Game 49 Recap: Kings not Quick enough, Avs win 3-1
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 22, 2012 12:51 AM MST
in Avalanche Recaps
Email
Print8:20 pm. There was about 9.2 seconds left in overtime. The score was tied. Foul. Free throw. Time out. Foul. Time out. Ball out of bounds. Foul. Hail Mary shot! Ref review of play. Review of play. About to start play. Stop. Move play for a center court jump ball. 8:40 pm. Double overtime. Score! More score! Time out. Dribble dribble dribble. Time out. Time out. Time out. Score! Foul. Free throw. Dribble dribble dribble. Time out. Dribble. Game over, Nuggets win! This was a hard fought win, double overtime, blahblahbladdityblah. Interview time! What? I'm sorry, did you say something? An Avalanche game? On now? BUT WE'RE TALKING BASKETBALL HERE, PEOPLE!!
We now join the Avs game already in progress.
Apparently, for the first five or so minutes of the game, the Kings dominated the Avalanche. There was some kind of alleged penalty in there, too, which put the Kings on a power play. Supposedly the Avs killed it. I would not know if any of this was true because talking about the Nuggets is always more important than watching an Avalanche game.
When I did tune in, I saw Jan Hejda clang a nice shot off the post. Then Cody McLeod got whacked in the face with Dustin Penner's stick, cutting him across the bridge of the nose and the side of the eye. Scary stuff. Highlander skated right off the ice and to the locker room. If CodyMac is doing that, you know it's not good. So the Avs went on a four minute pleasure skate during which time they accomplished absolutely nothing.
With 49 seconds left, Kyle Quincey did some backchecking that apparently was too aggressive or something, so he was sent to the box for interference. Fortunately, the Kings power play was just about as inept as the Avs, and the score remained nil each as the teams went to the locker rooms at the end of the first.
During the intermission report, we found out that Mark Rycroft has fallen in love. I don't think I've ever seen him gush over a player like he did Peter Mueller. Not saying it's not well-deserved, but easy there fella. No one's going to buy the cow if you're giving away the milk for free.
Second period, GOGOGO! At this point, I was beginning to think those tales of the first five minutes were just that—fabrications, fairy tales, fables—because the Avalanche were outshooting, outhitting, outfaceoffing the Kings in a ridiculous way. But of course, that meant bad things to come. Revenge of the Corsi, dare I say. While the boys in white were dicking around on the other side of the net, a wide open Anze Kopitar tappity tap tap tapped in a sweet juicy plump little rebound, putting the Kings up 1-0.
But the Highlander was back on the ice, and he was not happy. So when he saw the silly Kings going off on a crazy line change which left him open enough to do some double lutzes, he looked back to see Stefan Elliott sliding the puck across center ice to him. "Well, alright then," you could hear Cody say. Breakaway. Hard to the net. Puck past Jonathan Quick. Mac's head into the post. Don't worry, folks. He was okay. It's all about the goAls, bb.
Mueller didn't want to disappoint Rycroft, so he decided to get into the action. Hard work all night by the John Hughes line paid off as Muells tipped in a shot from Paul Stastny and TJ Galiardi. For the record, Mueller was a freaking beast all night. I think he feels better.
Third period, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The Avalanche hit the ice with a 2-1 lead over Los Angeles. They also had a significant shot advantage, holding the Kings to only 14 in 40 minutes of play. (Are you sure about those five minutes? ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THOSE FIVE MINUTES?) For a long, long time, the Avalanche didn't even let the Kings play in their yard. It was kind of silly, actually. The Avs were just being mean. I guess they felt bad about it because they gave Dustin Brown a chance...which he sent ricocheting off the post. Last time we be nice to you! Pffft.
The burgundy and blue boys wearing white decided to go for the win by holding on to the lead. You know how that always works out, yeah? Not this time, baby! Basically, this is how the rest of the game went down: Mueller got called for slashing, Hejda's helmet went flying off in a scrum and Jarret Stoll decided that was a good time to high stick him in the head. Then after Mueller escaped the box, Landeskog figured it was time to shut this game down. Power play goal, Avs! It was his 10th of the season, btw. Assists to Quincey and Stastny.
Why you hef be mad, Quickie? Pssssst. Slashing Daniel Winnik right in front of the ref is not the brightest of ideas when your team is down by two with less than two minutes to go.
Penalty killed (barely, what the hell was that, boys?), game over, good guys won. Yay!
- 1 Mueller. Mueller. Mueller. (I'm baaaa-aaaaaaack!)
- 2 Highlander (You slasha my face? I slasha your nuts!)
- 3 Jiggilooooo (I got dis, yo.)
