Edmonton at Colorado Recap; Avs continue to fizzle at Pepsi Center, lose 3-1
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 28, 2011 10:33 PM MDT
in Avalanche Recaps
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PrintOh, Pepsi Center. Why do you hate us so? The Avalanche continue to struggle at home, losing 3-1 to the Oilers tonight. They've lost all three home games this year and 15 of their last 17 going back to last year. Overall, the Avalanche have won a total of 6 home games in 2011. That's not going to help those attendance numbers (15,057 tonight).
It's a shame, because the Avalanche played a good game tonight. If you were to tell me that the Avalanche would outshoot the Oilers 41-19, would kill of 3 of 4 penalties, win 64 percent of the draws and hold Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall to 1 shot on net, then I would tell you the Avs would probably win the game...unless they were playing a backup goalie, of course.
Enter Devan Dubnyk. The former 1st round pick has absolutely owned the Avalanche over his brief NHL career. He was 3-0-1 with a .950 save percentage and 1.62 gaa against Colorado going into the game. And those numbers all improved this evening.
The teams opened up with a fairly-evenly played first period. The Avs had an 11-9 shot advantage and had a couple of good scoring chances but had nothing to show for it. Semyon Varlamov kept pace with Dubnyk, though, and the teams went into the first intermission still knotted at zero.
The 2nd period didn't work out quite so well. The Avalanche had a 14-5 shot advantage, despite spending almost six minutes shorthanded. But, they couldn't crack Dubnyk while the Oilers notched two goals. The first game at the 7:55 mark, just a second before a goalie interference penalty on Gabriel Landeskog expired. Cam Barker had the puck down low and simply waltzed in front of the net before anyone could get on him; he beat Varlamov with a beautiful shot for his first goal of the year. About 6 minutes later, the Oilers changed on the fly during what appeared to be an innocent looking rush up the ice. Lennart Petrell dropped the puck back to Andy Sutton lumbering in from the bench and Sutton simply rifled it past Varlamov. The Avs defense was slow to pick up Sutton...but that's also a shot Varlamov should have stopped. The good news is, there haven't been many of those this year. The bad news is, it was a bad spot for it as the Avs ended up going down 2-0 after two despite a dominant second period.
The Avalanche put the pressure on in the third and got a huge PP opportunity in the 3rd when Cam Barker got called for crosschecking. They converted with Kyle Quincey and Matt Duchene setting up O'Reilly for a nice one-time shot to cut the lead to 2-1. The crowd reacted strongly to the goal and the Avalanche seemed destined to build on the momentum and tie up the game.
That momentum lasted for 27 seconds. The Oilers again turned an innocent rush into a goal when Kevin Porter and Jan Hejda collided at the blueline, allowing the Oilers to flood the zone. After a couple of whacks at it, the puck got under Varlamov's pads (Ryan Smyth was credited with the goal, although I thought Shawn Horcoff was the last to touch it). The goal was, in a word, deflating. The Avalanche continued to press hard (16-5 shot advantage in the 3rd), but could not crack Dubnyk again. The curse of the backup goalie (and the Pepsi Center drought) continues.
It was a frustrating loss to say the least. The Oilers have a solid young team and, since I don't hate them like I do the Canucks and Flames, I'm excited to see these two young teams rekindle a little rivalry (there was a lot of chippiness as the game wore on and someone needs to punch Tom Gilbert for all the liberties he took after the whistle tonight). But, the Avs were the better team tonight just about everywhere but the scoreboard. It's a tough loss to swallow.
- Ryan O'Reilly. One big goal, and he was awesome all game long
- Gabriel Landeskog. No points, but he, O'Reilly and Winnik were all terrific
- Matt Duchene. 1 assist, 5 shots, 11 of 14 wins in the faceoff circle
- Jones, Stastny, Hejduk (and they got the 1st and 2nd period starts tonight)
- Lindstrom, Duchene, Kobasew
- Landeskog, O'Reilly, Winnik
- McLeod, McClement, Porter
- Hejda, Johnson
- Quincey, O'Brien
- Wilson, O'Byrne
TJ Galiardi was an unhealthy scratch tonight, with Kevin Porter taking his spot on the 4th line
- After a timeout in the 3rd period, Sacco had a rested bench for his PP. He went with Landeskog (18), O'Reilly (20), Duchene (20), Johnson (23) and Quincey (26).
