Game 57: Ducks At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread

by Joe @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 1:06 PM MST in News Comment 45 comments

After getting me all hot and bothered with the prospects that Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny could be back sooner than expected (seriously, don't touch my keyboard), Adrian Dater goes and ruins it with this little update:

Stastny did not skate with the team this morning because of a groin injury, coach Joel Quenneville said. Smyth skated, but is not sufficiently recovered from a fractured ankle to play tonight. Quenneville said he hopes Smyth will be able to play Thursday against St. Louis at the Pepsi Center.
Quenneville said Stastny has recovered from an appendectomy, but now is bothered by a groin injury.

Seriously? No, seriously?

At this point I think the entire Avalanche medical staff, including the trainers and even the equipment guys, should be fired. And not just fired, but forced to skate around on the ice completely naked for two hours before being shoved down by Scott Parker and then booted out of the arena by Cody McLeod. And then fired.

Has anyone ever heard of stretching? Ice skating is particularly dangerous to the groin muscles because the legs can go in opposite directions very easily and with little resistance. That's why it's important to be as flexible (and strong) as possible. How many groin injuries have the Avalanche suffered this year? I don't know for sure, but I want to say almost all of them have occurred in practice. Not a game, not a game, practice. Since Stastny hasn't played any games in a while, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he overdid it in practice---while rehabbing his post-surgical, sore abdominal muscles. Christ on a bicycle that's just ridiculous.

Anyway, the Avs are playing the Anaheim Ducks tonight, a team on a four-game winning streak that includes beating Detroit. I'm not really that worried, considering how strong Colorado has played of late, and how great Jose Theodore has been, but I suppose a meltdown could happen any second. I'll just try not to think about it.

Stastny, Smyth and Sakic, please get healthy. And hire your own trainers.

ESPN preview.

OFF-TOPIC ADDENDUM: The new platform for all SB Nation blogs (including this one) can now be seen over at Athleticsnation.com, the SBN flagship. I'm very pleased with the features and the functionality of the new platform, and can't wait until Mile High Hockey has undergone the switch. It's coming soon. I'll keep everyone posted.

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medical goofs

what all have our trainers goofed up this year?

they mis-diagnosed Sakic with a groin pull instead of a hernia.

misdiagnose of Sauer's whiplash as post concussion syndrome.

now this Stastny thing? This is totally ridiculous.

I know I'm missing some more too, help me out.

by thedoctor on Feb 12, 2008 1:27 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: medical goofs

I can't think of any other misdiagnoses, but what about Leopold's leg laceration that opened back up during practice? Did they do his stitches themselves in a dark closet or something?

And Tyler Arnason admitted to playing several games with a broken wrist before the pain was finally too much and he had to get surgery. Did nobody x-ray that shit?

And Hejduk seriously hurt his back doing squats in the weight room. Don't they have spotters? Do they not show those guys how to do the exercise properly? I'd like someone to name an NFL player that got more injured in the weight room than he did on the field. It doesn't happen. (Disclaimer: I know it probably has happened at some point in history, but you get my point.)

I'm not sure if the Avalanche medical staff is the same as it was back in the late 1990s, but I have a feeling it is. Keith Jones' career nearly ended because the Avalanche medical team ordered the wrong kind of knee surgery after he tore his ACL. He spent the rest of his career in Philly wearing an elaborate knee brace and to this day can't skate without pain.

Somebody call Dr. House!

by Joe @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 1:40 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well..

I agree that the Avs' training staff is bad, and I don't want to defend them, but...

Sakic has a sports hernia, not a hernia. A sports hernia occurs in the portion of the abdomen just above the groin. As there is no palpable lump, there is no way to know where Sakic's pain is, other than Sakic telling them where it is. A high groin injury and a low abdomen injury are kind of hard to distinguish unless you're the guy with the injury.

by Thomas on Feb 12, 2008 5:55 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

And by the way...

...one of the major symptoms of a sports hernia is pain in the groin.

by Thomas on Feb 12, 2008 6:00 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

According to Dater, it was not a sports hernia.

http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/...

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

by Luis on Feb 13, 2008 3:19 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Well

I've seen conflicting reports, and this was posted back in January.

by Joe @ MHH on Feb 13, 2008 4:42 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Good joke

Stastny has a groin problem now? Good one. You know this isn't April 1st, right? Next thing you know they'll announce that they accidently removed the wrong organ. Those Avs are hilarious man.

Wtf?

by Bob in Boulder on Feb 12, 2008 1:42 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

woooow

lmao, that would suck a lot.

"Mr. Stastny, we regret to inform you that we accidentally removed your liver instead of your appendix :( sorry!"

rofl! xD

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 2:47 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: woooow

Just so long as they don't remove the wrong groin (or any groin for that matter).

by Rookie14 on Feb 12, 2008 3:34 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: wooooow

Groin removal is also known as "Pronger's Disease." He suffered it when he moved from Edmonton to Anaheim per order of his wife.

by Joe @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 5:23 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

rofl

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 8:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a game

Not a game
not a game
not a game
we talking bout practice!
man we talking bout practice man!
practice!
Not a game
not a game
not a game!
we talking bout practice!

