Game 42: Avalanche At Red Wings, Preview And Open Thread

by Joe Dunman on Jan 8, 2008 11:25 AM MST in News Comment 37 comments

Man, things just don't seem to be getting any better for the Avalanche. Sure, they beat the Islanders a few nights ago, and yeah, they're still very much in the playoff hunt despite being fourth place in the Northwest Division. Buuuut, Tyler Arnason will likely return to the lineup tonight. Unless that broken wrist somehow sparked a desire to play hockey, we should expect more of the same lifeless play he displayed earlier in the season.

Also in the "bad" column is the fact that Coach Q, despite a stack of experience that's now taller than he is, has slipped back into his goaltender carousel insanity. Jose Theodore will get the start tonight against the Red Wings, his second start in a row. Why?

Quenneville said Theodore "is coming off a really strong game (against the Islanders), and I thought he played really well against Los Angeles the other day, too. He's got some momentum here, and let's give him an opportunity." . . .

Give him an opportunity?! Seriously, how many opportunities does a rotten goaltender really deserve? This whole thing is really starting to make me crazy.

And as Draft Dodger pointed out over at ITCS, I'm not the only one going insane---Terry Frei has lost his marbles, too. God bless him.

Also making me see red on just about a constant basis is the ridiculous success of the Red Wings this year. 67 points? At the half-way mark? This team is on pace to reach or surpass 60 wins, something that hasn't happened since Detroit last pulled it off in 1995-96. The Avs won the Cup that year, though, so maybe that scenario will play out again.

Yeah right.

I will almost certainly not watch this game at all tonight, due to the fact that the Avalanche will likely be beaten pretty badly. Sure, they could pull off a huge upset and I would always regret missing one of the best games in team history, but I'd get over it. I trust all you faithful MHH heroes will be here keeping the thread alive in my absence. As always, I'm forever in your debt.

The game starts at 5:30 PM Mountain time, 7:30 PM Eastern.

ESPN preview.

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Comments

I'll be absent on this one as well,

Since I don't get Versus. Can't say that I'm too upset to miss it...

by Rather Dashing on Jan 8, 2008 11:34 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re

"Give him an opportunity?! Seriously, how many opportunities does a rotten goaltender really deserve? This whole thing is really starting to make me crazy."

You said it all. IT'S ENOUGH ALREADY!...

Almost 5,000 miles away... It's the Portuguese Avs Fan!

by LuisAvs on Jan 8, 2008 11:50 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

That's it

I'm openly rooting for Theo to get shelled tonight. If he's bad enough, maybe they'll trade for Emery, who desperately needs out of Ottawa:

Emery fights in practice

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 1:00 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: That's it

Budaj/Emery could be a cool tandem. And by tandem I mean Peter Budaj would start 3 games out of 4 and Emery would win all of his backup appearances.

by Joe Dunman on Jan 8, 2008 2:36 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Chelios

becomes the 2nd oldest player in the NHL tonight. He is 732 years young.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jan 8, 2008 2:05 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

theodore

why Q? WHY!!!

by cupster33 on Jan 8, 2008 4:07 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Theodore

What amazes me the most about him is his quote after the NY game, he said something along the lines of:

"I know that if I play my game, and if I really play like I am capable of playing, then I'll outplay any goalie in the league"

It makes me wonder, maybe Theodore just doesn't try. Can anyone really suck THAT much??? I think he's still a good goalie, but he just never tries to play that way. That quote really has me pissed off.

by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 8, 2008 4:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Theodore

The obvious follow-up question to that statement was, "So why don't you play that way?"

by Joe Dunman on Jan 8, 2008 4:53 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

AAAAAAHHHH!!!

EXACTLY!!!!!! That's been pissing me off, THAT'S the question that damn reporter should've asked!!

by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 8, 2008 4:56 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

And BTW

I totally agree 100% with Frei, we do have a pair of backup goalies, they both suck! But you can't go rotating them because Theodore sucks more than Budaj.

by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 8, 2008 4:55 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Budaj is just average, Theodore plain sucks. Should have traded for Bryzgalov!

by thedoctor on Jan 8, 2008 5:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

i don't get vs.

i think this place will be my only source of game info...how do we look?

by thedoctor on Jan 8, 2008 5:57 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

2nd Intermission

Just a matter of time till the mighty Red Wing PP struck. Valiant effort though.

1-0 Detroit going into the second intermission.

