen its top line winger throw down (and beat up) with one of CGY’s big defensemen in the first 60 seconds.
As per usual, Koci’s presence made things that much tougher on the rest of the team as he was limited to less than 3 minutes TOI, less than half of what anybody else skated, and everyone else was forced to juggle duties in order to keep him off the ice. He doesn’t fight well, doesn’t skate well, doesn’t really do anything well. Durno, who was scratched in his favor, is an infinitely better player who has plenty of grit, etc. (btw Durno has also outscored Koci in their respective NHL careers though Durno has nearly 5 times fewer games than Koci).
I simply can’t justify Koci’s presence on this team. Based on this year’s evidence, neither can he.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - On the upside, there's only 35 more (regular season) games of Darcy Tucker left!
it’s amazing what can happen when you don’t try to block the opposing fighter’s fists with your face.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 9:46 AM MST up reply actions
Well, I agree with you. But I think in the players eyes just seeing Koci hold his own instead of getting owned may have had some morale boost.
Get rid of the loser point
TheRed: MHH's ninth ranked post-whore. Thank God for the internets or I'd have no life
I agree with this. I liked the Koci fight. A lot.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 1:45 PM MST up reply actions
Hey JM Liles…nice game. Can you do that in the next one as well? Or are you going to go back to looking clueless on the PP. You have show us all this on occasion this year, that you can set up plays and shoot without hesitation…now KEEP IT UP!
Anderson…great game. Should have been 2-1…not exactly sure either what Hannan and Wilson were up to on that one.
Kipper…that may be the softest goal I have ever seen him give up, but when you are hot like Mr. Stewart, even those seem to go in.
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
it looked like Anderson was talking a Sunday stroll to the puck, did an “oh shit or dear” a fraction too late, and the end result was that everyone got caught with their pants down on that goal. I would think Beachie had something to do with it, but Liles wasn’t a part of that play.
I have to admit, at the start of the game with all the fighting, I had visions of another craptastic Carolina game. Glad they regrouped and got back to playing hockey. I have never been a big fan of the WWF.
Jokinen’s shootout goal: I think he either hypnotized Andy, or Andy was just dizzy, what with all the circular motion beforehand.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
It was Jokinen’s stache…that could make anyone look twice
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
As for the fighting, I said the same thing to my wife. I said “OK guys, I know you can fight…can we play some actual hockey now?”
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
I thought it more of a “you guys are rookie losers and aren’t legit contender”. “no, we are. You’ll see” " wanna fight about it?" “sure we’ll just beat you later as well”
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
by c6hor8 on Jan 12, 2010 8:08 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
I thought the Stewart and Koci fights were good. The McLeod fight put things over the top and tilted things to the Flames side…since they’re douches who are used to playing that way. The Avs are a finesse team, not a fighting team. That fight should have not happened.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 8:33 AM MST up reply actions
First fight, great let them know early the Avs aren’t taking any crap and that this game is big.
Second fight…OK. Both guys have their “enforcer” on the ice to let the other team know he’s there and if things get our of hand there will be some smack down.
Third fight too much so early. That’s the kind of fight that give the “Anti-fighting/staged fighting” group ammo. it wasn’t necessary and it was way to close ti the other fights, too early in the game. Now if it had happened in the third period, of a tough, physical game, then maybe.
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 Jan 12, 2010 11:45 AM MST up reply actions
That is exactly what made all of those games between 95 and 98 so boring against the Wings… all that early fighting. Yawn.
I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 12, 2010 11:57 AM MST up reply actions
But those came after hits, not some staged shit by two knuckledraggers to justify a paycheck
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
please. Lemieux-McCarty wasn’t staged? Lots of stuff that people think is “staged” is actually payback for something a while back. In some cases back to Juniors. Once again, please. this argument is silly. It assumes you know more than GM’s, players, and coaches who have been around high level hockey all their lives.
