Game 30: Blue Jackets 4, Avalanche 1

by Joe Dunman on Dec 13, 2007 6:32 AM MST in NHL News

I didn't watch this game, and judging by the open thread, nobody else did either. Not that we missed much.

The Avs managed to take a giant dump on the road, again, and squandered a two-game win streak and a shot at the Northwest Division lead by losing 4-1 against the Blue Jackets who also beat them last Wednesday in Columbus.

Jose Theodore had a truly stellar night, stopping just 12 of 15 shots in an anti-duel with Columbus backup Fredrik Norrena. Norrena only faced 16 shots but he stopped all but one.

Wow, 16 shots for both teams. Zzzzzzzzzzzz...

I guess Ken Hitchcock is winning his ongoing war with exciting hockey. Good for him.

What's really sad is that the Blue Jackets had only one shot on goal in the second period (one!) but they still scored on it. One shot, and they scored. You can't get much worse than that.

The Avalanche are definitely winning their own war on consistent play, as the win-loss-win-loss roller coaster seems to have gotten back on track. What it is about road games that screws up their game so much I'll never know. Somebody should check the team plane for toxins or mold or something.

The next game is tonight against the Predators in Nashville. I didn't make an open thread graphic before leaving for work this morning so that won't be up until later, but rest assured it will be there.

Stars of the Game:

Jared Boll (1g, 0a)

Manny Malhotra (1g, 0a)

Fredrik Norrena (15sv, .938)

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Comments

i watched most of the game

it was just a sad game. like watching Dallas back in the 90s. and we didn't have Forsberg to make chances from nothing or Roy to keep it close. In games like that, it's also all about your ability to score on the man advantage -- and the Avs were pitiful on the PP. I can't even remember a good chance.

Maybe we'll see Budaj for 3 games now?

by thedoctor on Dec 13, 2007 9:39 AM MST reply actions

Re: i watched

Considering the team is playing back-to-back road games, chances that Budaj will start tonight are good.

As for his continued starting...well, probably not.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 13, 2007 10:23 AM MST up reply actions

I DVRed it

and listened to parts on the radio (which is very painful, "blah blah blah (while I'm thinking "Is the game currently going on?") blah blah blah <break in with> A shot and a goal.", I'm not kidding, that is how I heard the 3rd Columbus goal). So I watched the goals and a little bit surrounding them later. As has been said elsewhere, the 2nd and 3rd Columbus goals were garbage. Theo seemed to lose his focus on both. I'd say 29 other NHL starting goalies in the league stop both of those. As would have Budaj, probably.

Speaking of painful broadcasting, McNab is really starting to drive me nuts. After the 3rd Columbus goal, I watched the DVR to see if either he or Haynes would comment on the soft nature of the goal. Of course not, maybe it is in their contract with Kroenke to not do so? But then McNab launched into this diatribe about what a wonderful game this has been! I'm not kidding. It was wonderful because scrubs were scoring goals. No Peter, it is horrible because scrubs are scoring goals. Crappy goals. Against crappy goaltending. And the game was, as far as I could tell, boring as hell. Quit trying to sell your product and start being a journalist, for crise sake. Is this an inherent problem with games being broadcast by a network owned by the owner of the team?

by Bob in Boulder on Dec 13, 2007 10:03 AM MST reply actions

Re: I DVRed it

Is this an inherent problem with games being broadcast by a network owned by the owner of the team?

I don't have any other examples readily available, but I can imagine that it's pretty typical. Altitude is not a journalistic entity anyway---it's the marketing arm of Kroenke's sports empire.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 13, 2007 10:22 AM MST up reply actions

yeah

i think it's almost unfair to blame mcnab and haynes for being blatant homers when their paychecks come with the same signature as do theodore's. treating the avs like it's still 00-01 is what they're paid to do.

by andrew @ Mile High Hockey on Dec 13, 2007 10:32 AM MST up reply actions

Re: yeah

My grandfather once told me that game announcers and play-by-play men prided themselves on their objective outlooks and unbiased opinions. I don't believe him.

by Joe Dunman on Dec 13, 2007 12:34 PM MST up reply actions

Hanes

He was much better on the radio prior to the Altitude gig. When the Avs scored he would practically scream Scoooooooooore. I appreciated this homerism, it was motivating. Then when the other team scored he would say "score" and clip it off and comment on the momentum shifts and how it was played etc... Now, when the BJ score a dagger number three goal Hanes yells scooooooore! and it's like freeking fingernails on a chalk board. There's no critical breakdown of the play. It's just congradulations time for the player who scored.

The most successful sports in the whole world are American Football and soccer. Commentators for both sports are extremely critical of poor plays. I have no idea what Altitude is thinking with this approach. What business model for sports announcing shows that this approach is good for the game or leads to any kind of financial success?

by Dario on Dec 13, 2007 4:05 PM MST up reply actions

And another thing.

I don't know if it's really Altitude making these guys do this. If you watch a Nuggets broadcast, it's true that those guys are big homers but they WILL get critical about a play or what a player is doing on the Nuggets. Say what you want about Scott Hastings but when Carmelo doesn't play defense, Hastings will say, "That's terrible defense, he has to move his feet on that play..blah blah blah". McNabb and Hanes have moved to a point where blatantly bad positioning or saves are totally blown over.

by Dario on Dec 13, 2007 4:08 PM MST up reply actions

good point

Hastings will call crappy play crappy play. So either he isn't being a good company guy or Haynes and McNab have their own koolaid stash somewhere they are drinking. I personally would much rather see someone willing to be critical of the team and players.

by Bob in Boulder on Dec 13, 2007 4:21 PM MST up reply actions

who the hell is Boll?

seriously, that was a STOPPABLE shot by some scrubby player.

I believe both 3 or 4 and Buddha are good tenders, this team needs a new wax job and most importantly a new coach.

Can we get Crawford back? Lindy maybe, my God, we'll even take Count chocula if he's open to it. Get Q out of here. Take Tony with you.

I play 9 chords.

by RobertSmith on Dec 13, 2007 10:28 AM MST reply actions

Seriously...

I think I could get behind Count Chocula as head coach. His wardrobe alone would be a step up from Q. We need to print t-shirts or something. I'm sure that would tap into a whole other 'casual fan' market that the league is always chasing.

"The New NHL. Vampires Welcome."

BTW, does Coach Count have any junior's experience? Midget? US Developmental Program? AHL? ECHL? CHL?

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Dec 13, 2007 12:28 PM MST up reply actions