Game 34: Ducks 2, Avalanche 1 (OT)
by Joe Dunman on Dec 20, 2007 6:24 AM MST
in NHL News
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PrintDespite being relentlessly out-played and significantly out-shot, the Colorado Avalanche managed to gain a point in the standings anyway by losing to the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 in overtime.
There's really only one player on the Avalanche worth talking about in this recap, so I won't waste time on anybody else, considering most of them played pretty badly. Only one guy was a bright, shiny star in a sea of crap.
That player, solely responsible for moving Colorado back into a tie for first place in the Northwest Division, is Peter Budaj. He stopped 36 out of 38 shots, while his team managed only 12 shots total, including just three in both the first and third periods. Budaj finished the game with a .946 save percentage. The fact that he was not named a star of the game (for what that's worth) is completely infuriating.
In his last four starts, Budaj is 3-0-1 with a .951 save percentage (122 shots, 6 goals). That's excellent, top-tier goaltending, any way you look at it.
Unfortunately, the Avalanche lost the game last night, and because of that, Budaj will likely not get the start on Friday against the Rangers in Denver. Despite all signs that he is the real deal and the bedrock of a team that often struggles to be consistently good everywhere else on the ice, Coach Joel Quenneville---if he follows his usual pattern---will bench Boots in favor of Jose Theodore.
And then it's pitchforks and torches time, people.
Stars of the Game:
- Ryan Getzlaf (0g, 0a)???
- Chris Pronger (1g, 0a)
- Mathieu Schneider (1g, 0a)
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Not THAT bad.
I did misss some of the game but I think the Avs did what a good team should do last night - hang on when the odds are stacked against them.
Last game of a road trip (where the avs suck) - check
Missing 6 (SIX! ok... 5!, arny is meh) starters - check
Playing against a team playing better with another great defender in the line up - check
I wasn't expecting much else besides a low scoring battle, and that was before Smyth went down. We signed Smyth specifically for these types of games. The forwards have been playing shorthanded for a few games now, and any chemistry that was forming has been stolen by injuries whilst wearing them down.
Yes, the puck was in the Col zone A LOT, way too much, but the scoring chances were still being limited all things considered - and Budaij bailed his team out.
Bailing a team out that was fighting up against the ropes, which is what number 1 goalies do. Why so few people, including the media, trust Budaij is beyond me. Ok, its because he isn't a big name.
To sum it up the Avs deserved a point and a 3 stars of the game selection. WTF 3 star picker, Getzlaf?
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Dec 20, 2007 7:12 AM MST reply actions
Re: Not THAT bad
When you get out-shot as badly as the Avs did, and play the vast majority of the game in your own zone, desperately trying (but mostly unable) to clear the puck out, it's not a good game.
I guess my criticism is more directed toward the team as a whole (the impotent offense, the few shots, etc.) rather than individuals who sucked. Well, except for Skrastins. He made a couple of big screw ups.
But good points, and I think you have a good argument.
Good points lowayne
As much as I rail on Q for taking his foot off the gas with leads, the team actually opened up a little in the second after they scored. Of course the period ended and Joey Q. instilled the 80-feet-forecheck rule (you know the one where NOBODY forechecks until the puck is on our side of the red?).
Anywho, Boots stole another one. Our luck, he gets sent to Lake Erie...
Any word on Leoprone/Sakic/Smyth/Richy?
Re: Good points
Leoprone is day-to-day, Sakic and Smyth as well. Word has it that Sakic could play against the Rangers on Friday but I doubt it. I'm sure the RMN or the Post will confirm that today or tomorrow.
Richardson will be out a while.
Budaj better stay
It will be ridiculous if Coach Q. pulls Peter to put in Theodore. Peter is one of the main reason the Avs are doing so well right now. He should not be halting the streak that Budaj is on. If he starts Jose all us Avs fans need to react the same way the Knick's fans did by creating the world largest pink slip!!!!
by lissd02 on Dec 20, 2007 7:34 AM MST reply actions
Coach Q's after game press conference
I watched part of his after game press conference and he was quick to point out that Budaj was all that and a bag of chips.
That doesn't mean he won't start Theo but he recognized that Budaj was the best thing on the ice last night.
Re: Coach Q's
In Dater's recap today he included a quote from Q about how Budaj is a smooth criminal in net:
"Peter was tremendous, got us a point," Avs coach Joel Quenneville said.