Get rid of the loser point
TheRed: MHH's ninth ranked post-whore. Thank God for the internets or I'd have no life
Wasn’t Lemieux-McCarty during s fight that Forsberg and Larianov started, it wasn’t seconds after a face-off. What the hell payback did Koci and McGratton’s fight solve. Koci plays 3 minutes a game, hes in the line up for one reason and thats fight. I’m not talking about payback fights like Lemieux-McCarty or Lappy and Johnson’s fight last year. I’m talking abot the Brashears, Larouques, Kocis and Parkers of the NHL who are there for one reason and thats fight. I like watching fights that have a purpose, that are after a dirty hit or an injury to a p[layer, not from two players dropping the gloves after a face off for no reason other than needing to justify a spot in the line up.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUVBts1_KJo
Once again. Please.
Get rid of the loser point
Beer: breakfast of champions
Wasn’t Lemieux-McCarty during s fight that Forsberg and Larianov started, it wasn’t seconds after a face-off
payback fights like Lemieux-McCarty
huh? They both meant something, yet one is ok and another not in your world.
Because of the instigator the big guys gotta go when the team feels they have been slighted. I’m not a huge fan of “staged” fights, FTR, but I think if they had no purpose they wouldn’t be there. Once again, players, GM’s, and coaches who have all been around high level hockey for years know why its there, regardless of whether they want to fight or not.
Get rid of the loser point
Beer: breakfast of champions
ok, this really should have been one post. Sorry.
two players dropping the gloves after a face off for no reason other than needing to justify a spot in the line up.
Who are they justifying it to then? A coach who would rather play a skill player but “can’t because he has to get the goon some ice time”? A GM who wants his job back? Both of those guys retain jobs based on W-L record, not who won a fight. If the fighting didn’t do anything to further W-L record, they wouldn’t be there.
Get rid of the loser point
Beer: breakfast of champions
Like I said below I got mixed up with the Lemieux-McCarty fights and was only referring to the big brawl the Avs had where he was suckerpunched.
If the fights done because of something that happened before like the whole Lemieux-McCarty thing and Lappy fighting Zeiler the game after his dirty hit on Foote(Not sure where Johnson came into things in my first post) then I don’t mind because everyone knows why it’s happening. The “Staged” fights between the Koci’s and McGratton’s of the NHL aren’t what I want to see when I’m watching a hockey game and IMO they do more harm to the game than help, admittedly thats simply from the perspective of someone who lives in a country where the vast majority look down on the sport as being for meatheads with no skill that only fight. If Koci plays his 3 minutes and doesn’t fight then all the fans, and I’ve seen it mentioned alot here at MHH, whine that he’s taken up a spot that could be given to someone with talent, so obviously he has to fight because he knows, and I’m sure the coach knows as well that thats what he was signed for. Koci wasn’t signed because he was a good cheap player, he was signed as a cheap replacement for Parker.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Wasn’t Lemieux-McCarty during s fight that Forsberg and Larianov started, it wasn’t seconds after a face-off.
No that was the Lemieux “turtle” incident the season before. Forsberg knocked Larianov down at the blue line, during their wrestling, McCarty blindsided Lemieux (I still think Lemieux “turtled” because after the blindside hit he took from McCarty, he was semi-conscious; but that’s my opinion). Roy saw it and came to help but got hit/knocked down by Shannahan doing his impersonation of Jimmy “Superfly” Snooka. Vernon jumped on Roy to aid Shannahan in the double team before Foote got into it to help Roy. Vernon and Shannahan then turned their attention to Foote for a few seconds before Roy got up and realized Foote was in trouble and he took on Vernon.
97 brawl
The actual fight just off the opening face-off happened the next season.
(Red posted this video above)
The 2009-10 Avalanche: Have the wheels fallen off the bus yet?
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Jan 17, 2010 2:47 PM MST up reply actions
Aside from SoS proving the naysayers wrong, again
It seems to me that JML and Wheels can’t have a good game at the same time. It’s always one or the other. Maybe it is the similarity of their roles or it is simply conicidence, I am not sure.
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
by c6hor8 on Jan 12, 2010 8:01 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Interesting point.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 8:34 AM MST up reply actions
FWIW:
I don’t know who applied for writing positions here, but Dustin has my vote based on his outstanding game recaps. He’s been great. (Paul’s Coffey’s player grades were well done too.)