- 1a Landeskog - O'Reilly - Hejduk
- 1b Galiardi - Stastny - Mueller
- 3 Winnik - McClement - Jones (which apparently is an unfair line according to Jim Fox)
- 4 McLeod - VDG - Kobasoooooooo
- 1 O'Brien - Johnson (still bigger than your Johnson, LA!)
- 2 Quincey - Elllliottttttt
- 3 O'Byrne - Hejda
- 1 Wilson was a healthy scratch tonight. Rumor alert! Could it have something to do with the fact Greg Sherman was spied chatting with Montreal's GM Pierre Gauthier? (I didn't know Sherm spoke French!)
- 2 The Kings did not get Quick anything for his birthday. It seems they left the box of defense on the table at home next to the syrup.
- 3 Ten of Mueller's 51 NHL goals have been game-winners.
The Avs hopped on the bus tonight (not the plane, dear Kyle. It's only a 45 minute drive) and headed down to Anaheim where they will face the red hot Ducks tomorrow.
Stick tap to SteveHouse for the recap title
61 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
They weren’t quick enough because Starmie froze them when he finished them off with Blizzard. Also, fuck Quick, that dirty ass hole. Taking a swipe at Winnik, there is no excuse for that. Honestly, to me, that should be a suspension. He did that with no other motive than to hurt one of our players because he was all butt hurt. It was malicious.
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
If I dint no no better, I’d say u have the snarkiness of someone who ’s trying to quit smoking. Keep it up yo.
Small defencemen? What small defencemen?
by ljp78 on Jan 22, 2012 4:13 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
I actually found myself yelling out loud “Let’s go Teej!”. Thanks, Dan. Thanks a lot.
A few Kings fans where I was sitting were exceptionally obnoxious tonight. Nothing like a win to shut them up.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 22, 2012 1:09 AM MST reply actions
Sounded pretty dang quiet there, actually.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey - Asst. Editor
The Hockey Writers - Avalanche Correspondent
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 22, 2012 1:11 AM MST up reply actions
They didn’t have much to cheer about, Kings were pretty awful, but doesn’t stop them from being obnoxious as always. I’m going to the Anaheim game tomorrow. It’ll be my third Avs ducks game there, ducks fans are usually cool. Funny how completely different two fan bases can be despite being so close to eachother.
by rderosier on Jan 22, 2012 1:35 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
Well, losing will do that to you. The scenario was totally opposite five years ago. Kings fans were cool, Ducks totally not.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey - Asst. Editor
The Hockey Writers - Avalanche Correspondent
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 22, 2012 10:09 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, no way it was sold out. Lots of empties.
by rderosier on Jan 22, 2012 9:46 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
This was my 3rd Avs vs. Kings game at the staples Center and every time I leave thinking that the fans there just duck and are completely annoying.
by rderosier on Jan 22, 2012 1:32 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
Great team win, this is a group that’s overachieving. Credit that to whoever you want. This is a tough team to play against almost every night.
Thumbs up to The Teej. He is the water carrier of that line, skating hard to track down the puck and disrupt the opponent. I’d love to track how much ground he covers during a game, like they do with soccer players. He did a lot of heavy lifting tonight.
Altitude couldn’t be bothered to show replays of Mueller’s slash or Quick’s penalty. I understand the whole thing with the Nuggets game going long, but at least do your job when you’re on the air.
I’m sure Dater’s on a tight deadline with the west coast game, but here are a couple of mistakes:
-About the goal against:
The Avs’ Erik Johnson roamed out of position, chasing a King into the opposite corner, when Dustin Brown shot a puck that Avs goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere failed to corral.
There were four players who did Really Shitty Things on that goal, one did a Sort of Bad Thing, none of them was Johnson. McClement and Winnik, two guys who really should know better (and who were really good otherwise) stayed on the ice way too long. It was close to a 1:20 shift by the time the goal was scored, and that’s unacceptable. Hejduk, who’s starting to become a liability on the boards in his own zone, made a weak half-assed attempt to chip the puck out. O’Brien fucked around with the puck when he had it forehand with time to do something. Instead, he put Johnson in a terrible spot. Jiggy, very good all night, probably would have loved to control the shot better than he did. Johnson’s crime was that his defensive partner gave him the puck in a terrible spot with an opponent right on top of him.
Here are Dater’s 3 stars:
1. Paul Stastny. Avs center had two assists.
2. J.S. Giguere. Avs goalie was solid.
3. Peter Mueller. Avs winger scored third goal in two games.
Stop right there at #1. Jiggy and Mueller are acceptable, maybe Elliott, maybe Cody Mac, maybe Hejda/O’Byrne (who, whether you like it or not, are our shutdown pair). But not Stastny. This isn’t anti-Stastny, but his first assist was a deflection off his glove that he had no idea about. Second pass was nice, but that was Landy’s hard work at the point and then to get open, plus it was just icing on the cake. If you want to put Stastny in there, he’s #3 at best, certainly not #1.
