Avalanche at Kings, Game 41 Preview
by A.J. Haefele on Jan 2, 2012 7:01 AM MST
in Avalanche Previews
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The halfway point is upon the Avalanche as they play game 41 of 82 tonight at the Staples Center versus the Los Angeles Kings. A funny story this Kings team is. Talented on offense, defense, and in net much was expected of the Kings this year, especially after the acquisition of Mike Richards from Philadelphia. Things started off rocky for LA but since firing head coach Terry Murray and bringing in Darryl Sutter, the Kings have jumped to the top of the Pacific Division and start the day 3rd in the Western Conference. Maybe there really is something to the mystical powers of the coaching change, after all.
Tonight's game is one of two teams who ended 2011 on a high note and are looking to continue their hot streaks. Compared to their recent 8-game home winning streak, the Avs current 2-0-0 record in their past 2 road games seems modest but is no less important. Colorado has gone from unstoppable on the road to unbeatable at home but their success has always been buoyed with stretches of consistent failure in one or the other. Led by another fantastic campaign by goalie Jonathan Quick (17-10-5 2.05 GAA .931 SV%), the Kings have won three straight at home, including a 4-1 drubbing over Vancouver on Saturday. Their offense has been carried by Anze Kopitar, he of 35 points in 39 games, but he has been nearly a solo act this season with the team only having 3 other players with more than 20 points scored. Dustin Penner, last year's big trade deadline acquisition, is somehow 10th on their team in points with a whopping 8 in 28 games. For comparison's sake, the offensively-challenged Avalanche have 13 players with at least 10 points.
Tonight kicks off a stretch of very important games for Colorado as their recent run against mediocre teams ends as the next 5 games, 4 on the road, feature teams that would be in the playoffs were the season to end today. If the Avs are serious about putting last season's second-half collapse firmly into their rear view mirror and pushing for a playoff spot, this is where it should start. Letting all the teams already ahead widen the gap is obviously a bad formula for success. Here's to hoping the Avs halt the Kings' momentum and continue their own.
Go Avalanche.
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Puck drop at 10:50 Eastern. :p
I’m sure there are good reasons why it’s so late, but it isn’t very tempting to watch for east coast fans if the game is going to end in the middle of the night.
"He who fucks nuns will later join the church." -The Clash
The one game all year
I’ll watch at work…
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
… especially when I have to get up before 5 am to go to work…
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 9:29 AM MST up reply actions
I don’t envy you there. I do have a meeting with a new client in a swanky neighborhood that I need to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for, tho’. Plus, it looks like the first winter storm of the season will roll in this evening. Fun way to start off the year!
"He who fucks nuns will later join the church." -The Clash
Uggghhh I hate really really late games.
So with the Kings’ offense run by only the Anzombie, you think Sacco puts Hejda on him all night like he did with Ovechkin?
At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?
If he can play the way he played against OV, then definitely. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks he sorta looks like a zombie, hahaha, great player though
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 2, 2012 12:02 PM MST up reply actions
I’ve always thought he was pretty ugly…but hadn’t thought of him as a zombie. Now I won’t be able to think of him any other way. I still will try and get him for every fantasy team I manage……
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.
Sounds like Varly will be in net….
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.
From Dater
Semyon Varlamov will start in goal tomorrow against the red hot LA Kings (4-0-2 under Darryl Sutter). Gonna be a tough game to win.
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.
I’m rewatching last year’s WC right now and Varly looks really good. I hope he pretends he’s outside tonight.
4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.
I’m watching as well. Seeing him in a Caps uniform is making me sad:( He was amazing in this game. Goalie Guild said it’s one of his best ever. His play was especially nice in contrast to Fleury who had all sorts of puck handling misadventures. I saw on twitter that Varly was on NHL network recently being interviewed about the classic. Apparently he said the Winter Classic was the best memory of his life and he was “so happy when coach pick me to play.” Couldn’t find the video for this interview though.
Watch the Caps end of game celebration carefully. Varly is so happy that that he does some little bunny hops and jumps into Ovi’s arms. It’s cute:)
OT:
I went to put on an Avs jersey today, only to realize that they are all autographed and that it’s storming outside.. I don’t want to wear one of them and chance ruining them. I, apparently, need to buy another jersey. Only problem? I had my eye on a game worn jersey… I won’t be wearing that stinker either! :/
It's all about Winnik
wish i could be a collector like you :( . Heh, first world problems: “It might storm and I don’t wanna ruin any of my signed hockey jerseys, what do I do?!”
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 2, 2012 12:03 PM MST up reply actions
LOL
No kidding, right. I’m not much of a collector, just right place, right time kinda person.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 12:56 PM MST up reply actions
No kidding, right. I’m not much of a collector, just right place, righttimecupcakes kinda person.
That’s what you meant, right? :P
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Not what I meant, but it is probably fairly accurate.
I did help this kid get an autographed baseball at a Jays game. The guy wrote his hotel and room number down as well. Kid was super confused when I gave him the ball.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 1:26 PM MST up reply actions
I wear mine. Just like Jay wears his.
The reason I'm in town, in case you're wondering, is because of a Kansas City Shuffle.
Yeah, but you don’t have a problem being a stinky guy. I wouldn’t want guy sweat on me… well not because of an old jersey anyway.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 8:21 PM MST up reply actions
Dater’s piece on Stastny in three sentences:
It’s been a rocky calendar year and his numbers are way down.
He says he just has to keep getting chances and they’ll fall eventually.
Peter Stastny and the organ-I-zation don’t heff to be mad anymore.
