Game 23: Oilers At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread
by Joe Dunman on Nov 28, 2007 11:19 AM MST
in NHL News
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When the Avalanche play the Oilers, and one team comes into the game having lost four of five while the other has won five of eight, and the losing team isn't Edmonton, you know things are really messed up in the world.
We already know the bad news. Mile High Hockey (and every other Avalanche-related Internet outlet) has been harping on the bad news for three days straight. So what's the good news?
The good news is that Ian Laperriere is skating again (bottom of the page) and will likely make a return to the Avalanche lineup in the next week or so. Also in the good news category is that Jeff Finger's stiff groin (insert finger and groin jokes here...huh huh, he said "insert") seems to be fine now and he will play tonight. Peter Budaj starting in net would be good news except that the stupid goalie carousel has the poor guy completely out of his zone.
Sorry, that was bad news again.
Back to good news, the Avalanche have had three long days to contemplate exactly how badly they have sucked over the past five games. I'm sure they're motivated to win. At some point this group of supremely talented individuals will shake off whatever ails them and start playing like they did at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately they will have to do this despite Coach Q instead of with him, since his guidance seems distinctly lacking of late.
But we all know what this team is capable of. They just have to do it.
The game starts tonight at 7:30 PM Mountain time, 9:30 Eastern. I skipped the last game (and wisely so), but I'll make my triumphant return to live blogging tonight. There was a decent crew keeping things going during the Calgary debacle on Saturday, and I hope we have similar turnout. See you here.
ESPN preview.
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I'm excited
I'm pretty exited about tonights game because I've missed a few while being in Los Angeles during Thanksgiving. I really want to watch Richardson and McCormick play (hopefully they do). I want to see how this group of guys react after a bag skate practice by Q.
In other good news, I've totally forgotten about the Avalanche uniforms at this point.
Highlight of my vacation was that my Chinese father-in-law bought a navigation system. It became clear right away that the only reason he bought it was so he could argue with "the map lady". It was a source of endless entertainment. Oh, and also listening to him complain about the Wii and how it didn't know a good golf swing from a bad one. Good times.
map lady!
that's awesome.
I've missed the last 3 games. 2 because of the holiday, 1 because DirecTV fucked up. I'll be rather irate tonight if DTV drops the ball again.
or if the Avs are still playing like ass.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 28, 2007 2:04 PM MST up reply actions
Re: I'm excited
I can't, for the life of me, forget about the uniforms. I want to, but I just can't.
Speaking of video games, if the Avs look like crap again I'm going to bail in favor of Final Fantasy or Suikoden. One of the two.
Nerd out.
Excited
I'm excited for another Avs blog circle-jerk, I didn't know you guys were holding these without me.
(let's throw a /sarcastic on there just to make sure everyone realizes it.)
I am excited too, I missed the last 2 games cause of thanksgiving
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 28, 2007 5:13 PM MST up reply actions
Hey Jibbles...
Glad to see the little verbal broohaha with Thomas the Enforcer didn't turn you off from the Avs altogether.
I unfortunately won't be watching this evenings games as I have a deadline at work on Friday and must force the laws of physics to do my bidding. That and finish the drawings. . .
I'll try and pop into the thread to keep abreast (heh) of the action.
Turn Off?
Please, If I got offended every time someone said something incredibly dumb I'd never go to work.
I haven't gotten upset over there yet, at all. I pity the poor fool that he gets so upset over something as silly as whether Q is a bad coach or not, and that someone out there doesn't think he's that bad. If that's how he's going through life getting worked up over something like that, well i feel sorry for him
by Jibblescribbits on Nov 28, 2007 6:28 PM MST up reply actions
Distractions
I won't be live blogging full time after all, it seems. I'm splitting my attention between a household project and the game tonight, so look for sporadic posts from me.
I will be keeping a close eye on the game, though.
Unless, of course, it's 4-0 Edmonton at the end of the first period.
Re: Bam
Sweet. I miss the start of the game and before you know it the Avs are up by 2!
And another scoring chance!
Holy crap
The Avalanche looks like a completely different team tonight. So far so good!
They're getting chance after chance, and Clark and Hejduk already have a goal apiece.
Re: Holy crap
Sure enough, Coach Q puts Hlinka back on a line with Stastny and Hejduk and it's magical. Why was that so hard to see early in the season?
hlinka
is playing really well so far.. good to see him going again
I must say
I don't want to jinx them, but the Avs are showing great defensive positioning tonight, as well. They seem to be in the right place at the right time all over the ice.
With the exception of that one wide-open flub by the Oilers, of course.
Oh snap
Scott Hannan just punked out Stortini. He was all like "what's up, bro?" and Stortini was all like "oh no you didn't" and then Hannan said "what you gonna do about it?"
Stortini Part II
Now Stortini just cross-checked Jeff Finger for no reason and got away with it. That guy is so going down.
Arny's loose hands
Arnason just got called for holding. First power play of the game with just two minutes left in the first period.
First period
I'd say that was a slight improvement over the past few games. Colorado looks like the Avs of old tonight.
Power plays
The Avs get a PP chance, but Haynes makes an interesting point about the Avs being 0/16 on the season against the Oilers with the man advantage.
That's pretty sad.
This one looks to make it 0/17.
Svatos!
Where did Svatos get that huge slap shot?
That was the best blast from the point I've seen from an Avalanche player all season!
Czech Republic Represent
Paul Stastny might not have been born in Czechoslovakia (his dad was), but he plays best with guys who were. Milan Hejduk has a goal and 2 assists tonight. Stastny has two assists. Hlinka has one.
Very nice.
fight
almost fight between mccormick and stortini......
we will see it sooner or later i would imagine
Re: Score!
I'm not sure what exactly a "ya ya" dance is but it sounds like it would be inappropriate in a public setting.
super joe
is back tonight... great feed to wolski
PK
Another good PK for the Avs, and now the Avs go on the power play.
There's less than 2 minutes left in the period, though.
Wasn't expecting...
After the less-than-optimistic preview, I wasn't planning on watching the game, but I've been hooked for a while now.
Shot differential
I can't believe the Avs already have 36 shots on goal. The second period's not even over yet.
Oh well
Budaj doesn't get a shutout tonight, but the Avs still have a 3-goal lead with just ten minutes left.
Budaj
That sucks, a shutout might have finally convinced coach Q to start Budaj 2 games in a row. That goal was pretty weak though, **sigh** looks like Theodore again vs the sharks.
by Mike the Avs Fan on Nov 28, 2007 9:51 PM MST up reply actions
Poop
The Oilers get a screened tip in the slot off a big slap shot, make it 4-2.
Just five minutes left, but the Avs aren't playing like they did in the first two periods, that's for sure.
This looks eerily similar to last year's team.
Great win
Finally, the Avs look like themselves again. Great win, but bear in mind it was against Edmonton.
The next game against San Jose will be the true test.
It was win 500 for the Avs as a Denver franchise.
Stars:
Brett Clark
Joe Sakic
Milan Hejduk
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