Game 60 Recap: Avalanche 2 - Coyotes 1

Sacco said in the post game that Cuminskey was OK. Foote had back spasms…
He’ll also decide on tomorrow’s net minder on the plane…

Duchene became the 5th Avalanche rookie to score 20 goals.

2 points are 2 points. We also squeezed the gap on the Yotes for the 4th poisition. I would be a lot happier jumping between the 3rd and 4th positions rather than 3rd and 6th.

The Jovanovski penalty was a legit call. If it wasn’t interference, it was holding. Yip was trying to block the point shot, and Jovo wasn’t letting him.

I think the main reason for all of the complaining from Jovanovski is that he’s not any good anymore. All of the complaining from the Coyotes bench is because they think that there should be no penalties called on Ed Jovanovski out of sympathy for that ridiculous contract that the ’Yotes gave him.

and worse, the NHL.com highlights only showed from Anderson’s breakaway save and on. Neither of the first 2 goals… lame.

Nevertheless, Duchene’s deflection goal was super-sweet. Although Bryz didn’t think so:

“It hit him on his stick and changed direction," he said. "There wasn’t anything I could have done. I did all I could. I’m sure he was surprised himself. If it hadn’t hit him in his stick and changed direction, they wouldn’t have scored.”

Sounds like someone could use an extra dosage of Midol.

Hmmm, what can I say here. I usually don’t jump on the anti-clark wagon (it’s not a bandwagon around here, as people have been on for awhile and ain’t gettin off) but he sucked pretty bad tonight. I don’t see how anyone watching him play tonight would say “gee, we ought to trade for this guy, since he can’t clear the zone, makes crappy defensive plays in his zone, tries to 360 around guys at the point when he’s the only guy between the opposing player and a breakaway, etc etc”. Every time I thought he sort of redeemed himself with a somewhat quality play, he’d go and pull some boneheaded fuck up again. It’s almost like the Avs won, Clark notwithstanding.

What is with the, ‘boy, that was a boring game,’ or ‘the Avs were not the best team on the ice for the second straight game?’ Are you actually watching the games? Or are you just a ‘if there are not a lot of fights it isn’t that great’ kinda fan? Both games were very fast and had some great passing and opportunities. They also had some pretty good hitting. I wold like to see more playing the body in the open ice by the D rather than just going for the poke check though. It almost seems you are down on the team so that you analysis will seem sophisticated or something. Come on! When I was watching I kept thing, ‘no matter who wins this they will have earned it.’

I spent most of the night watching the Opening Ceremonies, which I thought were totally awesome. I did get to see Duchene tip in the winning goal live tho, and there was much rejoicing.

2 games in a row where the Avs get mostly outplayed and yet win. Also, Clark aimed that shot/pass to Duchene. Good stuff.

Did Svatos play in this game?

Mercier did a nice job, he needs to continue with that aggressive forecheck.

Clark is a really good defensemen if, and only if he’s making less than a million and doing time on the 3rd pairing. As soon as you mix in his salary and Cloutier top 2 defensive pairing then he’s horrendous. If Clark could fix one thing in his game, I hate, hate, hate the way he backs off the puck carrier. He’s a talented enough skater to go take away the skating room. If the puck carrier makes a move to get around him he should be talented enough to break up the play.

In the end, Clark, Salei and Svatos don’t have futures with the Avalanche after this summer but they can help contribute to the run this year if they are capable.

I fell asleep after the Coyotes first goal >_<

And then woke back up right as Duchene scored. lolz