Mile High Hockey - Avalanche vs. Wild, 2014 Playoffs Round 1 Game 4Colorado Avalanche and all hockey coverage in the Mile High statehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50889/mhh-fav.png2014-04-24T22:17:41-06:00http://www.milehighhockey.com/rss/stream/54169092014-04-24T22:17:41-06:002014-04-24T22:17:41-06:00I hate the Wildz
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<p>Avs' poor 1st, 2nd and most of 3rd sink their game 4 chances. </p> <h3>Recap:</h3>
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<p class="MsoNormal">At a bar. Work drinks. I’m drinking. A lot. Fuck it, I’ll recap you.</p>
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<h4>Period 1: Bar time!!!!</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Start now. The Avs started off playing like absolutely dog shit. I thought this would stop soon, it didn’t.<span> </span>The Wild began to dominate and eventually Spurgeon was able to beat Varly on a rip from the top of the circles. 1-0 Wild.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Wild kept pishing, amazing and a<span> </span>eventually about hallway through a penalty was called on Guenin. Not good, Nate, not good. Thankfully the Power Play was over soon without damage. Thank god.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Avs look like shit. Just shit. Pure shit. As the Avs begin to get some presence in the offensive zone, Johnson’s has his shot block to spring Moulson on a breakway, but a nice save by Varly kep the Avs alive.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Period over.<span> </span>Not great, like at all, but it could be worse.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SYSTEMS UPDATE:</b> Bad.</p>
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<h4>Period 2:</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Home now!!! Please play better Avs. <span> </span>Johnsons started the Avs off on a great pinch but fed Cliché on his backhand who couldn’t do anything with it.<span> </span>The Avs had a good shift off MacKinnon’s line but Minnesota came right back and dominated the possession.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Avs had a great rush as Talbot was sprung on a pseudo breakaway but Suter was called for hooking. Great chance emerged for the Avs after this. Nothing. Just fucking nothing. Some minor possession but everything looks off.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We’re halfway through and I have little to write about.<span> </span>The Avs are pushing but getting nowhere.<span> </span>The Wild are responding in transition and making Varly stop the puck but nothing looks scary from either side.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Following that comment the Wild got a power play.<span> </span>After a chance short-handed chance by Talbot, Coyle was able to find a rebound and put it by Varly. 2-0 Wild.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Well, after that, the Avs decided to play hockey.<span> </span>After a good forecheck, O’Reilly scored off a long-range shot that deflected off Suter and the Avs rebounded a bit. 2-1 Wild.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Under 4 left, Stastny got called on a penalty for cross checking the shit out of Granlund.<span> </span>Rough penalty there Paulie, but I like the aggression.<span> </span>I really do.<span> </span>The Wild had good possession, but wow did Varly have to make a great save off the post then a cover. Wow.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Period over, but the Wild still lead.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SYSTEMS UPDATE: </b>6% better. Still sucked. Being only down by one is a fucking miracle.</p>
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<h4>Period 3:</h4>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Period started off better for the Avs and a good rush by Wilson created a Power Play for the Avs.<span> </span>This felt like a huge break for the Avs. The call was a little weak, but gave the Avs a chance to tie this game.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And nothing. The Wild’s PK is demolishing is the Avs Power Play. I am very surprised and impressed. There’s just no pressure. An unlucky hand pass effectively ended the Avs Power Play.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">8 minutes in and really nothing happened. The Avs tried to push but the Wild neutral zone trapped clogged everything and the Avs had trouble getting into the zone.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">With under 8 minutes left the Avs began to find some space. However, with 5:41 left, Suter was taken down by McGinn and the Would go on the power play. Fair call, dumb play by McGinn.<span> </span>Huge kill ensued.<span> </span>And it was killed but Varly had to bail out his team at the tail end of the kill.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">With 2:36 left, Roy brought Varly to the bench.<span> </span>O’Reilly had a great chance, but Keumper was there. The game was on the line with two minutes left. Brodin was called on a penalty and it was 6 on 4 for the Avs.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span>Here we went. The Avs had possession but the Wild collapse won out. The Avs could not generate anything really and they looked lost. Even with the 6 on 4, the Avs couldn’t generate anything. Game over. Series ties headed back to Colorado.</span></p>
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<h4>Three Whores:</h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">NO ONE. Coach Roy, fix this shit</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">However. it is still 2-2 in the series and the Avs still have home ice. Saturday is a huge game. Like gigantic.</p>
https://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/24/5651688/game-4-recap-avs-fall-again-to-the-wildc6hor82014-04-24T21:25:06-06:002014-04-24T21:25:06-06:00GDT: Avalanche at Wild Game 4 - [Third Thread]
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<figcaption>Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p>Continue here once again...</p>
https://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/24/5650254/gdt-avalanche-at-wild-game-4-third-threadearl062014-04-24T18:00:09-06:002014-04-24T18:00:09-06:00GDT: Avalanche at Wild 4/24/2014, Game 4
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<figcaption>Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p><b>Good evening ladies and gentlemen!</b> Your Colorado Avalanche take on the Wilds of Minnesota again tonight in the Land o' Lakes.</p>