- Former Avalanche Ryan Smyth was on the ice for all 3 Edmonton goals. Tom Preissing was on the ice for none of them.
- Dan Winnik has yet to be on the ice for a PP goal scored against the Avs
- Stop bitching about Duchene, please. The kid is fine.
The Avalanche host the LA Kings on Sunday night. This is the MHH vs Avalanche Guild game and discounted tickets are available. Tim Tebow will be starting for the MHH squad. Or something.
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0 wins at home. This is unacceptable.
This, however:
Matt Duchene. 1 assist, 5 shots, 11 of 14 wins in the faceoff circle
Is good.
Erik Johnson... holds... holds! HOLDS! PASSES!!
The 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: there will be blood and there will be wins.
"God I'm excited for those two to fail miserably." - SBNation writer Andrew Sharp on Josh McDaniels and Tim Tebow.
The Number Zero, now in colour. Blood and Thunder Record: 5-2-0 (Total Record: 6-5-0)
by Tempestuous Binary on Oct 28, 2011 10:52 PM MDT reply actions
still on pace for 8 goals. Troublesome. But yes, tonight was the first night where I felt, eh, the points will come
LANDESKOG!!!!!
How Swede it is
by Cole D Hamilton on Oct 28, 2011 11:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Gabriel Landeskog. No points, but he, O’Reilly and Winnik were all terrific
Landeskog was good tonight? I must have completely missed every thing he did right while simultaneously seeing the mountain of things he screwed up tonight from my high seats :V
2011 Colorado Avalanche - Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The 2011 Buffalo Bills - Not going 0-16 this year
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the Colorado Rapids
Crystal Palace FC - Oh wait, we're winning games this year? That wasn't on the schedule until 2016!
I thought the Avs played hard tonight and dominated most of the aspects of the game that will generally get a win. But it is becoming difficult to watch the apparent inability in Sacco’s line choice combinations. Obviously I am talking about Duchene’s line. I thought he played really well tonight and was the best puck possession forward we had the entire game. But where is the help? Other than the brief times he was with O’Reilly and Landeskog, nobody has been able to step up at either wing. This needs to change. I’m not sure what the best alternative is, but I do know that taking Hejduk off Duchene’s line and surrounding him with Kobasew and Lindstrom is not the best way to get the most out of a player like Duchene. I think he would be better off with McCleod, Galiardi, or Maulden (in LE) than those two, because at least they would fight for the puck instead of just turning it over the second the puck hits their stick.
"If we cannot find a way, we will make one." -Hannibal
by AvalancheRescueDog on Oct 28, 2011 11:05 PM MDT reply actions
Even if it would be a tough decision for Sacco, as O’Reilly, Landeskog and Winnik form a very good line together, it is time to put together O’Reilly, Landeskog and Duchene.
If O’Reilly, Landeskog and Winnik form a very good line, O’Reilly (center), Landeskog and Duchene (wing) would be a fantastic line; young, dynamic and so talented, I guess it would a tough scoring line to stop. That is if they click together, but why wouldn’t they havew chemistry.
The problem for Sacco is thinking: if it is not broken, don’t try to fix it; but at this point he has nothing to lose to, at least try it, for a few games. Duchene needs dynamic and talented players to play with, otherwise a good fraction of his talent is lost to players who are good, but not in his league.
Kobasew and Lindstrom could form a good third line, maybe not as good as the present third line, but which is better: a very good third line with a ± good second line or a fantastic second line (or first line if they click) and a good (more ordinary) third line.
I think this could look very good:
Jones – Statsny – Hejduk
Duchene -
This sig is the ghost of a cig, gone in smoke...
by god's clown on Oct 28, 2011 11:51 PM MDT up reply actions
oops
Jones – Statsny – Hejduk
Duchene – O’Reilly – Landeskog
This sig is the ghost of a cig, gone in smoke...
by god's clown on Oct 28, 2011 11:52 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree with this completely.
However, eventually we are going to need to address the fact that we have three talented centers with no one to fill in on their wings. We’re not the Penguins, our centers are good but not that good (Though Duchene and O’Reilly have insane potential), we will eventually need to trade for winger strength.
He’s out there living his dream. We should all be as lucky as Ryan O’Reilly.
-Rycroft
You are right, but finding these wingers is not that easy and I would hate to deplete our defense prospects collection; if one gets a ending career injury, someday we would regret trading some of them.
