Game 44 Preview: Islanders at Avalanche
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 6:00 AM MST
in Game Previews
70 comments
 |
 |
 |
| New York Islanders |
7 MT / 9 ET / 2 GMT |
Colorado Avalanche |
| 17-18-8 | January 5th, 2010 |
24-13-6 |
| 42 pts | Pepsi Center |
54 pts |
| 11th in East |
Denver, CO |
5th in West |
June 26th, Montreal, Quebec. The 2009 NHL Entry draft. Most predictions have defenseman Victor Hedman going to the Lightning at #2, but where John Tavares and Matt Duchene landed was still very much up in the air. In fact, multiple rumors that day had Duchene going to the Islanders (the fake John Tavares twitter feed making the same claims didn't help). In the end, Isles took Tavares as expected. Duchene - who was caught on camera celebrating when he wasn't taken first overall - would indeed end up getting drafted by his favorite team growing up.
Fast forward a few months, and Tavares (28 points) and Duchene (27 points) are neck and neck in the rookie scoring race (along with Nic Bergfors of the Devils. I think it's safe to say that both teams are very happy with their selection. Tavares has slowed lately (1 point in his last 11 games) after a hot start (10 points in his first 13 games). Duchene's season has been almost the opposite, and he was just named Rookie of the Month for December. (Coincidentally, iTunes just randomly served up Velvet Revolver's "Do it for the Kids")
But this is not just about Duchene and Tavares. The Avalanche have a number of excellent young players and the Islanders are in a similar situation. Of the Isles' top 10 scorers, only 3 are over 26 (Mark Streit, Richard Park and Tim Hunter). While the youth movement should lay the foundation for both teams for years, it isn't paying dividends for the Islanders in the scoring department yet. They are currently 29th in the league with a 2.44 goals-per-game average. They were 29th in scoring last year as well and 30th the year before that.
They'll have to beat Craig Anderson if they want to change that trend tonight. Anderson will get the nod for his 1,503rd consecutive start (which might be a record). When Joe Sacco was asked after practice if he had given any consideration to starting Peter Budaj instead, Sacco, with a puzzled look on his face, responded with "who?"
0 recs |
70 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Well, now that work “stuff” has been cleared up (AKA, my evil boss fired, my responsibilities upped…and my pay, well that remained the same) I can get back to posting.
The Avs can’t take the Islanders lightly…I hope they keep their foot on the throat of “lesser” teams, which they have done better this year than in years past.
That means if Rick D is, in fact, in goal, we have to pepper him early. how about 3 periods of double digits shots tonight?
If this is a re-build...we should do it every year.
Wouldn't it be fun
to toss 45 shots at the Isles and win?
I think it would be fun. Let’s do that.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 6:45 AM MST up reply actions
with Duchene getting a hat trick
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 7:07 AM MST up reply actions
Or two ;D
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 7:44 AM MST up reply actions
How about Stewie? Though I’m not sure the Avs can muster 12 goals in a single 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 Jan 6, 2010 11:23 AM MST up reply actions
I don’t think the rookies are overlooking this game, I hope they come out and play well and aren’t too overly pumped up.
Jesus Saves! Yip gets the rebound and scores! Really? That's where I'm going with this? Really? Come on Duchene and SoS start scoring!!
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 6, 2010 11:54 AM MST up reply actions
I don’t think many of our players overlook any of our games this year. So refreshing after last year.
"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 6, 2010 12:02 PM MST up reply actions
Anderson will get the nod for his 1,503rd consecutive start
At least Budaj’s still got time to be sleeping with Q’s wife…
Wonder if he’s moved on to Sacco’s wife?
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 6, 2010 10:13 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, It would seem that way.
Although I cannot disagree with Sacco at the moment. We’ve all seen what season he had, carrying the club. Sacco’s not blind to that either. There aren’t a lot of 2nd chances for teamplayers, especially not on positions that can carry an entire team.
Budaj is quite lucky to still be a backup with the Avs. He might’ve gotten a fresh start with another club, but I fully understand why the Avs aren’t skating him 30 games, even though he has the potential to post elite numbers.