<p><b>On the injury front, Tyson Barrie has an MCL sprain</b> and is expected to be out at least 4 weeks. He was with the team today for the morning skate so I'm glad he can take in the playoff atmosphere with his comrades-in-arms. Matt Duchene skated again for the 3rd day in a row but Coach Roy reiterated that he is not expected to play anytime soon. No word on Smooth Johnny Mitchell's status.</p>
<p><b>Our beloved Avalanche welcome their newest member tonight,</b> 2010 1st Round Pick Joey Hishon. Congrats! He will center the 4th line between Bugsy and Bordy and get some time on the 2nd PP unit. Ryan Wilson re-enters the lineup at defense this time, playing on the 3rd pair with Nate Guenin. The expected scratches are Yogi, Carey and Stef.</p>
<p><b>Projectile lineup:</b></p>
<p>Landy - Stats - Mack<br> Fatso - Radar - PA<br> Cody - Cliche - Talbot<br> Bugsy - Hish! - Bordy<br><br> Hejda - Johnson<br> Holden - Benoit<br> Wilson - Guenin<br><br> Varly<br><i>JSG</i></p>
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<p><b>This is a biggie, 3-1 is different than 2-2. <i>#GoAvsGo #WhyNotUs</i></b></p>
https://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/24/5650156/gdt-avalanche-at-wild-4-24-2014-game-4-2014-stanley-cup-playoffsearl062014-04-24T07:50:23-06:002014-04-24T07:50:23-06:00Game 4 Preview: Avalanche at Wild
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<figcaption>Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
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<p>Because 3-1 and 2-2 are really, really different.</p> <p>Part of what makes the playoffs so fun is that every playoff series is filled with compelling narratives for the fans. Is any two goal lead safe between Pittsburgh and Columbus? Do the <a href="https://www.stlouisgametime.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blues</a> and Hawks know that games are designed to end after 60 minutes? Don't the <a href="https://www.fearthefin.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Sharks</a> know that they are supposed to be playoff chokers? And of course, can Tampa Bay rebound and win the seri.... oh wait no. No they can't. So lets run down a couple of the narratives developing for this series:</p>
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<li><span><b>Road Warriors:</b> Can the Avalanche steal a game on the road? So far the only Western Conference team to accomplish that feat is the San Jose Sharks. DAL-ANA, and CHI-STL are both tied at 2-2 with no road wins in the series. The Avalanche had the best road record in the NHL, but faltered in their first attempt at Xcel Energy Center.</span></li>
<li> <span><b>#Win4TBoobs: </b> How will the Avalanche respond to the loss of a top 3 defenseman: <span>Tyson Barrie</span>. Stepping into his spot is <span>Ryan Wilson</span>. Wilson has more playoff experience than most of this Avalanche team, but he's had an incredibly disappointing season. Can he get </span><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DxnbrR-LPM">back to his old self</a> in the midst of physical playoff hockey? The <a href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Avalanche's</a> defense is paper thin, and their chances at a second round berth may depend on it.</li>
<li> <b>Shutdown Line</b>: On the other side, how will the <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a> respond to losing Matt Cooke to a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/23/5645712/nhl-avalanche-wild-cooke-barrie-knee-suspension">seven game suspension</a>? Matt Cooke has played a "shutdown" and penalty killing role on the Wild similar to Max Talbot's on the Avalanche. Now, a younger less experience Wild forward will have to pick up those difficult minutes against the Avs top line.</li>
<li> <b>So Brave (on home ice):</b> <span>Matt Cooke's</span> knee-on-knee wasn't the only edgy physical play of Game 4. The Wild were notably more physical in front of their home fans. One of the more active players was <span>Nino Niederreiter</span>, he caused <span>Andre Benoit</span> to miss some shifts after a hard hit in the corner, and caused <span>Patrick Bordeleau</span> to miss time after slashing him on the hand behind the play. Benoit and Bordeleau will both be in the Avalanche lineup tonight.</li>
<li> <b>The Magician: </b>If this <a target="_blank" href="http://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/23/5644808/nhl-avalanche-joey-hishon-nhl-debut">doesn't warm your heart</a> you are officially a Grade A Grinch. <span>Joey Hishon</span> will make his first NHL appearance tonight for the Colorado Avalanche. It's been an up and down, injury riddled season in the AHL for Hishon, but he has the hands to make something happen regardless. Hishon will make his debut on the 4th line, but could also see time on Colorado's ailing power play, which is yet to score against Minnesota this season.</li>
<li> <b>Goalie Battle:</b> Kuemper was strong in net in Game 3, but the Avalanche didn't test him nearly enough. Can Kuemper match Varlamov's goaltending as this series continues? Or will the rookie crack when the Avalanche finally slip one past him?</li>
<li> <b>Lead or tie:</b> That's the biggest question here. Do the Avalanche fly home with a lead and a chance to end the series on home ice? Or in a tie, forced to take this thing to 6 or 7 games? Let's hope for the former. </li>
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<div><font size="2"><span>Puck drops at 7:30 P.M MST/9:30 P.M EST. Then the series heads back to Colorado on Saturday night.</span></font></div>
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<div>Tonight's game will be available for viewing at the Pepsi Center, again. Brilliant idea, those Watch Parties. Lots of fun, <a href="http://www.altitudetickets.com/event/colorado-avalanche-playoff-watch-party-april-24th/2091" target="_blank" style="background-color: #ffffff;">so if you have the chance, go</a>. Free admission. Free parking. Discounted concessions. Recipe for success, that right there. If you can't make it, check the game out on TSN2, CNBC, RDS2, or ALT.</div>
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<div>Let's Go Avs.</div>
<div>#WhyNotUs</div>
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<h4>Message from the editor:</h4>
<div><b>I'm deleting any comments that get back into the discussion of retaliating physically against the Wild because of Cooke or that could invite that sort of discussion. I've already had to delete a dozen comments in other posts and swing the banhammer against a troll this morning, and it's not even 9 a.m. here in Denver. Let's rise above, okay?</b></div>
https://www.milehighhockey.com/2014/4/24/5646972/game-4-preview-avalanche-at-wildCole D Hamilton