On the other hand, who risks nothing, gets nothing…
This sig is the ghost of a cig, gone in smoke...
by god's clown on Oct 29, 2011 12:01 AM MDT up reply actions
I know, it will just be a long season of waiting if we need to wait till free agency.
We’ve had some pretty bad luck with health issues to players we trade for recently (Flash, Mueller in particular) so I’m hesitant to go storming out of the gates for someone, the Landy, Radar, Duchene line will work for the short term. Unless of course we find out Duchene is a gifted winger. I just think putting him on the wing may end up limiting his abilities a bit.
He’s out there living his dream. We should all be as lucky as Ryan O’Reilly.
-Rycroft
Since when did Winnik become such a huge anchor on that line? I honestly think it’s the speed/forecheck of both Landy/Radar that make that line…combine that with the speed of Duchene and he is known to act like a dog after an attacker…that line can be lethal. Why the hell, when you’re starved for goals, shove Duchene on a line with plugs and then let your team suffer?
I don’t agree with this at all…
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
The handling of Duchene has been bad. He wasn’t playing well, but Sacco’s idea of putting him on the fourth line is wrong. You just don’t do that with your best player, and ever since he dog housed Dutchy, the 5-1 Avs have been losing. I think that Landy/Radar/Dutchy line is coming up, sooner than we might think.
...holy freaking f*ck, snakes!
Sacco is loathe to move Duchene off center. Part of what (long term) is going to make our team deadly is 3 scoring lines with near top of the list centers (O’Reilly’s been hot for nearly 30 games, I don’t think it’s going away and he’s moving into this category) with Duchene being our best. Plus, up until last night, Dutchy hadn’t proven he deserved a spot in the Top 6.
With that said, I’d like to see it. We will be losing some of Duchene’s effectiveness – it’s like trying to put a nail in with a screwdriver: you can find a way to make it work, but it’s not the job it was designed to do. But at this point, I think it’s the best option. I don’t think it’s set in stone either – try it for a period. If it works, keep it, but if it doesn’t, there’s no reason he can’t revert back to the Thirst Line.
I’m usually an advocate of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but with an on-his-game Dutch with Radar and Landy, that line could be legendary. Perhaps even despicable if they have chemistry and can begin to learn from each other. I do worry about the toughness of it though. We already have one kinda soft top line with Stastny’s – Winnik definitely brings some pain to the Thirst Line and helps keep other people honest about screwing with Ryan and Gabe. Matty D’s already a target – I hope OB2 and Wilson are up to the task of protecting them if this line does form.
But I’m not a hockey coach. I trust Sacco – he’ll make the right call. I just hope that if he does decide to keep Duchene as a center that Sherman is shopping.
(on an unrelated note – I just reinstalled my OS and Chrome, and now it wants me to spell center as “centre”. Even my computer’s going Canadian on me).
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.
I am currently writing a fanpost on some of the things you touched on here. Not to go fully indepth on it here but you basically need to get players on same line that compliments the others skills.
In a hypothetical situation you put Duchene in radar’s place he landy and dutchy and leading scorers on this team. Despite Winnik’s offensive ineffectiveness he brings other things that help the offensive abilities of the other 2. Removing Winnik removes a piece of what makes that line work. Its why I have always what he brings and adding landy has completed what that line needed which is that net presence and who will get the “dirty” goals. What we need are similar players for dutchy. The FO thought kobasew would be that winnik type player for stats or dutchy that pressures and can create the chances for dutchy to work his magic sadly if koba doesn’t have the puck he is a nonfactor. For some reason when lindy is paired with koba on the wing he for some reason seems to follow koba’s lead and seems uncertain what to do. If you saw the few shifts with lindy and porter lindy was down with dutchy when he had puck but would hang back when it was kobasew with them. Just so odd in my opinion that they can’t find people that can compliment dutchy’s playstyle*.
*that can stay healthy
by Freakoffaleash on Oct 29, 2011 1:05 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I hate Pepsi Products anyways, lets just get a new arena, that would solve all our problems. Frustrating game but when I think about it if one or two things went differently, say one of our early chances goes in, we had that game won. We played pretty consistent hockey overall. We had a few breakdowns (I’m sorry porter, that was just bad) but at least we started on time right Sacco?
Duchene is getting there, couldn’t ask much more out of Ninja Spider, Radar continues to impress me as always, Landy struggled a little but overall was solid, EJ looked like the defender he should be.
We’ll see what happens Sunday, I’m trying not to be pessimistic anymore (today was an exception) so I’m hopeful the flashes of great play throughout this game come back to us.