Disappointed tbh, as most of us could have written the part that matters (non-Peter) ourselves.
At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?
I found the Peter part very interesting. It seems Pauly Walnuts went off on his dad a bit about the whole thing. I would have loved to be a fly on that wall. I also realized I’d never make a good reporter: there’s no way I would have been calling SoS at 3 am to get a quote about his dad’s comments. Seems incredibly rude.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey
The Hockey Writers
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 2, 2012 10:31 AM MST up reply actions
The Kings posted the Game Notes for tonight’s game.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey
The Hockey Writers
I heard on the radio, Ray Ferraro to be exact before the season started… that teams are being forced this year to do the pre game junk so that the puck drops on time and the games are NOT delayed… So the team is forced to work around the time designated to start, and not the other way around.
Did the NHL just forget to enforce it?
Boston’s first game had the game start 40 minutes after it should’ve.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
This should be a great one. What a wonderful hockey filled day!
GO FLYERS!
GO AVS!
Cap Floor Team = Cap Floor Results
by Cole D Hamilton on Jan 2, 2012 12:05 PM MST reply actions
GO RANGERS!
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 2, 2012 12:06 PM MST up reply actions
I lied, my fantasy team says go Flyers… ugh
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
by ProfessorOak on Jan 2, 2012 12:31 PM MST up reply actions
OT
So Bobrovski is starting for the Flyers today. I honestly think it’s bull shit. 24/7 is an advertisement for the game and their main star, was Bryz and now he isn’t starting? I know everyone is saying that this is just another game and that’s all it is, but that’s a crock of shit. This is THE WINTER CLASSIC. I don’t see how you don’t put your best product on the ice. I think this is a low blow to Bryz, although he has brushed it off with comedy, so props to him. What does everyone else think?
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Bryz sucks lately. Bob gives the Flyers a better chance to win a big game against the #1 team in the East. Full stop.
At exactly what point do you start to realize that life without knowledge is death in disguise?
So Pierre Gauthier came out and said:
I’m sorry if we upset people. Because that certainly wasn’t our intention," Pierre Gauthier told reporters Monday.
On Monday, he stressed that Cunneyworth’s hiring was not necessarily permanent and he said his status would be re-examined after the season.
What will happen in the future, at the end of the season, is that we will re-evaluate the whole file,
As (owner Geoff) Molson said in his communique a week ago, it’s very important to us that our head coach be bilingual.
It’s a god damn fucking shame how much of this discrimination is going to go on… I feel for Cunneyworth… part of me wants him to tell the city, team, and GM to fuck off and it’s not worth his trouble but another part of me wants him to stand up and not run from this shit storm that he does not deserve.
I’ve lost a ton of respect for the entire team and GM and ownership who apologize to the fans… where the fuck is standing up for your coach? huh, what a fucking joke and disgrace of a team and city.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
Honestly? IMO Cunneyworth knew what he was getting into.
I’m not saying I agree with it at all. But it is what it is. It’s nothing new. This stuff has been going on with the organization since, at the very least, the Nordiques days.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 1:29 PM MST up reply actions
I agree with Sandie. I don’t think it’s quite as simple as saying it’s discrimination. Cunneyworth could always have said “no thanks.”
Chivas in Mexico puts a very strong emphasis on fielding only Mexican players. A team in Spain, Espanyol, I believe, puts a very strong emphasis on fielding only Catalunyans. (I could be wrong on the details but am too lazy to look it up on Wiki right now.)
by DiD on Jan 2, 2012 1:39 PM MST up reply actions
Stand by the coach though, it’s like they’ve thrown him to the wolves and then don’t back him or support him at all. It’s like they’ve disowned him.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
Politicians are getting involved, they are under enormous pressure from the “save our language” groups in Quebec. I can’t blame them too much for this. He’s a big boy, he’s okay.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 5:07 PM MST up reply actions
I could care less about him, he’s handled it like a professional… it’s the reaction by everyone else in Montreal that’s appalling.
Paul Stastny did, what Paul Stastny does. Score big goals.
It would have been an even bigger deal 50 years ago. Sadly, this how it is in Quebec. One of my favorite French comedians (If you have watched Bon Cop, Bad Cop he’s the really fast speaking Frenchie) talked about it once. He said, honestly, that he had seen people walk out of stores (in Montreal) if the clerk said “Hello” instead of “bonjour” first. Until things change politically in Quebec, this is the situation the Habs are in.
It's all about Winnik
by Sandie Gauthier on Jan 2, 2012 5:48 PM MST up reply actions
HEY GUYS
We can get back into the playoffs for the third time in 3 games (I think) with a win tonight! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
It is just to bad every team around us in the standings have played 3 less games than we have
Avalanche Hockey: egressing to the mean
cough cough san jose
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
The Avs don’t even need to win at the pace they have been going. Winning 10 in December got us back to where we need to be in a hurry, but if they can just keep winning six or seven out of 10 for the rest of the season then the playoffs will be there.
4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.
Not saying it's going to happen this way
but I think the best candidates for dropping in the West are Minnesota and Dallas and the two likeliest teams to take their spot in the playoffs would be San Jose and Phoenix. Betting against teams like Nashville and Phoenix is just not something I’m comfortable with. I think Colorado and Calgary will be in it at the end. They’re both playing too well not to be in the thick of it but might not be consistent enough to make the leap over the Preds/Coyotes.
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.
Mile High Hockey : Where B- is different than C+
Stan Kroenke decides to clean house
4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.
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