One Sentence Recap Style:
The Avalanche laid a turd on the ice last night in the shape of a Hot Pocket.
[Joe here. I'm going to add a few more sentences of my own.]
One of the downsides of having so much youth and inexperience is inconsistency. Some nights the Avalanche just aren't going to show up, and this was one of those nights. It happens. It will happen again. The good news is that Calgary also lost last night, so the Avs retain the top spot in the West.
The only thing that doesn't make sense to me is why David Koci continues to play hockey at all. What is his purpose? Aside from a few fights in the opening minutes of a few games, he plays no more than three total minutes, contributes nothing to the offense, and generally warms the bench. Matt Duchene and Craig Anderson have been getting roughed up all season, so it's not like Koci has provided any kind of protection.
Koci's hit on Mike Green last night was clearly boarding, and the game misconduct was well-deserved. It was a dirty hit and Green is lucky to have come away with just a few stitches and a headache. Green never saw him coming. The only reason Koci was on the ice in the second period instead of his usual first-minute-of-the-game beat-down was that Washington doesn't have a big enforcer like Donald Brashear any more. Koci didn't have anybody to fight. Coach Sacco knew this and played him anyway.
I hope the league suspends Koci for a game or two. If nothing else, it will free up a spot in the lineup for somebody who actually plays hockey.