Game 56: Avalanche 6, Canucks 2

by Joe Dunman on Feb 10, 2008 5:34 AM MST in News Comment 14 comments

You know, the Avalanche are supposed to be suffering from the loss of Paul Stastny, Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth to injury. They're supposed to be struggling offensively. They're not supposed to be winning games against good Western Conference teams.

Somehow, the Avs are getting it done.

Tyler Arnason, Marek Svatos and Wojtek Wolski each had three-point nights as the Avalanche crushed the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 at General Motors Place, and chased Roberto Luongo at the end of the second period after the robotic super-goalie allowed five goals on 22 shots.

The Colorado offense was firing on all cylinders. Guys who should have been scoring in bunches all year but didn't, are finally doing so. Milan Hejduk had two goals. Arnason, long the whipping-boy of this blog, added a goal and two assists of his own. Even Andrew Brunette and Jaroslav Hlinka had two-assist nights. Just about everybody expected to score points on a regular basis did last night.

The Avalanche defense was efficient and effective, first limiting Vancouver's shots in the first period to five, then preventing them from getting any easy opportunities in the second and third. Though the Canucks out-shot the Avs by one, 25 to 24, their legitimate scoring chances were far fewer.

Jose Theodore had another awesome night, allowing only two goals, both on the power play. If he keeps this kind of play going, he can start every game from now on as far as I'm concerned. He's earned it.

From the AP recap:

Theodore, who returned from missing three games because of a back injury to beat San Jose on Wednesday, improved to 8-4-1 in 2008, posting a 1.86 goals-against average and .933 save-percentage in his last 12 starts coming into this game.

Hot damn.

The Northwest Division standings did not change at all last night, despite the potential for major rearrangement. Minnesota, Calgary and Colorado all won. All three teams have increased the distance between them and the Western Conference teams still fighting for a playoff spot (namely Vancouver, Phoenix and Columbus).

The next game is Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks back home in Denver. The Ducks are improving with the returns of Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne and Samuel Pahlsson, and are always a tough opponent to beat. Boooooooo.

Stars of the Game:

Marek "Don't Trade Me" Svatos (2g, 1a)

Milan "I'm Not Dead Yet" Hejduk (2g, 0a)

Tyler "This Probably Won't Last" Arnason (1g, 2a)

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Comments

That was a fun game to watch.

hope the Avs can match that offensive and defensive cohesion (great offensive power and a tough physical defense) against the Ducks.

message to Q "do not break up the Wolski-Arnason-Svatos line! They are on fire. But don't let them take the draw in the defensive zone late in the game either.

by Americanario on Feb 10, 2008 8:58 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

the best first period all year?

i can't remember one better.

by thedoctor on Feb 10, 2008 12:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Not to burst bubbles

seeing as I didn't see any of the game, but should we be TOO happy having whupped up on a Canucks team that has 4 or 5 starting defensemen out of the lineup?

Hey, don't get me wrong, a win is a win, but I predict that the remainder of the games against Vancouver will not play out this way, Skrastins not withstanding.

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 10, 2008 12:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

well yeah

but when will the canucks get healthy anyway?

BIG POINT: when they do get healthy, so will we >:)

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 10, 2008 5:30 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Avs don't have to worry too much about Vancouver

It's true that Vancouver has lots of injuries with their defense. However, it's also true that Vancouver is a one line team with some of the worst even strength scoring in the NHL. Even with the Avs injuries at forward they are very strong with their even strength scoring. So even with a good defense (I'd argue that healthy, the Vancouver D isn't too intimidating) Vancouver will still have a very hard time winning games because offensively they are not very good. Playing close games for SO or OT points with great goaltending will get you what it's got the Dallas Stars the last few seasons, no where.

by Dario on Feb 11, 2008 11:11 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing to take out

of this game is that defense or no defense the Avs still managed to get Luongo, one of the best goalies in the league, pulled after two periods. I don't know how he's been doing lately, i know the Canucks have lost a lot lately, but i can't imagine Luongo's been pulled too many times in his career

by Savage33 on Feb 11, 2008 12:55 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Well

Imagine. Just think of who was the coach of the Panthers when he was there... Mike Keenan...

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

by LuisAvs on Feb 11, 2008 8:51 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Well

Oh yeah, i forgot about his panther years. I was thinking as a canuck he would have been pulled to often. I think Keenan has less understanding of goalies confidence then coach Q does, at least when Q picks a goalie he stays with him for the game unlike Keenan who changes goalie every period.

by Savage33 on Feb 12, 2008 2:00 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Well

Until this year. Kipper has been playing consistently...but consistently sub-par for him. And yet, the Flames are still in the hunt. What a bizarre season.

by Joe Dunman on Feb 12, 2008 8:13 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Kipper

Kipper probably isn't feeling the whole Mike Keenan thing. That's not a new phenomenon.

Perhaps a move is possible? If Keenan were GM still, we could probably get Kipper for Stephane Matteau and a small bag of magic beans.

by Thomas on Feb 12, 2008 10:30 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Kipper

No doubt. I really wish they'd promote him.

by Joe Dunman on Feb 12, 2008 11:05 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

whoa

Careful, Joe. Keep praising Theodore and people are going to start thinking you like him.

by JDunman on Feb 11, 2008 1:00 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: whoa

I know. Noting that a player has performed well always means personal bias, so I have to watch my step.

And Theo better watch his step, too, because I might just try to make out with him.

by Joe Dunman on Feb 11, 2008 1:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Love them

I was lucky enough to be at the game (and not get my ass kicked, despite standing and cheering all by my lonesome for the Avs). First off, the Marek-Wojtek-Arnason line is insanely effective. Even last year I liked the Svatos-Arnason chemistry, but Wojtek is what holds it all together. He wasn't as noticeable, but he did all the little things that enabled the other two to play as well as they did. They've all got their role and it works way too well to change.
Secondly, it sounds very cliched, but the Avs won that game because of their heart. After Vancouver's first goal, the Canucks came out flying, but instead of becoming deflated, the Avs picked it up themselves. Even Marek was trying to bang people. Also, Cody McLeod was a fucking wrecking ball and probably should have gotten his ass kicked in the first period, but he didn't get into it with anyone until the third, and HE initiated it because McIver was picking on Hejduk. They seem to have a real sense of team. They might be limping into a playoff spot, but goddamnit are the Avs putting up a fight.

by Katie OD on Feb 11, 2008 1:00 PM MST reply actions 0 recs