P.S. I still think the Refs really screwed us over
He’s out there living his dream. We should all be as lucky as Ryan O’Reilly.
-Rycroft
The refs sucked, but you still have to find a way to win. The Avs are just snake bit at home. nothing is going their way right now.
Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.
Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.
by Americanario on Oct 28, 2011 11:44 PM MDT up reply actions
A few thoughts:
1) I’m frustrated. We had tons of shots and good opportunities, but none of them went. Seriously, I don’t know what else the team can do. It honestly looks like they’re just plain unlucky out there. It’s so frustrating to watch!
2) Edmonton is good. And they’re going to be good for a long time. I’ve decided I don’t like them anymore. I think they’ll be on almost Vancouver levels of dislike by the end of the season since I see them as our next big rivals.
3) On a completely unrelated note, Phoenix just got Radar’s brother for a 4th rounder. It seems like he might be a filler for the Turris situation.
4) On a more related note, YAY RADAR FOR FINALLY GETTING A GOAL!!!!!! You saved this game from being a total crapfest.
5) Duchene decided to show up tonight. This is good. I still think he needs a better winger, but at least he made some things happen and had that familiar jump back in his step. There was even a point tonight where he had about 3 defenders hanging off of him, and he still managed to get a shot off. This is a good, good sign.
6) I’m starting to think Altitudes’ obsession with Landeskog is getting, well, noticeable. I think O’Reilly had a better game and was much more deserving of the 3rd star. Not that Landy wasn’t good, just he seems to be getting a ton of air time and talk time – maybe more than he should. I think that was the 3rd or 4th time they’ve showed that “In his own words” interview. Yes, he’s good; yes, he was the second overall pick; and yes, he does have a face that you can use to hook non-hockey fans and lure them to your broadcast, but it just seems like it’s turning into the Landeskog show at the expense of the other players who should be getting a bit more attention.
-I’ll have more later, but I turn 21 in about 15 minutes. I’m going to get a drink.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.
Happy Birthday, andidee!!!
Happy 21, andidee!
I am raising my glass of milk (served in a big cognac glass, excuse me! ;) ) to your health and your first legal alcohol drink!
This sig is the ghost of a cig, gone in smoke...
by god's clown on Oct 28, 2011 11:57 PM MDT up reply actions
I think the Duchene criticism has been overblown from the start. Kid just needs some help on his wings.
Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. - Kv
by MalachiConstant on Oct 29, 2011 10:26 AM MDT up reply actions
Ok I’m beginning to think that if I don’t watch the games and am busy doing other things, the avs lose……All games we’ve lost this season have been ones that I haven’t watched.
I missed the habs game and this one. Clearly I have no impact.
It's all about the O'
by SteveHouse on Oct 29, 2011 12:01 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
So if I don’t like being driven to punching everything in reach, I shouldn’t load this one up on gcl tomorrow? I had a feeling something like that would happen.
It's all about the O'
by SteveHouse on Oct 29, 2011 12:02 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
Yea that would be my recommendation. Just know that the Avs tried. They failed, but they tried
He’s out there living his dream. We should all be as lucky as Ryan O’Reilly.
-Rycroft
Didn’t care for the game, much, but the worst part for me was the fact Andy Sutton looks to pop Landy in the mouth, and we let RNH off the hook. Someone needed to check the daylights out of RNH, and start something, but we lay back and do nothing.
...holy freaking f*ck, snakes!
IMO RNH did nothing worthy of getting checked like that.
The D held him to only 1 shot, what was needed was somebody popping Sutton and letting him know he can’t get away with that.
I love it
2 Wing fans disagreeing about a potential deal for Shea Weber in the comments section of a post about the Avalanche.
Winging It In Motown
by Amerinadian on Sep 12, 2011 9:51 AM PDT up reply 1 recs
Not about RNH’s play, simply, you hit our prized rookie, we hit yours. That gets the message
across better than popping Sutton.
...holy freaking f*ck, snakes!
I wouldn’t have even focus on RNH. Avs just need to hit more!
Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.
Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.
by Americanario on Oct 29, 2011 8:24 AM MDT up reply actions
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-Andy-Sutton-8217-s-elbow-to-Landeskog-8?urn=nhl-wp16098
I am glad that someone else out there thinks Sutton should be Shannabanned for that hit on Landy.
Then a really shitty call.