A big +1 to Dustin, who’s been pretty damn good here. (and I dig the Oro avatar. Yeah I know it’s really from one of the FF games, but I’m old school, and will call it Oro)
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 12, 2010 8:12 AM MST reply actions
Final Fantasy 1…black mage. I’ve played every FF game there has been, but won’t be able to play the new one…don’t have the system, or the 6-7 hours a day to play (having two young kids)
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
And it’s Orco…if you are thinking of the He-Man guy
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
damnit
Orco.. whatever it’s been a while.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 12, 2010 8:18 AM MST up reply actions
I just read Dater's post-game blog
Yeah. He’s officially lost his mind.
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
by c6hor8 on Jan 12, 2010 8:24 AM MST via mobile reply actions
He is right about a few things…
1. Lately, it looks like the Avs want to play ANYWHERE but the Pepsi Center (and yes, I think the empty seats and quietness may have something to do with it.)
2. Comparing Wolski to a box of chocolates is pretty spot on. One night, this kid is a world beater, the next, you barely hear his name called. He has to be more consistent.
3. We do have 11 of the next 13 at home, if we’re to make a move…THE TIME TO STRIKE IS NOW.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
The whole slash and dash and digger nonsense is true but I think AD wants to win some figure of speech award.
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
by c6hor8 on Jan 12, 2010 8:39 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, you have a point there…but we do need to get someone who is a banger in front of the net.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Umm
isn’t that why putting Stewart with Wolski and Stastny was pretty successful so far?
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 12, 2010 8:49 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, but we could always use another one…because heaven FORBID Tucker actually, ya know…does his job or anything.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Yeah, but we could always use another one
cf. Yip, Brandon.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - On the upside, there's only 35 more (regular season) games of Darcy Tucker left!
I just want any excuse for Tucker to severely injure himself.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
we do need to get someone who is a banger in front of the net.
I nominate Beachie.
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
Heehee!
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 9:12 AM MST up reply actions
That was just plain funny.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 9:46 AM MST up reply actions
That’s Sominex.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
http://yfrog.com/3uleevsnorrisj
I thought that was the perfect way to start that game. The last time out Glencross basically said the Avs were a bunch of divers. The Avs matched their emotion early and made a statement.
All the negative talk about Wolski or Stastny has me totally confused at this point. I really do believe fans want them to be differnt players than what they truely are. No one is complaint about the play of Hannan or Duchene, but instead keep hoping that Wolski and Stastny start becoming snipers who get off 6 shots a game? I don’t get that.
by Dario on Jan 12, 2010 9:00 AM MST via mobile reply actions
I just want Wolski to show he can consistently be that player who’s going to strike fear into the other team.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Actually, I’m hearing a lot of complaints about Hannan and Duchene…though that is coming mostly from ignorant “fans”….
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 9:13 AM MST up reply actions
Stastny just needs to score more to be perfect in my book.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 10:02 AM MST up reply actions
I think its interesting how Stastny’s play reflects his personality… We would really like him to score more, but I’m not sure he’s that type of guy. I think we all have a bit of a Super Joe hangover, and want Stats to try to step into his role. There have been multiple misgivings about Stats as Captain, and I think those are well-based: Hes a quiet, unselfish, occasionally invisible player. His game is pure finesse and positioning. I won’t say that hes not competitive, but he seems to lack that super intense fire that some other players seem to have bursting out of them.
Stat’s personality translates into a quiet game. Perfect positioning doesn’t lead to scoring; it leads to passes to guys crashing the net. Being in front of the net last night for the tip-in isnt his usual place; he’ll usually be 4 feet out ready to collect a rebound from his scoring wingers. I just dont think we can count on him to be a scorer like we would all like him to be.
Thanks Joe...
This
I see SoS as the guy who sets up the sweet goals, racking up the assists along the way.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 10:23 AM MST up reply actions
Wolski, fights
I want Wolski to be a guy who’s not going to go on a 10-game goalless streak, and who’s going to be able to score more than 3 points in those 10 games since he doesn’t do much else (like kill penalties, even though he’s supposedly a top-30 defensive player).