So let me sum it up clearly; I like Budaj and think he’s a great goaltender. I just hope that he’s willing to ride shotgun for a while or that any other team will give him a fair shot.
even though he has the potential to post elite numbers.
wot
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 6, 2010 1:45 PM MST up reply actions
I thought it was written all over Tavares’ face that he was an Islander before the draft began. The drama was all about creating excitement, which was a good move by the NHL.
Never trust the lunch lady.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Jan 6, 2010 8:01 AM MST reply actions
This a really important game for Liles. If he screws up in the next couple then he’s in big trouble. It’s his make or break time.
by Dario on Jan 6, 2010 8:02 AM MST via mobile reply actions
in the immortal words of Bret Michaels on every single episode of Nashville Star, he needs to “bring it”
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 8:14 AM MST up reply actions
The Avs need to win this game. With the meteoric fall in the standings last night, followed by a loss to Les Isles, the amount of crap “journalism” regarding the Avs’ bus’ wheels-a-comin’-off, “inflated point totals”, and “coming back to Earth” will be positively mind-asploding.
"I know everyone has their own opinion, but your opinion is wrong. "
I’m pretty sure just even reading your what-ifs there I had a little assplosion myself.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Aph on Jan 6, 2010 8:19 AM MST up reply actions
FYI
another guest recap tonight, this time by Dustin. looks for it in the Fan Post section if you don’t see it on the front page
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 8:24 AM MST reply actions
When Joe Sacco was asked after practice if he had given any consideration to starting Peter Budaj instead, Sacco, with a puzzled look on his face, responded with “who?”
That’s just harsh man, harsh. Sacco always seems to have puzzled look on his face, not just in matters concerning the bench-door greeter/opener who continues do ask that he be allowed to dress as a goalie.
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.
Duchene celebrated after Tampa didn’t pick him, not when Islanders didn’t pick him. I think he didn’t celebrate when New York picked Tavares because there was still a chance that he could go to Tampa. Whereas when Tampa announced they were taking Hedman he knew he was going to Colorado.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KamVTSPGH6Q
Sandie
"That’s the way we’ll win championships"- The Baron
I absolutely love that moment.
"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 6, 2010 10:44 AM MST up reply actions
so how many times are we going to hear the altidudes swoon over tavares this game?
'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!'
yeah, really had to think about which feed to record. I went with them, but I’m thinking about changing to the Isles (Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe). I’m not a huge fan of Jaffe as a color guy, but he’s excellent when he does the reporter gig for Vs
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 11:13 AM MST up reply actions
(it’s early, but for those with a choice for the Sabres game on Sat, Rick Jeanneret is an absolute joy to listen to)
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 11:15 AM MST up reply actions
I love watching the Sabres, kind of my second team, their analyst team is excellent and you gotta love Jeanneret’s passion and voice.
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 6, 2010 11:25 AM MST up reply actions
+1
one of my fav play x play guys
'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!'
yeah, should have included Harry Neale (the color guy) on their too. He’s aces also.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 11:27 AM MST up reply actions
a real shame when he left HNIC, he made bob cole sound smart most nights
'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!'
RJ is pretty much awesome.
MAY DAY MAY DAY MAY DAY
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Jan 6, 2010 1:52 PM MST up reply actions
Hey DDC, I’m curious: what don’t you like about Jaffe? For color guys, I’m grateful to have him. Heh, it’s actually Howie I could take or leave.
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
honestly, don’t remember what it was that I didn’t like, maybe just some homer tendencies or something. I do know I love the job he does as a reporter, so maybe I just caught him with a bad game
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 12:53 PM MST up reply actions
He may be even better with Versus because of the focus required for his short segments (and man is it refreshing to see a sideline guy try not to fill those bits with cliches). He has his homer days with the Isles, but from the general pool of color men, I think he does a good job critiquing the club and a very good job illustrating plays from the overhead camera angle.
(I’m not on a Jaffe crusade, I just like hearing people’s impressions and tastes in announcers, because I know I bring a lot of subjectivity to it. I can’t stand Washington/Versus’ play-by-play guy Joe B. just for his voice alone, to the point I can’t rationally figure how good he is.)
Lighthouse Hockey: Eyes on Tavares, mug full of Moulson.
