Game 19: Avalanche At Wild, Preview And Open Thread
by Joe Dunman on Nov 18, 2007 10:38 AM MST
in NHL News
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Both the Avalanche and the Wild head into tonight's game with their collective tails between their legs. The Avs played their worst game of the season on Friday, getting crushed by the Stars 6-1, suffering no injuries but to Jose Theodore's already battered reputation among Colorado fans. The Wild didn't get off so easily, losing yet another top scorer to injury. This time Mikko Koivu, the Avalanche Killer, went down after being slashed across the leg during Friday's game against Vancouver, which Minnesota lost 6-2. Also still out for the Wild is Pavol Demitra, he of the glass groin.
While the Avalanche are suffering injuries of their own, the worst being the sprained knee of team motivator and enforcer Ian Laperriere, the real wounds appear to be among the top "scoring" lines, which continue to struggle scoring consistently, if at all. There's no question now that Joe Sakic is being overworked on the power play (in a point role that doesn't suit his talents) and his even-strength play is weaker for it. Ryan Smyth is playing hard in the slot but passes and rebounds are not reaching him. Paul Stastny sucks horrendously on the road, and his linemates Milan Hejduk and Wojtek Wolski aren't exactly tearing up foreign ice, either.
I won't waste time talking about the Avalanche defense, which flirts with greatness only half as much as it collapses completely.
Thankfully, Peter Budaj will be returning to his rightful place in net, after relieving Theo on Friday and stopping 10 of 11 shots through a period and a half. Boots has been 4-1-0 in his last five games and 2-1-0 (2.01 GAA) against the Wild this season.
Minnesota is just one point behind the Avalanche in the Northwest standings, and as divisional play continues until the end of the month, this game is critical to both teams, if for no other reason than just to restore their confidence. The Avalanche also must overcome their terrible road record.
The game starts this afternoon at 4:00 PM Mountain time, 6:00 PM Eastern. It's Sunday, so I'll be home and blogging away. A couple of you kept the thread on Friday going despite the carnage. I hope we have a better time today, and the ScarJo pictures come out in celebration rather than in consolation.
ESPN preview.
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Fox Sports
Tonight is on Center Ice Online is the Fox SportsNet feed, and the audio is terrible. It's got all kinds of disortion, like the volume is turned up incredibly high on the broadcast end.
It was like that during the Wild/Canucks game on Friday.
I hope I don't get a headache.
Well
So far so good, the Avs look to be playing really hard so far. They look fast.
Great scoring chance by the Avs, followed by another by the Wild, followed by one for the Avs.
Crazy game so far. Sakic looks a little winded.
The Trap
Despite the Wild's reputation for killing offense, this game has been nothing but flying attacks by both teams' scoring lines.
Tons of action in this one so far. This is the kind of hockey I like to see!
Defense
Avs defense has been weak through the neutral zone but strong in their own end. Cumiskey's had a couple of good plays.
Budaj just made another big save.
Not good
Now the Wild are getting entirely too many scoring chances. Every other play is a huge drive on goal by Minnesota. The Avs can't get anything going.
Crap
The Avs are just slinging the puck at the goal, not actually shooting for the score. This is starting to worry me.
Close
The Wild just about scored on another superb offensive play in the Avs' zone.
This game is starting to look like the Stars game. The Wild are out-playing Colorado at every end of the ice.
Re: Close
The Avs aren't skating hard or showing any fire. Once they get into the Wild zone, they just kind of lob the puck at the net and then give up. No fight at all.
PP
Avalanche go on the power play for the first time in the game. I'm not holding my breath for anything special.
A break
The period ends with almost a minute left in the PP.
Avs will start the second with the man advantage.
First Period
First period wasn't a disaster only because of Budaj making some huge saves. The Wild have skated circles around the Avs so far, and the Avs aren't showing any fight. If things keep up like this, we could see another 6-1 loss.
Shut UP!
I really wish the Wild announcers would pay attention to the game. God they just talk about stupid crap all the time.
Come on Avs
Two huge Wild scoring chances, with disaster prevented only by Peter Budaj being freaking amazing.
He shut down a 2-on-1 with no help at all from the defense.
Voros
Wild player had a great wrister from the wing and barely got it through the opposite arm of Budaj. It looked wide, but went in.
Damn.
Wild 2-0.
Painful
Sakic looks slow as hell. He's got not spring in his step and no presence on the ice. The Avs still can't get anything going.
Lemaire
You can really tell how superior Jacques Lemaire is when it comes to defense compared to Coach Q. The Wild are just skating around the Avs zone like it's their own, and every time the Avs get near the Wild's end, they're totally shut down.
This is a one-sided game.
Fourth line
Why the hell have Smith and Guite had a much bigger presence on the ice tonight than Stastny, Hejduk, Smyth, Sakic and the others on the top two lines? Why are Smith and Guite the only players showing some real effort in the Wild zone?
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
Parrish for hooking
Parrish gets called for knocking down Finger, but the replay showed Finger just lost an edge. Avs get lucky on that one.
GO IN ALREADY
Josh Harding is nothing short of superb in this game. How he stopped every single shot in that last series of Avalanche attacks I'll never know. Holy crap!
This game is getting more frustrating by the second.
Missing Lappy
I'm wearing my #14 jersey in an attempt bring his mojo to the game. So far it's not working.
OH MY GOD
Arnason gets blanked on a one-on-none, then the Wild take it THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ICE UNOPPOSED and score. This is asinine.
Wild 3-0.
No communication
The Avs are not talking to each other on the ice. Somebody tried a back pass behind the net but there wasn't another Av within a mile of it.
Enough already
Another Wild goal.
4-1.
Arnason and Hlinka were in the immediate vicinity of the assist and the goal and totally got beat.
The scrappers
Jeff Finger looks like he's trying to get some action going. A little pushing and shoving going on. Guite was right in the middle of it, too.
Where's Lappy when you need him?
Second period
Only slightly better effort from the Avs in the second. The lone goal they scored was pure luck.
I'm getting close to packing this one in. We'll see how things go, but I'm sure I can find something better to do with my time then watch this crap.
And I'm not a big fan of Marney's turtleneck tonight.
We interupt this program...
I just have to get this off my chest...
Michael Hanyes is a human prairie dog.
You may now return to normal programming.
PP again
Another power play for the Avs, but I'll go ahead and say that they won't score on it.
Let's hope they prove me wrong.
Re: PP again
Nope. No shots on goal. Yet another pass-pass-miss kind of PP, just the way the Avs like it.
Cumiskey
Kyle Cumiskey is too fast for himself. He loses his balance a lot---way too much for an effective d-man. It looks like he just gets ahead of himself.
Smyth/Stastny/Hejduk
The new Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk line is looking good now, but they just can't get anything to go in.
Well
The Avs are playing stronger in general, and much more time in the Wild zone, but nothing is working.
Almost done
Three minutes left, three-goal deficit. I'm starting to think the Avs might lose this game.
Re: Ya think?
You should send the Avs a bill for it.
Just be aware that they take forever to pay you back. I'm still waiting for my ticket reimbursement from the game in Nashville back in October.
Hlinka
Hlinka made a nice effort to shoot the backhand, but nothing is getting past Harding now.
Budaj makes a huge glove save, and he's looking okay now.
Suck Fest
This was another rotten road game for the Avs. What a waste of time.
Where in the world is Joe Sakic?
Recap tomorrow.
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