I haven't watched but a scant few minutes here and there, but it seems to be a lot of neutral zone and first 10' play, with the exception of the PP.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:02 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Avs playing well.

But a goal would be nice.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:05 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Shots

through 2: 18 Detroit, 12 for the Avs (though they mustered an impressive 3 in the 2nd period). Methinks the tide may turn in the 3rd.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:05 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Did Théodore look weak on that goal?

Wonders.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:19 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Did Theodore look weak on that goal?

Nah, just one too many guys to keep track of. Rebound control could be better though.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Triple fuck topped

3 or 4 or 1 or 2 was very floppy tonight and did not look crisp on his feet apart from that beauty save slot to slot. This loss isnt his fault. This loss was the best our wholly average team, with poor coaching could muster.

Triple fuck with shit on top.

I play 9 chords.

by RobertSmith on Jan 9, 2008 8:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Penalty on Liles.

crap.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:29 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Couple of big saves by Theo

Skratch continues to amaze me every time I see him on the ice. I swear he gets worse every game.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:30 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

A goal

By the Avs, would be nice.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:32 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Why is Hasek so good!?

The guy is 43 freaking years old. Everything old in Deetroit is gold.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:35 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Powerplay.

And we are last in the league.Comeon just score a goal for heaven's sake.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it's time

to start PRACTICING the power play during practice, cuz it obvious to anyone who sees the Avs' PP that they don't. From attacking style to personnel, they are just making it up as they go.

I get punch-a-baby angry watching this crap...

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:43 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe its time

To fire the incompetant coach Q is. He suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

for all the young kids out there, Joey Q. is the suxxorz...........

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Last Prayer

SCORE AN EFFIN GOAL. amen.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 7:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Fuck

I hate the damn Red Wings.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:51 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Double Fuck

I hate that damn Hasek.

Still, he only had to save 19 40-foot shots tonight. And he got to rest during the two Avs powerplays.

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:53 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Hasek

I threw a couch coushin at the tv I hate Hasek so much. I think I should file a lawsuit on Hasek for making me go to anger management.

InYoFace Hasek! InYoFace

by InYoFace on Jan 8, 2008 7:54 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like

you need a Beige Wings shrink like Jibbles...

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 7:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I have to say, that was the best game I've seen Theodore play all season. Right when the game started though, I saw that we wouldn't score tonight, it would've taken a shutout from Theodore if we were to win. See, without many of our great players, we are a bad matchup for the Wings. This happened all the time a couple seasons ago, we are not only worse than them, we are a bad match up to them. Just like the Warriors (NBA's 8th seed last year) were a bad matchup to the Mavericks (the best by far last year), they beat them in the playoffs. Same here, our style of play simply plays into the Wings' hands.

I was very surprised the Wings only had one goal today, it could have been 4 or 5. The Avs, on the other hand, just had no chance, if I were the Wings goalie, I would've had a shutout tonight. Two great games in a row by Theodore pretty much proves my theory that he is still a top-notch goalie (see quote several posts up in thread), but only when he feels like it. And he doesn't feel like it often. It's not lack of talent, it's simply lack of effort.

by Mike the Avs Fan on Jan 8, 2008 8:02 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

tommorrow!

I can FINALLY WATCH an Avs game against Washinton. It's on TSN. See, I'm from Quebec.

by James on Jan 8, 2008 8:13 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

Quebec. That's a perfect explanation of why you can see the Colorado vs. Washington game.

It also explains the accent, but still...

PS, I'm torn: Do I wear my brand new Ovechkin jersey, or one of my Colorado sweaters?

Mike @ MHH

by Mike @ MHH on Jan 8, 2008 8:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wow

How can you reckognize my accent on the computer? lol. And its because I don't have center ice as it is very expensive. Thats a reason I can't see the Avs.

by James on Jan 9, 2008 4:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wow

I highly recommend splitting the cost of Center Ice Online with a friend or a sibling. My brother and I split the cost and we can both watch games at the same time using the same account. It's pretty cool that way.

by Joe Dunman on Jan 10, 2008 5:01 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Q has successfully turned our beloved team...

Into the Colorado St Louis Blues.

This is EXACTLY what he did to the Blues during his tenure. A complete goaltender fiasco from week to week. A complete emasculation of the teams chemistry. No forward looking vision, no future. It's taken the Blues several years to rebound from that experience and some of our friends in St. Louis told us this would happen.

Q must go. Now. Shit.

I play 9 chords.

by RobertSmith on Jan 9, 2008 8:56 AM MST reply actions 0 recs