I actually love Beninnati’s voice, fwiw. funny how it can just boil down to personal preference.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 1:07 PM MST up reply actions
I’ll be there in 126 dressed as a smurf in a #26 jersey.
Jesus Saves! Yip gets the rebound and scores! Really? That's where I'm going with this? Really? Come on Duchene and SoS start scoring!!
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 6, 2010 12:08 PM MST reply actions
Only because I didn’t see it mentioned anywhere else; no Svatos again tonight.
What are we going to do!@!!?
not take a lazy stick penilty?
Jesus Saves! Yip gets the rebound and scores! Really? That's where I'm going with this? Really? Come on Duchene and SoS start scoring!!
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jan 6, 2010 12:33 PM MST up reply actions
No, someone will still take that penalty…but the Avs will have at least one less, and it might not be in the third period.
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 6, 2010 12:45 PM MST up reply actions
DiPietro is on the Isles road trip
Anybody think he’ll play tonight? First game of a three game road trip for the Isles (Colorado, Dallas, Phoenix). All western conference opponents.
Colorado Avalanche: Preventing itchy playoff beards since '09
by FiveJeffFingerDiscount on Jan 6, 2010 1:11 PM MST reply actions
i’d play him against dallas, they’re the least worrisome of the three teams there, so it would help a little more with the conditioning.
at least that’s the theory, considering how the west stacks up against the east.
Roloson’s playing, DiPietro’s the backup tonight.
Colorado Avalanche: Preventing itchy playoff beards since '09
by FiveJeffFingerDiscount on Jan 6, 2010 2:26 PM MST up reply actions
I’ll be at the game with two of my friends sitting in the worst seats in the house! :(
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
Here’s some good news…
this might be the only team in the NHL that’s worse than us in the 3rd period…with that being said, they’ve only lost 3 games when leading after 2
Mile High Mayhem just another ho-hum Avs blog.
If anybody needs some lulz
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
What I find the most entertaining is all the puritan-ish chicks riding their high horses and saying how immature and horrible and disgusting and whatever it is that (1) the brother posted it, (2) Nerve reposted it, and (3) readers of Nerve laughed at it. I personally find the whole thing down right hilarious.
"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
Thank you
that is classic!
"You have been banned from the Purple Row, for Inappropriate conduct, profanity, (&) telling site authors their articles are crap."
You got banned from the Row?
Sigh. That place isn’t gonna change.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 5:24 PM MST up reply actions
I find it funny
especially for the last reason. My sig, is just copied and pasted from the ban notice.
"You have been banned from the Purple Row, for Inappropriate conduct, profanity, (&) telling site authors their articles are crap."
DON'T HAVE AN OPINION.
FALL IN LINE WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
….OR ELSE.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 5:47 PM MST up reply actions
I found Mile High report to be the same way. I was reading over the comments after the Cheifs disaster, and it was pretty much
a) Be a McDaniels Fanboy
b) be called a troll for at all criticizing a coach who went 2-8 over the course of 10 games and alienated his three best offensive players from the previous year, thereby diminishing any value they might have in a trade.
I was a little depressed by it. Not that there weren’t some unfair cirticism’s of McDaniels on there, but some were valid.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 7, 2010 8:14 AM MST up reply actions
...and on the internet!
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 5:30 PM MST up reply actions
This made me laugh really hard.
Lesson learnt:
Never ever come between a man and his 12 pack.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 6, 2010 5:51 PM MST up reply actions
Also
I’ve been noticing a bunch of other SBN sites putting comment stats up for the previous year. Any chance we get to see those? I’d love to see Canary with 12,000 posts and nobody else within 5,000.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Not my fault I can’t attend games and have to hold down the fort here on game nights.
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 didn’t get them. Figuring they must have gone to Joe
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 6, 2010 6:09 PM MST up reply actions
He’s doing a top 19 commentors list… so this could take a while.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
by Jibblescribbits on Jan 7, 2010 8:15 AM MST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Promotion
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Fantasy Hockey Philosophy: How Darryl Dobbs builds his teams
- Puck Headlines: Return of Nordiques news; ‘Goon' movie casting
- Fight Video: Jonah Coonishish-Coon says hello with his fists
- NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Wrestling with Carolina Hurricanes
- An Internet-owned hockey team, for the price of a few beers?
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