Now let's hope he doesn't lose his mind between then and tomorrow night.
yep
Like I told Mike @ MHH, Budaj should take that point home and hang it over the mantle, light some candles and maybe burn some incense. That point was all his. He stole it fair and square.
by StructuralPoke on Dec 20, 2007 12:22 PM MST up reply actions
eh
this might not be a bad spot to give budaj a rest - home game against an eastern conference team that is maybe the worst-shooting team in the league (4th in shots per game, last in goals per game), especially since the next two games are vancouver and detroit.
on the other hand, there's a couple phoenix games coming up where he could get a breather, too.
by andrew @ Mile High Hockey on Dec 20, 2007 4:11 PM MST up reply actions
Re: eh
As long as it is perfectly clear to him that he's being benched just to rest and not because he lost a game. And as long as he knows he'll start the very next game and the one after that and the one after that.
lost in the clamor over the 12 shots and Budaj...
That was a frightening hockey game for me in more ways than just how poor the Avs looked. The Ducks were playing mid-90s hockey out there. Clutching, grabbing, interfering every chance they got -- and they didn't get called. The amount of (illegal) picks they set was staggering.
Even the final goal was the result of a couple pretty obvious calls -- Wolski was tripped/checked without touching the puck, and then Cumiskey was checked into the boards without him ever touching the puck either. Honestly, I wasn't surprised at the no call, since they hadn't called it all game, but it's a perfect case in point. With how good the Avs looked on their only PP of the game and how much the Ducks push the edge of the envelope physically, I don't think it's an overstatement to say the no calls dramatically affected the outcome of the game in favor of the Ducks.
The Avs are most definitely a team designed for the "new" NHL, where interference is not allowed. If this trend continues, they'll be forced to retool.
Re: lost in the clamor
I wonder if the excuse by the refs is something along the lines of, "That's just the Ducks being the Ducks."
Great post
I was thinking the same thing. That was dead-puck era hockey. I think the refs swallowed the whistle for two reasons. First, it's home crowd calls. Second, the Ducks are the most penalized team in the league and Pronger just came out and said very publicly that the Ducks are getting officiated differently than ever other team right now. That stuff doesn't make headlines here but it was certainly big news in Canada and in officiating circles. See http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/...
"I guarantee they look at us differently," Ducks defenceman Chris Pronger told the Orange County Register. "Is there a mandate from the league on that?"
The very next game and the Ducks get away with pre-lockout hockey. It's pretty cut and dry. The only thing good about it is they didn't call them the other way either. Parker and some of our players that are a little rougher around the edges certainly didn't make adjustments to take advantage of it. I think Hannan tired to when he saw the direction of the game and all he got for it was a trip to the sin bin.
Re: Great post
I wonder if the officials treat the Ducks differently because most other teams (Philly excluded) can keep their elbows to themselves, unlike Mr. Pronger.
Picks
I saw that too, and thought it was just me being a homer. Every breakout from the Ducks end was perpetuated by a pick by the d-man swooping in and rubbing out the forechecker.
Pronger
Should sue his orthodontist; that gap toothed bitch should meet Lappys fist in a dark alley in Lodo.
by RobertSmith on Dec 20, 2007 12:51 PM MST reply actions
Re: Pronger
Lappy doesn't have to raise a finger. Pronger's "better half" kicks his ass all the time. Just ask Oilers fans.
Dater is posting up a storm at HFboards
- Sakic still isn't skating, and is still in a lot of pain. A prompt return is looking more doubtful all the time.
- Smyth is hurt much worse than they let on, could even be a herniated disk. Also looking like he's out a lot longer than we thought.
- Richie to IR list.
- David Jones recalled to replace Smyth and Richie. I'm really surprised by this, I would have thought Stewart or Healey was the next callup.
crapola
Also a blurb on DPO: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...
by Bob in Boulder on Dec 20, 2007 4:32 PM MST up reply actions
Re: Dater is posting up a storm at HFboards
It looks like the average age of the Avs is about to drop to 23 or so.
So why don't we just call up all of Lake Erie...
It won't take but another couple of injuries and they'll all be up in the big show anyway. I wondered about Smyth's injury since they were originally saying Sauer's was a neck injury and now it's concussion.
Hopefully the team can get going again and Q leaves the goalies as is - Theo on the bench and Budaj between the pipes. With Budaj we have a chance to win most games with 2-3 goals, with Theo we have to score 9.
Re: So why don't we just
Hopefully the team can get going again and Q leaves the goalies as is - Theo on the bench and Budaj between the pipes. With Budaj we have a chance to win most games with 2-3 goals, with Theo we have to score 9.
So true.
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