Game 52: Avalanche At Red Wings, Preview And Open Thread
by Joe Dunman on Feb 1, 2008 7:51 AM MST
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I'm posting the game thread early today because I'll be studying for the LSAT most of the afternoon and evening (the test is tomorrow morning, oh god) and may not have time later.
It seems that a game doesn't go by without at least some new injury report from the Avalanche. From the mysterious mold spores on the charter jet that wrecked every road game early in the season to pulled groins, shoulder separations, broken ankles, broken wrists, appendectomies, sports hernias, concussions and even whiplash, the Avs have been injury magnets.
Jose Theodore got pulled prior to the third period on Wednesday night due to back spasms, and though the team is optimistic that he's just got sore muscles, Peter Budaj will be starting in net tonight against the Red Wings. Budaj looked seriously rusty in relief against the Blackhawks, giving up two goals on four shots. Many of us here at MHH suspect that his extended period on the bench has wrecked his confidence, and Budaj himself has eluded to such:
"Obviously, it's not great for your confidence," Budaj said. "Confidence is something you know you've done before. . . . I've played games before and I was able to help my team win hockey games before, so hopefully I can do the same thing right now."
Who's he trying to reassure, us or himself? Doesn't sound like a guy ready to jump back in and get things done. Great work, Q.
Also in injury news, Kurt Sauer, who's been out for two months with a sore neck, then a concussion, then whiplash (seriously, which one, if not all?) has been reactivated and is practicing on a regular basis. Kyle Cumiskey, on the other hand, has managed to seriously hurt his groin breaking the sound barrier with his speed skating and has been moved to the injured reserve list.
Paul Stastny is skating again, if gingerly, as he prepares to return from his recent appendix surgery. He can't come back soon enough.
The Avs will have a serious challenge tonight against the Wings, still by far the most dominant team in the league, and the winner of 11 of the last 13 games between the two. The Wings already have 80 points and still have 30 games to play. I thought the salary cap was supposed to create league-wide parity. Why hasn't it affected the Wings in any way at all? Damn them.
The game starts at 5:30 PM Mountain time, 7:30 PM Eastern. I can't promise I'll be here to join in on the thread, but I encourage everyone to participate. We've had some good ones lately. Let's get some goals!
ESPN preview.
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LSAT
look at the big brain on brad!
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Feb 1, 2008 9:32 AM MST reply actions
GL on that Joe
the most hilarious thing about the test is the people while you're waiting. so much type-A overachiever chest pounding by complete strangers while you're waiting for the test...oh man, it was good times.
also, go Avs. I want a red wings plaster fest tonight!
Heh...
Took that in fall of 02. Walk out of there talking about how it was so much easier than you thought it was and watch peoples' reactions.
I know people like to think their letters of rec and essay mean something, but they mean absolutely nothing at all. GPA and LSAT score. Nothing else matters. Not even a little bit.
Enjoy the test. Enjoy your 1L year. You will enjoy neither, but once you are through them both, the rest is a cakewalk.
by Thomas @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 1, 2008 3:42 PM MST up reply actions
11/13?
Really?
That's horrible.
by andrew @ Mile High Hockey on Feb 1, 2008 1:09 PM MST reply actions
Sign of the End Times
The intro to the Avs website piece regarding the Avs-Wings game tonight made reference to the fact that the Avs are going for their 4th Consecutive Road Win! Show of hands; who thought you'd ever read that this season?
Of course
the first 3 were against the truly awful SE division.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 1, 2008 2:11 PM MST up reply actions
Budaj with some huge saves.
He looked rusty early but he is looking better every save. Avs kill the penalties.
Budaj is keeping the avs in this game
wings with 10 shots. avs 0 shots. I thought that 2 on 1 for the wings was a for sure goal.
yep
Buds is playing great. THAT'S the saves I want to see him make. THOSE are the saves that he wasn't making all season. That's what I'm talking about Buds! Go Budaj! Go Avs!
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 1, 2008 6:01 PM MST up reply actions
Avs going on the PP
hopefully they will up their total shots from one. I think I saw Hasek chatting on a cell phone that m@#$!%^er.
1st period
it just got tighter and tighter. Starting to get ruff with Mcleod's hit at the icing whistle but wings will have about 1.20 left on a PP for the start of the 2nd.
Avs need to get some friggin shots on goal!!
Go Panthers
They should know the nucks should be able to score anymore goals with that offense.
Revised go panthers
I mean shouldn't be able to score anymore goals. I was distracted by the TV showing a close up of my mortal enemy.
Almost
a fight between McCormick and Downey, Avs radio guy expects a fight when they get out of the box
Was it
Mark Mosier? The color guy. Yesterday he was on the radio and claimed that the avs don't play the wings physically enough.
