Colorado Avalanche
Kevin Bieksa: 15 Seconds Of Fame…And Total Bada$$ne$$!
Saturday afternoon marked a cold and chilly day for the home crowd of Colorado…and not because of the below-freezing temperatures. Kevin Bieksa, of the Vancouver Canucks, denied a victory from the Colorado Avalanche with a spectacular diving save and a shifty shot…all within 15 seconds. With about 49.7 seconds on the clock of the 3rd period of a 2-1 game, Bieksa made a diving save to stop T.J. Galiardi’s back-hand shot from center line. With aboiut 34.7 seconds on the clock, Bieksa netted his 5th goal of the season on a wrist shot that tied the game at the end of regulation. The Canucks eventually won 1-0 on a shoot out.
Check out the extra effort by Bieksa.
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Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche blog: Love’ em & Hate’ em
New Linemate – The Stanchion
This should be about a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. We should be talking about the Vancouver Canucks continued struggles that apparently didn’t leave them at the All-Star break. Instead, the Canucks are leaving Denver tonight with two points.
I’m at a loss for words.
Let’s try to figure out what happened. Here is my Love Em/Hate Em for the Avalanche game Saturday.
Love’ em
1. Goal Bieksa Assist Stanchion
The simplest answer is that Kevin Bieksa put on Patrick Kane’s red cape from Ottawa and did his best impression of superman on skates.
After flying across his own slot to prevent the puck from going in the empty net, he calmly led the play the other way and got in the perfect position for a juicy pass from his old buddy “The Stanchion”.
Kevin Bieksa: Clutch. I’d love to see him around closing time at The Roxy.
2. Luu-urns
The other reason for the win was between the pipes. Roberto Luongo really hasn’t played a bad game since December 1. What’s crazier is that he’s actually winning games.
There was a time before Boston, before Chicago, before Cory Schneider, when Roberto Luongo was the undisputed franchise player on this team and the talk that he had the potential to drag the Canucks kicking and screaming into a Stanley Cup.
This was especially prevailing after his first year when the city of Vancouver went from watching Dan Cloutier to watching Roberto Luongo and we all lost our minds when he singlehandedly defeated the Dallas Stars in the first round and prevented the Anaheim Ducks from sweeping the team in the second round.
We all know what happens next and somewhere along the way the script was flipped and it become about how Luongo was holding the team back from Stanley Cup success.
I realize his performance in February is meaningless if things flare up again in May, but no matter has happened over the years Roberto Luongo is still the franchise goaltender we acquired.
3. Splitting the Sedins?
Alain Vigneault may or may not have hit the panic button in this game when he split the Sedins up for the second straight game.
On the surface it obviously makes no sense, but if a team is struggling offensively like the Canucks are it’s hard to juggle the line-up if you don’t mess around with the first line.
Therefore, I like the idea in theory if it’s done correctly, and putting Alex Burrows with Ryan Kesler is a nice trickle-down effect.
We Win. You Win. Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche Love’ em & Hate’ em
However, when it means that Henrik Sedin and Dale Weise are out on the ice with 90 seconds left and the Canucks down a goal, something went wrong in the execution.
Hate ‘Em
1. ..Well, The Sedins
The reason why AV is pulling the seldom used Sedin Split card is that the twin have been offensively for a while now.
They haven’t been the same since the Boston game (hey, there it is again!) and despite lighting up the All-Star Game and Daniel notching the OT winner against the Blackhawks, it looks like the slump has bled into February.
It’s a problem when the Canucks rely on the twins for offence so much that they take 80% of their starts in the offensive zone. If the Sedins aren’t getting it done, the team is in trouble.
The five-on-five has suffered, the powerplay is flaccid, and the team is suffering.
2. Regulation Wins
Good news: the Canucks have points in 11 of their last 13.
Bad news: they have one regulation win their past ten.
This is a problem, probably. One hand it’s great to see points gained every night but on the other hand…playoffs.
Still, something tells me if you get the Sedins going this whole problem goes away.
3. SOB
My best friend and yours Shane O’Brien was front and centre with Alex Burrows in a third period altercation.
O’Brien took down Burrows after the whistle leading to Burrows reacting like a cat scorned. The two tussled and jawed for a bit until O’Brien popped his head back out of his jersey and cocked his fist back.
