Game 77: Flames At Avalanche, Preview And Open Thread

look almost identical to the lineup I left in a comment of at Dater's blog.  I even explained Forsberg on the 3rd.  He's got the wrong Cody in there, IMO, but whatever.  

I assume Theo's in net tonight?

They've obviously had enough of this crap, and are fighting back:

Just so you know - your open threads can be slightly intimidating to a first timer.

Is anybody rooting for the Avs to tank?  Hoping Lacroix will get pissed, forcing normally mild-mannered Giguere to fire Q?  Or, play for the playoffs despite seeing a very likely first round exit by Detroit, Dallas, or San Jose (maybe Anaheim), and possibly keeping Q?  

Being close to Edmonton will never sound right.  Ever.

Flames rush the dump out and end up icing it.

start the firing sequence and the count down!

Avs on the power play.  What are the odds they score?

10000:1?

Phadouche put a huge hit on Forsberg, nobody went to his defense.  

I simply cannot root for the Avs NOT to make the playoffs. I do want Q gone, I just hope we can have that and the playoffs.

David Jones tries to go with Jerome Iginla, but nothing happens.

I'll say it again, the Avs can NOT miss the playoffs! Hockey in Denver will be dead!!!!!

btw, did I mentions Phaneuf is a douchebag? Where is Scott Parker dammit?

Marissa wants a goal, right now.

Avs go on the kill, both teams are pushing and shoving.  Forsberg goes to the box for a pretty blatant slash.

What the fuck is wrong with him?

I've seen a least three penalties on the Flames not get called, and they call that?

Lappy is now chirping at Iginla, and now he's yelling at the ref and mocking him for not calling a penalty when Stastny got leveled.

wtf wtf wtf was that????? Stastny just got totally harassed by Huselius and it wasn't called??? That was bs!!!!!!

Hockey-wise, that was a pretty even period.  7 shots for Calgary, 6 for the Avs.

Physically, the Flames were getting away with all kinds of crap, and both teams look ready to brawl.  Lappy, McLeod and even Jones have been giving Iginla an earful all night long.

By the way Jordan Leopold is playing tonight.  He's had about 3 minutes of ice time so far.

Those poor elementary school kids were exposed to an Avalanche trainer!  I'm sure half of them left with strained groin muscles.

Poor things...

Laperriere is still giving the Flames crap.  He's trying to get Phadouche to go, but the coward won't drop the gloves.  

Marissa says "Go Avs!"

And whatever that little dimple is on her hip, it's cuuuuuute.

Liles nearly cut Kippers' feet off with that sliding crash into the net.

The Avs are finally shifting the momentum away from the Flames, who have dominated the period so far.

Phadouche hits McLeod for no reason, goes to the box for interference.  Avs get a power play for what it's worth.

Leopold trailing the play nets one!

Avs go on another PP after another interference call against the Flames.  Owen Nolan was the culprit.

The Avs can't score twice on the power play can they?  isn't that like lightning striking twice?

I think Calgary got more shots on net than we did.

Where'd everybody go?  It's just me and Americanario now.

Phadouche takes a run on Theodore, Hannan tosses him down, and roughs him up, and Phadouche was trying desperately trying to get away.

Seriously, what a waste.

And now Iginla and Finger go to the box for roughing after the play.

just laughing his ass off at Iginla the whole time iggy  was trying to go at him

Phadouche goes to the box for ANOTHER interference penalty.  He shoved an elbow into Stastny from behind for no reason.

Somebody needs to wreck him---now.

phadouche hitting staz from behind

One dead kitten so far, 1:10 left in the second chance.

And now, to keep things interesting, the Avs go on the PK for something dumb Ryan Smyth did, I think.

What happened to everyone?  Did your last pic of Marissa do them in Joe?

Come on Guite. You gotta get past the blue line!

for Forsberg's first goal

Now it's just getting ridiculous with all the pushing and shoving.  The Flames are totally riled up.

Lappy gets a star of the game for making them lose their focus.  Good work.

Marissa's just hanging out, waiting for the final frame.

is almost the right word...

Mcleod is helping Lappy with a few of the pest games.

Wow, Roger Millions and Charlie Whoopdiefuck just plain suck. And they are even less annoying today than usual. What a bunch of a-holes.

Smyth gets two minutes, Avs go on the PK again.

And McNab just jinxed them by noting how excellent they've been at killing penalties so far.  Thanks, Peter.

Wolski made a superb pass to Sakic in the deep slot for a skating one-timer, but Kipper was cool and stopped it cold.

The Avs are starting to look suspiciously like a team trying to sit on a lead.

Calgary is getting too much puck time.

The Avs are showing some fight again.  Finger and Liles are playing very well tonight.

Yelle crashed into Theodore hard, Theo was donw on the ice and grimacing.  The trainer was rubbing his shoulder and neck, but he appears okay.

Hejduk gives the Avs a cushion!

The RPM line scores!  Stastny to Hejduk, caught Kipper off-guard!!

Avs up 2-0!!

MILAN HEJDUK!

I think this is because my 6 year old nephew got a new Hejduk jersey today. He lives in California, but I've brain-washed him well.

Keenan pulls Kipper, puts Curtis Joseph in net.  That's only two goals against, Keenan, what's up with that?

1:30 left.

Sauer gets called for a minor, the Flames will finish the game on the power play.

55 seconds left---Calgary time out.

Dater said Theodore looked rotten in practice yesterday, but he looked freakin' superb tonight.

A huge shut out for him, and a huge win for the Avs.

He won't get one, but Ian Laperriere deserves a star for his tireless pestering.  The Flames were pissed and playing poorly at times.

The Avs stay in eighth place in a tie with Vancouver, who have played one less game (at least as of right now).

Stars of the Game:

3. Jordan Leopold

2. John-Michael Liles

1. Jose Theodore

They will maintain their lead over Nashville and Edmonton at least for another night.  They also tie Vancouver who plays Calgary tomorrow before coming to Denver on Wednesday.

There was absolutely NO line juggling tonight! With the exception of some lines being out due to players not being able to get off the ice, the lines stayed the same throughout! They were the RPM line, Sakic-Wolski-Brunette, Arnie-Foppa-Jones, and Guite-Lappy-McLeod. Unbelievable! I thought the day would never come! So, does this mean that not juggling lines is actually a good thing?? Who'd a thunk it?!

It was not an especially special game.  Really, the Avs decided to show up and play.  But I guess this makes it easier to write a more positive* game recap.

Nothing personal to anyone, really.  Phadouche sucks!  Our PP still sucks.  5-3 and no shots, please!!!  But whatever.  We won and are still, for now, in the race for the playoffs.  Go Avs!!!  

I'm a fan, now matter how much it hurts.

and bring more physicality back into the game. I'm not talking about all in brawls like the "Fight Night at the Joe" although that was cool and is good in big rivalries like the Avs/Wings at the time. I'm talking about crap where Phadouche starts cheapshotting people(especially star players) and you can't really do anything about it because of all these rules, plus the fact he's a little bitch,