I’ve accepted that he’s not a power forward, but he rarely even does the little things that lead to goals, especially driving hard to the net. Milan Hejduk can get away with playing an outside game. A kid who’s been in the doghouse with all 3 of his NHL head coaches and who’s in the middle of a major scoring slump should probably try to get to the net a little bit more. Maybe the guys who coached him in the NHL are wrong, even though all three played the game at the highest level. The message from every single one of them seems to be that he needs to more consistent in his effort, and he needs to use his frame to get closer to the net. Haven’t heard one of them say that they’re happy with his physical effort, everything’s fine. It’s obviously not just the fans who get frustrated by the guy.
He consistently plays on one of the top two lines and gets more than 20 minutes/game. He shouldn’t go 10 games with 3 points and no goals. He’s going to have to win me over, and he seems to be losing Sacco, again, because that’s the only logical reason for yanking him from the shootout.
Thought the fights were perfect, even Cody Mac’s. Colorado was coming into a tough place to play against one of the most physical teams in the league, the NHL’s fight leaders by a long shot. Regher and Phaneuf have always been physical against the Avs, without much response. That changed last night.
The first fight was Stewart saying “don’t fuck with us,” pure and simple. He beat the crap out of Regher and really set a tone. The next fight was Koci holding his own with a monster, a highly entertaining heavyweight fight. The reaction from both benches and in the stands spoke volumes about what the fight meant. I like Durno, but he only played about 4 minutes the last game, Sacco’s doing what a good coach does and trying to mix in some of the fringe players a bit and keep them engaged. Koci was the least of our problems last night.
by Dan Winkler on Jan 12, 2010 11:26 AM MST up reply actions
Gaaahhhhh
I just had a long response and I hit “cancel” instead of “post” anyway in summation:
He consistently plays on one of the top two lines and gets more than 20 minutes/game. He shouldn’t go 10 games with 3 points and no goals.
If this is the expectation for Wolski, or any player in the league not named “Ovechkin” you’ve just put an impossible expectation on him. Every player has something like this happen, even if they are playing well, including the greats. See Sydney Crosby last season.
It just defies probability to expect someone, even if they are playing at the top of their game, to go 10 games without a slump. It will happen from time to time, because statistics says so. For example: If you flip a coin one million times there will probably be a stretch of 50 where you get all heads. Well if you win 5¢ for every tails and lose 2¢ for every head, you’re not “flipping coins” improperly, you just were a victim of bad luck. It’s even more common to go pointless in hockey. Now expecting someone to play their best game every single night is also statistically impossible too. In one sentence you’ve heaped two absolutely impossible expectations on the guy, but that’s all it will take to win you over.
Wolski has been giving a pretty consistent effort lately, the pucks just aren’t falling. He’s got 25 shots in those last 10 games, that’s not exactly shabby. He’s playing just fine, the pucks just aren’t falling.
Being pulled from the shootout has nothing to do with his play on the ice, he’s been slumping and Sacco pulled him. (I think he’s been scouted and needs to fire a wrist shot)
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 12, 2010 12:04 PM MST up reply actions
I think he’s been scouted
Hopefully he is getting some counseling.
I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 12, 2010 12:21 PM MST up reply actions
Goalies have definitely watched tape. All of them are poke checking him, tapping that puck right off his stick. He definitely needs to find some new moves.
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 12:26 PM MST up reply actions
If this is the expectation for Wolski, or any player in the league not named "Ovechkin" you’ve just put an impossible expectation on him. Every player has something like this happen, even if they are playing well, including the greats. See Sydney Crosby last season.
I agree. If he wasn’t shoot and all he was doing was passing the puck, maybe there could be a complaint. But he has had some good chance and they just haven’t gone in for him. Criticize his shot selection, not the fact that he’s in s scoring drought.
He’s second in scoring only to SoS and is still on pace for a career year.
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 Jan 12, 2010 12:51 PM MST up reply actions
I need to stop typing while students are trying to talk to me…
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 Jan 12, 2010 12:56 PM MST up reply actions
He can’t be great every night, but he’s got to do better than this:
Wolski has been giving a pretty consistent effort lately
I think you’re a Wolski fan, and look at what you’re saying about the guy. Seems like a back-handed compliment. He’s been “pretty” consistent (which isn’t consistent at all) and giving a good effort “lately” (which means he hasn’t always tried hard every game).