I'm glad
Budaj is making some entertaining saves every 5 minutes or so. Otherwise this is one of the dullest avs/wings games in a while.
haha
In case you didn't heard it on the radio, Downey took a run at Clark but he saw him coming and layed out downey. Clark was the one left standing. It was like Downey hit a brick wall.
Guite Penalty
This colour guy's pissed about Guite getting the penalty an Samuelson getting away for the run at Lappy.
AAAArrrrghhh
Hannan got shoved into Hasek. Review that goal!!!!!!!!!! Thats no interference!!!!
Terrible, terrible call
Avs should be up 1-0. Even Altitude said that call was horrible! and they NEVER talk about officating.
Even
Even the Detroit announcers said it was a bad call. And they are the biggest homers ever (worse than the Calgary announcers)
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 1, 2008 7:23 PM MST up reply actions
Messed up...
How do you not at least review that goal? If the roles were reversed Detroit would have gotten the benefit or at least a review. Also how do you disallow the goal but call no interference penalty?
Sorry
That last post made no sense. I went from very excited to very angry real quick. I thought the Avs scored but they waved it off due to goalie interference but Hannan got shoved into Hasek. ugh.....I have no love for Hasek.
Disallowed goal
Radio guys aren't sure what's going on but they're not too happy about Hannen getting pushed by Ljibla
GAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
I guess the only question left is; was that the biggest flop Hasek ever took?
by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 1, 2008 7:14 PM MST reply actions
No the biggest
The biggest Flop i ever saw Hasek take (mentioned below) was the one against the SJ Sharks last year in the playoffs. Of course the Refs blew it off and the Sharks scored the GW goal so It was funny.
But yeah, he's the floppinator
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 1, 2008 7:25 PM MST up reply actions
NHL Rules
apparently state that regardless of who instigates the contact (player or goalie) with a goalie who's in the crease results in a dissallowed goal, seems stupid that the goalie can get away with attacking a opposing player and letting a goal in and have it not count.
Sorry I'm late
Good stuff InYo.
This game is completely annoying me, for a number of reasons:
- The Red Wings color guy- He may be the most biased crappy guy in the league. He's awful, and just a cranky old bastard (that's right I have to listen to the awful Red Wings announcers, in their defense the play-by-play guy is fine.)
- Quenneville - He's obviously instructed the avs to play not to lose this game, not to actually try and win it. The Red Wings announcers are bad (REAL BAD) but he was able to correctly call out the Avs on not putting any pressure, because they're not trying.
- That "no goal" what a BS call. Hannan was obviously pushed into the goalpost.
- Hasek - Well Hannan was pushed into the goalpost, Hasek notices and acts like hes been shot. I hate that bastard. There was no better moment last year when he did his "Floppinator" bit against the sharks last year and got scored on because of it
Damn Damn Damn
Empty netter to finish them off. I blame Q for not even letting the Avs try to score tonight, and the Refs for screwing them when they did.
Aw well at least they played well
Thanks for throwing the game refs.
A-holes.
by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 1, 2008 8:01 PM MST reply actions
WTF??!!!
WHY IN THE HOLY HELL WAS ARNY TAKING THAT FUCKING FACEOFF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
HOLY SHIT, QUENNEVILLE, YOU ARE THE DUMBEST SHIT ON THE FUCKING PLANET!
Re: WTF??!!!
Fire his ass. Horrible game plan. Horrible game management. Horrible.
Boots played great
That goal was a fluke redirect off of Leoprone's stick.
But I lay this defeat squarely at the feet of Queenville. Terrible. Horrible. My eyes are bleeding, I just threw up, and if I was a ticket holder to that game, I would have demanded my money back.
And
Don't forget, he showed no confidence of his players by setting up a strategy that places absolutely no emphasis on actually scoring goals. So if the Avs receive any little bit of bad luck, which was the case tonight, they were screwed.
The Arnason draw was bad, but they scored 6 against Chicago just 2 days ago. Sure they are playing the red Wings now, but for cripes sakes, you still have Hejduk, Brunette, Hlinka, Leopold, Liles, Wolski, Svats Machine, and Hensik. He's setting up a game plan like they don't have anyone who can put the puck in the net.
And WTF was Clark doing on the PP with Liles. Didn't we establish that either Leopold or Finger belong out there with Liles on the first unit. Seriously I'm sick of his waffling.
by Jibblescribbits on Feb 1, 2008 8:25 PM MST up reply actions
Despite the piss poor offense...
The Avs should have gotten at least a point. The defense got better and better (mostly) and Budaj was stellar. It took 6 players (5 Redwings - 1 official) for the Red wings to beat us. This shit is why people aren't watching the NHL in the U.S.
Avs should have won or at least gotten to OT, but instead Hasek will get a shutout and an Oscar for his performance. He might even win an Olympic Gold for his dive tonight.
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