Not entirely sure what set it all off, and it was certainly immature, but is it wrong to want Shane O’Brien back on the team?
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!
© Richard Hodges for North West Sports Beat, 2012. |
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Vancouver vs. Colorado – February 4th | NHL Highlights
Canucks vs Avalanche Game Recap
Did you miss the Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche Saturday afternoon on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific? We’ve got the highlights for you.
Canucks vs. Avalanche highlights courtesy NHL.com.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSPORTSBEAT!
© NWSports “Q” for North West Sports Beat, 2012. |
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Post tags: Canucks HD, Canucks highlights, Canucks Highlights Blog, Canucks hockey blog, Canucks Recap, Canucks Replay, Canucks TV, Canucks Video, Canucks videos, Canucks vs. Avalanche, NHL Highlights, NHL Replays, SNET, Sportsnet Pacific, Vancouver Canucks News, Vancouver vs. Colorado
Canucks rally for shootout win over Avs
Kevin Bieksa played impromptu goalie and goal scorer in the final seconds to save the Vancouver Canucks.
Shortly after altering a shot with the net empty, the defenseman flew back down the ice to knock in the tying goal with 34.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
From there, Mason Raymond and Roberto Luongo took over. Raymond scored the lone goal in the shootout and Luongo stopped all three shots as the Canucks rallied for a 3-2 win over the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
”Plays like (Bieksa) made enable you to get points,” Raymond said. ”We’ll take it.”
Trailing 2-1 with 1:33 remaining, the Canucks pulled Luongo for an extra skater. Soon after, T.J. Galiardi had a chance to cement the win for the Avalanche, but missed the empty net.
Hardly by accident. Bieksa positioned himself in such a way that caused Galiardi to sail his shot wide.
Then, Bieksa made it a costly misfire as he blasted a shot past Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Not bad for a new stick.
Just before scoring his tying goal, Bieksa sat on the bench, studying his stable of sticks. He wanted one that would be more grippy given the deteriorating ice conditions.
He selected wisely.
”I like to go to a freshly taped stick, in case the puck bounces,” Bieksa explained. ”If I feel like it’s a little whippy or the tape’s messed up, you switch to a new one.”
After a scoreless overtime, the game came down to a shootout.
Usually, that’s advantage Avalanche.
They had won seven straight this year and 10 in a row dating to last season, which was one shy of tying the NHL record set by the Dallas Stars during the 2005-06 season.
But Raymond put an end to that streak by sending a shot through the pads of Giguere. On a sneaky move, too, as Raymond drifted out wide and then worked his way back into the center.
”I just wanted to be patient and he just sneaked a shot in there,” said Giguere, whose team has dropped five straight games. ”They’re a good team. They know how to win. They found a way at the end.”
Thanks, in big part, to Luongo, who stopped a season-high 44 shots in regulation and overtime.
He was just warming up.
In the shootout, Luongo stuffed Milan Hejduk, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O’Reilly. Luongo pumped his fist after stopping O’Reilly’s attempt.
”Those guys have some pretty good shooters. They have a pretty good shootout record,” Luongo said. ”I was able to get a couple of breaks there.”
Jay McClement and David Jones had goals for the Avalanche as the team finally halted a long scoring drought against the Canucks. The last time Colorado put a puck in the net against Vancouver was last March, ending a dry spell that spanned nearly 178 minutes.
McClement’s goal in the second period was his first in 19 games. He took a feed from Daniel Winnik and blasted it by Luongo.
The Avalanche could’ve been up by more if not for the sprawling saves turned in time and again by Luongo. His biggest save may have been stonewalling Winnik on a breakaway with just over 5 minutes remaining.
And while Bieksa doesn’t get credit for a stop, his was pretty important, too.
”Just wanted to put my body in front of it,” Bieksa nonchalantly said.
Ryan Kesler got the Canucks on the board first when he sent a shot past Giguere early in the opening period. The goal came soon after defenseman Kyle Quincey lost his stick and was unable to effectively cover anyone. It was Kesler’s 16th goal this season.
Colorado answered right back as Jones knocked in a shot from the left side of Luongo after receiving Paul Stastny’s pinpoint pass. That broke the hex Vancouver had on Colorado’s goal scorers.
In two games this season, Luongo and Cory Schneider have each posted a shutout by bottling up the Avalanche.