Nearly all these games are nail-biters. I didn’t think there was any chance to come back again after the rally against Florida, but this team keeps getting better and better.
by DiD on Jan 22, 2012 1:11 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
though in all fairness, Stastny also had a very strong defensive game tonight IMO
Cap Floor Team = Cap Floor Results
by Cole D Hamilton on Jan 22, 2012 1:14 AM MST up reply actions
I’m not disparaging Stastny, Cole. I’ll just ask the question – did anyone besides Dater watch the game and come to the conclusion that he was the Avs’ best player tonight? Because if you did, then you’re wrong. That’s literally all I was saying.
Oh no I agree with you there, I just thought I’d throw in a positive before others started Stazz-bashing
Cap Floor Team = Cap Floor Results
by Cole D Hamilton on Jan 22, 2012 4:32 PM MST up reply actions
Watched some of the post game on Fox Sports West. Mueller definitely took a whack at some dude.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 22, 2012 2:01 AM MST up reply actions
Great comments. Thanks DiD.
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 Jan 22, 2012 8:44 AM MST up reply actions
I didn’t see the game, Dan, but regardless of what you think about SoS’ performance last night, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s got 6 points in his last 4 games, including 4 assists, something he’s lacked this season. He’s heating up just like he usually does in the 2nd half. He’s got a legit finisher on his line again and it shows, IMO. He’s played like ass off and on all season, but he’s also been the best player on the ice some nights with little or nothing to show for it.
What production do you need from him to feel that he’s deserving of his salary?
If we don't get our sauce, we ain't watching the game!
I must be in some strange alternate universe.
The Avs are leading the Kings series 3-0. They took away the neutral zone tonight and seriously outshot, out-defended and out-played LA as well while owning the faceoffs even against Kopitar and Richards. We have so much blueline depth we have to scratch one of our best to make room for them all, and both of our goaltenders have been fairly consistently amazing for the entire year. Near the end of January, the Avs are still in a playoff spot, and and we’ve managed to do this without one of our top scorers, who is amazingly the ONLY Av injured right now. Stastny, Hejduk, and Duchene are having record bad years, but the team’s still winning. Peter Mueller isn’t just some fictitious afterthought stored quietly on the IR – he’s had 4 points in his past 2 games and is a positively dominant force on this team right now. Ryan O’Reilly is our leading goal, assist, and point scorer, all while establishing himself as our #1 center, and Landeskog is one of our most solid 2-way players as a rookie.
If you had told me any of this at the end of last season, I would have asked what you were smoking. But since I’m pretty sure this is reality and no some psychotic break brought about by how we played for the majority of 2011 (even though I haven’t ruled it out), I’ll take it. Things are starting to go well for this young team and the rebuild’s paying off. We’re not done yet, but if we can keep this up and get Stastny, Hejduk, and Duchene (when he gets back) all posting strong games from here on out, we could make playoffs. We could finish higher in the standings than the Caps. We could keep this “Oh my god who are these guys and when did they become good?” streak going. We could continue to defy expectations and come together as a team.
I’m excited. My team is actually kinda GOOD now. I just hope that they’ve figured out how to win and keep doing it for the next 10-15 years.
And if this is some alternate universe, I don’t want to leave.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
Your long suffering is finally ending
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+
by A.J. Haefele on Jan 22, 2012 1:52 AM MST up reply actions 2 recs
I’ve completely forgotten how to root for this team when it’s winning. I don’t quite know what to make of it. Every game I subconsciously expect the tank to come back, but it isn’t.
It’s just… weird. Good weird, but weird nonetheless.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
Wilson's scratch
We have so much blueline depth we have to scratch one of our best to make room for them all
For what it’s worth, the Post’s game story says Wilson was out because of a groin injury.
What you might have missed
Avs defender Ryan Wilson was listed as out with a groin injury.
:( I hope it’s minor and he gets better soon!
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
Well that is awfully nice of you.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 22, 2012 2:05 AM MST up reply actions
I like Wilson. A lot. He makes our team better when he plays. Even though amazingly our depth can allow him to be injured without me wanting to smack my head against a wall before crying in a corner, I just hope he comes back soon for the sake of the team.
(He’s pretty cute too, so that helps)
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
If we could just combine Elliott and Wilson somehow into one person.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 22, 2012 2:24 AM MST up reply actions
It's been done.
2011-2012 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Vyechnaya Pamyat!
2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: Chances are rapidly diminishing that this will not suck.
funny how both recent scratches on D were because of a sudden groin injury
DDC is deeply embedded throughout this blog. For better or worse, his taint taints us all.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 22, 2012 7:16 AM MST up reply actions
See, Siemens isn’t the only guy missing games b/c he’s out screwing around.