Fucking refs gave O’Brien an instigator penalty, leading to a misconduct, which means they viewed Sutton’s hit as a run of the mill interference. Sutton gets 7min., O’Brien gets 17. No pp for us. Bullshit.
...holy freaking f*ck, snakes!
My money says no suspension. Yeah, it’s bullshit, and I hope he gets one, but I’ll bet they’ll look at that and say that his head wasn’t the target.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink
to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
sticks when they've invented the lighter?
I meant to mention it, and it’s the 2nd time Landy has been hit in the head already this year. not that we have any reason at all to be worried about something like that
I am the most humble blogger of all time
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Oct 29, 2011 7:50 AM MDT up reply actions
I’m just happy Landy bounces well.
I do think it’s bullshit, and he probably won’t be Shannabanned, but looking on the positive side, I’m glad we have Wilson and SOB to stick up for our rookie. I like seeing them dropping the gloves and making a point. I just wish the NHL would stick up for our guy too.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.
What sucks is that that BS instigator was more of an “insult to injury” thing.
PS happy birthday.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink
to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
sticks when they've invented the lighter?
Yeah, I hope he’s as tough as thor if this shit keeps up.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink
to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
sticks when they've invented the lighter?
A lavalanche into the oil, drank alot, ducks
Go Avaranche!
by Sean Harsha on Oct 29, 2011 12:29 AM MDT reply actions 2 recs
Rec’d because I think you were drunker than I was last night.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.
hahaha, i was thinking the same thing. Hows your head this morning, Andi?
Thanks, Joe... Thanks, Peter.... Thanks, Adam....
Not bad. Little bit of a twinge, but I think that may be from falling asleep with my contacts in. I kept it moderately low-key last night. Tonight…. probably not so much.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.
Varly: you're awesome. We love you. Please don't break.
wow. read this recap article this morning. surprised to see i had apparently already read and commented
Go Avaranche!
by Sean Harsha on Oct 29, 2011 12:41 PM MDT up reply actions
If you were to tell me that the Avalanche would outshoot the Oilers 41-19, would kill of 3 of 4 penalties, win 64 percent of the draws and hold Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall to 1 shot on net, then I would tell you the Avs would probably win the game
And I would tell you that Corsi fails yet again.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink
to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
sticks when they've invented the lighter?
Like it or not, the Avs are now 2 game above .500.
They essentially matched that 5 game losing streak by going 1-3 over the last four and havn’t looked good at all doing it.
They show up for a period or two, put a TON of rubber on net, but were any of those legit chances? No. Tonight should’ve been a game the Avs needed to take advantage of, instead they came out and barely tested Dubnyk until the final minute.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
We shoot the puck lousy.
We have to take the physical initiative vs. the West and NW. We can’t play a soft skate game and expect to win in the west. It works against the east, but the west is more about physical wear and tear. We must control the tempo, and somehow control the puck in the offensive zone. Instead, we take penaltys in the offensive zone, and can’t find the back of the net.
...holy freaking f*ck, snakes!
Penalties in the offensive zone = dumb and selfish.
Weren’t we supposed to be more physical with our bigger D? They sure as hell have died down lately…
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
Hejda was pretty physical on that last Edmonton goal, it was just unfortunately on an Avalanche player.
2011 Colorado Avalanche - Not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
The 2011 Buffalo Bills - Not going 0-16 this year
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's home for the Colorado Rapids
Crystal Palace FC - Oh wait, we're winning games this year? That wasn't on the schedule until 2016!
by UZ on Oct 29, 2011 4:33 AM MDT up reply actions
That misconduct penalty on O’Brien was so disappointing. I have no idea why the refs thought that was needed. I don’t even like the instigator but that rule is pretty black and white.
I'll keep this brief.
That situation is why I hate the instigator rule.
Guys makes a dangerous hit on Landy (who thankfully is OK) and O’Brien drops to glove to say we ain’t taking your shit. I’d rather see a different penalty for guys who fight off of a face-off and get rid of the damned instigator crap.
Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.
Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.
by Americanario on Oct 29, 2011 10:30 AM MDT up reply actions
Duchene skating with Jones and Lindstrom today… face palm.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
Hasn't he never worked will with Jones?
I like that idea in theory but something in my head is going “Those guys don’t have chemistry and never have.”
It's all about the O'
Does that mean Kobasubaru was with Stastney and Hejduk?
Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.
Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.
by Americanario on Oct 29, 2011 1:45 PM MDT up reply actions
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