He’s not consistent, and, along with a lack of effort, I’ve got to believe that’s what drives his coaches crazy. He’s in his 4th full season – how much more time should it take for him to understand that you have to do all the little things every single game, and by little things I mean skate hard, don’t coast, and move your feet? Do you think his teammates like playing with a guy who tries as hard as possible one night and then loafs another night? Who exactly do you think Hendricks was talking about?
I’m a fan first, so I hope he produces. Really. Consistent would be better than inconsistent, but if he produces like a first-line winger should, then I’ll be pretty satisfied. But, based on his history of inconsistency and loafing, I’m skeptical. When’s the light switch going to go on? When’s he going to get it?
Every player has something like this happen, even if they are playing well, including the greats.
This is twice this season. First, he went eight games without a goal, which was mitigated by six assists in that span. Now it’s 10 games with three points, including an accidental assist on Stewart’s soft goal last night, a secondary assist against Anaheim almost a month ago, and a primary assist on a Stewart goal against Dallas when he fed Stewart before the red line and let the big man do his thing (credit to Wolski for actually driving the net on that goal).
I don’t expect much from Koci or Tucker or McCleod. They don’t have Wolski’s talent, not by a long shot. I’m critical of Wolski because he’s obviously got talent, lots of it, and at times it seems like he’s pissing it away because he doesn’t want to play hard every night.
I don’t like criticism of effort in general. Generically, too often it’s “I don’t like the guy, but can’t really find anything else to rip him for”. It’s too abstract, how do you measure Wolski’s “effort”? There’s no stats, no way to tell. It’s all subjective. You and I, and others, watch the same games. I think his effort has been fine. He’s had bad games, he’s had good ones lately (despite the drought). It’s also almost impossible to tell when a bad game is due to just a normal bad game, or a lack of effort.
I think the downside to benching players is that people immediately question a guys effort after every single bad game now. Every time Wolski has had a bad game this year… he’s been a loafer. Hell every time he’s had a bad play, he’s been a loafer. If it were Wolski, and not Hannan, who made that mistake on the first goal he would have been ripped to shreds for his lazy play. But no one doubts Hannan’s efforts so it’s just a bad mistake.
Wolski has had good games and bad games, but I think the amount of times he loafs is greatly exaggerated. He’s creating scoring chances this season at a pretty solid rate. He’s also not giving up all that many while he’s on the ice. Who the fuck cares if he looks like he’s trying while he does it? His teammates… yeah I guess. But the fans? Whatever.
He just gets hammered every single time he makes anything short of the perfect play, and god forbid he go in a slump because then it’s not a slump… he’s being lazy again. It’s an infuriating development.
Despite all the lack of effort talk swirling around him, his ice-time hasn’t changed substantially since his very early season benching. Obviously the coaches don’t think he’s loafing because if he was, there’s no doubt that Sacco would cut his ice-time. If you’re going to use coaches benching him 2 months ago as evidence he’s loafing, then the lack of a drop in ice-time should be evidence that he has been playing well despite the points not coming.
This isn’t Tyler Arnason here where he obviously doesn’t care about being on the ice, and it shows in his points, shots, and all around lazy play. this is a young guy (23 still) having a breakout season who is in the type of slump that all players go through.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 12, 2010 1:52 PM MST up reply actions
In the end
Wolski should be getting 60-80 points a season.
If he really clicks with SoS, he could border on 90. He just needs to finish some of those feeds. Right now he looks on pace for 70 or above, I didn’t feel like doing the math. That is just fine for a 1st line winger. Add another winger who gets that many points and now SoS is looking to break 100 points and that line is just devastating.
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
I think you’re a Wolski fan, and look at what you’re saying about the guy.
…and what’s wrong with that? He’s an Avs player, he’s a pretty damn good Avs player, aren’t we suppose to be his fan and support him? We can be a fan of him and still objectively judge his play. Sure there’s a bias, I don’t think anyone’s opening denying that though. I mean, we are at an Avs fan blog. It comes with the territory.