**room lols**

lmao, man I love AI. But seriously, this sucks ballsssss. When will Stastny be back now? I frickin activated him on all my fantasy teams, now what do i do? :( Oh well, at leasth Smyth is 2 weeks ahead of schedule, that's great news. If he comes back Thursday that'd be sweet. However I think he should sit one more out, and come back on Sat vs. Chi. just to be sure.

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 1:50 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

in brighter news

if the Avalanche score a PP goal tonight, they will have done so in 5 consecutive games...for the first time this year.

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Feb 12, 2008 2:06 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Re: in brighter news

And before long they'll reach 15% overall. It's a new day in Denver.

by Joe @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 2:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

15% overall! roflmao, and we're proud of that? rofl

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 2:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Going...

to the game tonight. My free ticket source has the flu, can't use his tix. Bad for him, good for me!

by Rookie14 on Feb 12, 2008 3:37 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

In their defense...

...a groin injury is something that occurs when a player is not in shape. It's kind of hard for Stastny to be in shape when he just had abdominal surgery. Basically, all you can do is rest. Your conditioning drops off.

When you get back to work, yeah, you're going to see groin injuries from time to time.

That's not to say that the training staff is anything special. They simply are not. Either they didn't bother to inform the coach and front office that Sakic arrived to camp out of shape, they didn't notice it in the first place, or the front office didn't care. Either way, at least two parties dropped the ball.

by Thomas on Feb 12, 2008 5:58 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Game on

...yep.

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 7:41 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

So glad we have Coach Q

because according to Versus, his masterful job behind the bench is keeping us in the playoff hunt.

:roll:

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Feb 12, 2008 7:42 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

SVATTY!!!

1-0 Avs

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 7:43 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

What the...

Skrastins is playing on the wing?!?!?!?

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 7:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

NW Update

Edmonton's up one on Minnesota after one. The Wild have the 2nd worst record in the league when allowing the first goal.

by andrew on Feb 12, 2008 7:54 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

1 period down

Avs are playing more physical than the Ducks. Avs look passionate - been a couple years since the team has played with as much hunger as they have lately.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 12, 2008 8:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

Did Lappy get a penalty for playing the man with the puck? Seriously?

The Ducks get a 5-on-3 to start the 2nd.

In other news, the Beige Wings are getting trounced in the Music City, Buffalo took the wood to the Sens, and Oilers are up a goal on the Wild.

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 8:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Playing the puck with a broken stick

Sez the radio guys.

by andrew on Feb 12, 2008 8:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I just got here

Is Skrastins really playing? Who's scratched instead of Skrastins?

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 8:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Frick

1-1 off a goal by Selanne. Still a PP for the Ducks.

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 8:38 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

was it a weak goal?

did theo crap out? my tv is crapping out

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 8:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

goal

I wish I knew. I'm listening on the radio. Stupid college tv.

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 8:42 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not Theo

Good shot from down low, in close, Theo got a piece with the catcher, but it had enough on it to get in short side.

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 8:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

eh

5 on 3 open lane shot. Hard to stop.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 12, 2008 8:46 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh, 1-1

Selanne from Getzlaf and Pronger, and the Ducks still have about a minute of PP.

by andrew on Feb 12, 2008 8:39 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

??????

Why isn't Cody McCormick playing?

by Mike the Avs Fan on Feb 12, 2008 8:44 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

McCormick

Apparently he's on the IR. What a surprise.

by Rather Dashing on Feb 12, 2008 8:51 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

shoulder injury, apparently

the avs' game notes say he's got a shoulder injury and is out indefinitely.

http://avalanche.nhl.com/preview/Gam...

by andrew on Feb 12, 2008 8:52 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The Highlander

picking a fight with Parros the Pornstar. I predict that that would have ended badly for McLoed....

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 8:47 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand

McLeod nails Hutchkins in the back, Parros chases him down, but Sutherby jumps in. Sutherby may have saved McLeod's life right there...

And somebody explain to me why Skrastins ISN'T withstanding in this game?

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 8:52 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Liles

sucking hind tit in this game. That's had to be his 4th giveaway in his own end just a second ago in the early seconds of the PP.

How McLeod managed to get a PP for the Avs out of that hit befuddles me. Parros must have said something nasty about the ref's mother...

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 8:55 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Brawlin'

Lappy hit some dude on the Ducks, Getzlaf objected, Lappy and Getzlaf went at it, and then Guite followed suit.

by andrew on Feb 12, 2008 9:14 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Lucky Ducks

Too bad The Sheriff has the Flu. He would be mopping up some feathers from the ducks.

Never trust the lunch lady.

by Hardshell_Taco_del_Lowayne on Feb 12, 2008 9:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Horrible turnovers

in the defensive zone by the Avs. My eyes, they are a bleedin'.

Theo made some great saves, Finger made an even better one, and Lappy runs Huskins which leads to him dropping the gloves with Getzlaf. After that one comes to a draw, Guite and Huskins go, with Guite getting the TKO on that one.

End of two, tied 1-1.

Elsewhere, the Oil up 4-1 on the Wild...

by Mike @ MHH on Feb 12, 2008 9:17 PM MST reply actions 0 recs