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 Jan 22, 2012 8:46 AM MST up reply actions
They were forced to do “Tugs” as part of Avs initiation
Our Universe is so Humongous Big - Illya Bryzgalov
Don't worry be happy right now - Illya Bryzgalov
by Freakoffaleash on Jan 22, 2012 2:45 PM MST up reply actions
Man, I hate the Kings. They’ve given the Avs fits for years. Even back in the glory days, they were always tough for the Avs to beat. And they took Foppa’s spleen in a game 7 that should have never been necessary. The Avs are to the Kings as the Blues are to us.
If this season’s 3-0 record is more than just a statistical blip, and an indication that we’re finally out from under their thumbs, then no matter what happens this year playoff-wise, you have to count that as a major accomplishment.
No soup for you!
Giguere in the top 10 in SV%. That is a pretty sick top 10 list of names there.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Jan 22, 2012 2:04 AM MST reply actions
Lil’ Tank got all of his bad games out of the way with us last year. He’s been good this year and has benefited from playing behind a much better defense, but I’m still not convinced he’s as good as his numbers suggest. We’ll see.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
I would say
the previous like 140 games in the NHL as an indicator that he isn’t very good is more important than the 20 some odd games he’s played like Dominik Hasek.
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+
by A.J. Haefele on Jan 22, 2012 2:17 AM MST up reply actions
3 Winnik - McClement - Jones (which apparently is an unfair line according to Jim Fox)
Who is Jim Fox? Is that a Kings announcer? We need a sound bite of that.. I want to listen to that and laugh all day long while eating pancakes in the Kings honor!?
Yeah, he’s the Kings color commentator (who’s annoying as hell). Someone mentioned in the GDT that he called it unfair to put Winnik and Jones on the same line. I think he was referring to the numbers, but it was funny nonetheless.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey - Asst. Editor
The Hockey Writers - Avalanche Correspondent
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 22, 2012 10:12 AM MST up reply actions
I said it in the GDT, but I wasn’t quoting them, I was just saying that even I get those two mixed up
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 22, 2012 11:15 AM MST up reply actions
Peter Mueller has had the puck on his stick for less than 5 seconds in 2 games, and has 3 goals to show for it, from 3 different types of shots. This is why we have been patient with him, and I believe our patience is about to be rewarded big time.
Turned on the game just before the Kog scored, great shot on that goal.
Finally, WTF was up during the last minute of the game? Quincey in particular had reverted to his Thing 2 performance level.
Varly!
It’s great to see Mueller having success, what a great story!
The bad aspect to that success is that teams are invariably going to start to target him more as he has does well, I just hope he can hold up to the punishment.
Mueller seems much more durable now (knocks furiously on wood). He took Richards along the boards last night on the redline and just rubbed him out.
:)
2011-2012 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl: Vyechnaya Pamyat!
2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche: Chances are rapidly diminishing that this will not suck.
TWSS
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 22, 2012 3:02 PM MST up reply actions
or he
I don’t discriminate
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 22, 2012 3:02 PM MST up reply actions
Elliott’s pass to Cody was a thing of beauty.
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 Jan 22, 2012 8:47 AM MST reply actions
This game was pretty much to just hold serve. Hard to gain ground in the West these days.
4th biggest pessimist of MHH.
"There's always next season." -- Jimmy Howard on not winning the Calder Trophy.
Nice tennis reference, yo.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey - Asst. Editor
The Hockey Writers - Avalanche Correspondent
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 22, 2012 10:13 AM MST up reply actions
Most impressive thing last night
The dump and chase. It was amazing. Usually you dump it, first skater checks and the second skater get’s the puck. Last night, the first skater checked and THEN retrieved the puck. We won so many board battles, soooooo many. Props to ROB and Hejda for basically shutting down the Kopitar line for the majority of the night.
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
if you’ve ever watched a sutter post game, it is ugly
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 22, 2012 12:54 PM MST up reply actions
I’m watching the one from last night right now. He said that “In the first period, they physically kicked our ass”. He also gave mad props to the McClement line.
I didn’t catch much more than that because I think I fell asleep sometime in the middle of it.
Just a Colorado girl in Montana who ♥s the Avs and writes for Mile High Hockey.
he mumbles so much
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 22, 2012 1:46 PM MST up reply actions
Kelly LeBrock was a super hottie.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
O'Reilly works harder than you
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
In Weird Science, which was in the John Hughes video linked up above.
"In my experience, there's no such thing as luck" -Obi Wan Kenobi
O'Reilly works harder than you
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
I’m glad someone clicked on the links.
Duchene may be the face of this franchise, but O’Reilly is the heart. - Guitarpick8120
Mile High Hockey - Asst. Editor
The Hockey Writers - Avalanche Correspondent
by Cheryl Bradley on Jan 23, 2012 12:56 AM MST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Mile High Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