I think Jibble’s stress on his age is important. He’s 23. He’s younger than Brandon Yip. Yes he has played more games, and some of the players from his same year has gone on to better things, but he’s still quite young for a hockey player and is still developing, and consider the chaos he was put through under Q and especially Granato’s “systems,” I’m willing to give him time. This is a very young team that is in development. It is by no means a finished product. It begs for patience. Look at the contenders right now. Have anyone of them become overnight contenders? We are already much ahead of our learning curve right now, partly because the weight of expectation was taken off them, which gave them the space to get loose and start to fulfill their potentials. Wolski, as everyone is saying, is having a career year. I agree inconsistency is a problem, but you are seeing the improvements right? (Right?) Other than SO, I’d say Wolski has improved all aspect of his game this season.
Oh, and I distinctly remember him being put on the PK unit many times this season. He’s more of a fill in when the key PK guys like O’Reilly and Galiardi are out or in the box themselves, but he has done it, and has done it quite well from what I remember.
I spent more effort eating a pudding than Tyler Arnason skated last year.
Burrows
Have the rest of you read about his act? In a perfect world this would just be horrible, and I hate to stand up for a ref but Burrows is just a moron. Wow Alex, you made the ref look like an idiot and thought that would sit well with him? Then you bring up a private conversation where he pretty much said it’s payback time? Will the ref get in trouble? Ablolutely. Will Alex Burrows ever catch a break from any ref or linesman from here on out? Absolutely not.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 9:52 AM MST reply actions
Although, I will say, if Burrows’ statements are true…then this ref needs to be canned.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
Burrows handled in the exact wrong way, but I saw the last part of that game and my distaste for the Canuckleheads notwithstanding, the refs absolutely jobbed them out of that game. No question.
2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche - On the upside, there's only 35 more (regular season) games of Darcy Tucker left!
Who? Where? What am I missing?? Linky to the story please!
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 9:59 AM MST up reply actions
I agree with you both, the guy shouldn’t be a ref any more, but look for Burrows PIM to go up dramatically.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 12, 2010 10:01 AM MST up reply actions
Same. Be careful who you call out in public, things could go badly for you. There are avenues for dealing with corruption, but the media ain’t necessarily one.
Thanks Joe...
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 10:30 AM MST up reply actions
We’ll find out sometime tonight…Burrows has been called to the principal’s office…9:00 pm EST meeting…this is NOT good.
"It comes from motivation within" - Matt Hendricks
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
You know
It’s odd. Watching games with non-hockey fans they always comment on how close the refs and the players seem, i.e. the refs refer to players by first name and sometimes joke around with the,. It’s the only sport where the players, Captains and Alternate Captains, are allowed and suppose to talk with the officials. This makes the rapport between players and the officials different than any sport.
So, to me, the refs and the players will interact more than other sports and since there is a closeness, this sort of candid conversation is bound to happen. I don’t think the the ref should have said anything, he just should have started calling Burrows for everything and smiled when argued with. But regardless, Burrow just violated the one big rule with sports: Don’t piss off the officials.
Good Luck Vancouver. Work on your Penalty Kill.
Avalanche 2009-2010: Ostensibly, the worst team in the league. Realistically, top of the NW division.
WHY do players feel the need to publicize everything immediately? Does the league forbid the players from sending them any sort of communications? Why doesn’t Burrows just send in a complaint by himself or through the Canucks and ask them to investigate this before blabbing about it to the media? He would accomplish his goal of getting the ref looked at (which is really what he could hope to accomplish anyways) without getting in trouble with every ref and linesman in the league, in addition of gaining a rep for being a whiner (which he kinda already has anyways)?
If this is a legitimate accusation though, Auger is a disgrace to the league and should be kicked out immediately. I know refs do do revenge calls, but to announce it to a player openly is insane. It is dumb, and it completely undermines the integrity of the game.
I spent more effort eating a pudding than Tyler Arnason skated last year.
just because someone is good at sports doesn’t mean he’s smart.
I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 13, 2010 9:58 AM MST up reply actions
Sweet freaking game to be the first one I watch
From my new apartment.
On a related note, I’m Back!!! Now that I have better than stupid dial-up (Thank you neighbour with open wireless)
I know you all missed me dearly didn’t even notice I was gone.
Actually, I did notice. Pllbbbbtttt! So there. (oh, and welcome back!!)
"I think you should win if you have a two-goal lead. When you stop playing and stop working hard, that's when the other team is going to be all over you the whole time." - Peter Forsberg
by NurseBeachie on Jan 12, 2010 11:34 AM MST up reply actions
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