For Jones, this was a step in the right direction to escape coach Joe Sacco’s doghouse. Jones was benched last game for his recent struggles on the ice.
”It’s tough to watch your teammates out there and not be able to do something to help them,” Jones said. ”So, it’s nice to get back out there for sure.”
The most entertaining moment of the first period – maybe even the game, judging by the fans’ raucous reaction – was a brawl between Cody McLeod and Byron Bitz that left McLeod’s face dripping blood. It was McLeod’s club-leading 11th fighting major this season.
Bitz was just called up from Chicago of the AHL on Friday and played in his first NHL contest in nearly two years.
NOTES: Avs F Peter Mueller was a scratch just before the game because of the flu. He missed 40 games earlier this season with concussion symptoms. … Landeskog had nine shots on goal, setting a new franchise mark for a rookie. … Kesler has scored goals in four of the last five games.
Raymond’s shootout goal helps Canucks get by Avalanche
The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in a shootout. Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa scored for the Canucks while David Jones and Jay McClement scored for the Avalanche. Mason Raymond was the only player that scored in the shootout. The Avalanche outshot the Canucks 46-29. The Avalanche had the advantage in the shootout because Roberto Luongo usually struggle in the shootout and the Avalanche are 10-0 in shootouts this season. Go figure. The Canucks are now 3-0 against the Avalanche this season. Byron Bitz also got into a fight with Cody McLeod. Bitz made McLeod bleed during the fight. Bitz played his 1st NHL game in nearly 2 years. The Canucks will now head to Nashville when they will take on the Predators on Tuesday.
Canucks 3, Avalanche 2, SO
Kevin Bieksa tied the game with 34.1 seconds remaining in regulation and Mason Raymond scored the lone goal in the shootout as the Vancouver Canucks rallied for a 3-2 win over the struggling Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Raymond sent the puck through the pads of Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Roberto Luongo stopped all three shots he faced for Vancouver, which ended the Avalanche’s 10-game streak of shootout victories.
Ryan Kesler also added a goal for the Northwest Division leaders.
Trailing 2-1 with 1:33 remaining, the Canucks pulled Luongo for an extra skater. Soon after, T.J. Galiardi had a chance to cement the win for the Avalanche, but missed the empty net.
Bieksa made it a costly misfire as he blasted a shot past Giguere. Just before scoring his tying goal, the defenseman was sitting on the bench, looking at new sticks. His selection apparently paid off.
In the shootout, Luongo stuffed Milan Hejduk, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan O’Reilly. Luongo pumped his fist after stopping O’Reilly’s attempt. The Avs fell one shy of tying the NHL record for consecutive shootout wins set by the Dallas Stars – all during the 2005-06 season.
Jay McClement and David Jones had goals for the Avalanche as the team finally halted a long scoring drought against the Canucks. The last time Colorado put a puck in the net against Vancouver was last March, ending a dry spell that spanned nearly 178 minutes.
McClement’s goal in the second period was his first in 19 games. He took a feed from Daniel Winnik and blasted it by Luongo.
The Avalanche could’ve been up by more if not for the sprawling saves turned in time and again by Luongo, including two in succession midway through the second period.
Luongo finished with 21 saves, many of the splendid variety, including stonewalling Winnik on a breakaway with just over 5 minutes remaining.
Kesler got the Canucks on the board first when he sent a shot past Giguere early in the opening period. The goal came soon after defenseman Kyle Quincey lost his stick and was unable to effectively cover anyone. It was Kesler’s 16th goal this season.
David Booth had an assist on the play for the Canucks, who improved to 10-1-2 this season when he records a point.
Colorado answered right back as Jones knocked in a shot from the left side of Luongo after receiving Paul Stastny’s pinpoint pass.
In two games this season, Luongo and Cory Schneider have each posted a shutout by bottling up the Avalanche.
For Jones, this was a step in the right direction to escape coach Joe Sacco’s doghouse. Jones was benched last game for his recent struggles on the ice.
The most entertaining moment of the first period – maybe even the game, judging by the fans’ raucous reaction – was a brawl between Cody McLeod and Byron Bitz that left McLeod’s face dripping blood. It was McLeod’s club-leading 11th fighting major this season.
Bitz was just called up from Chicago of the AHL on Friday and played in his first NHL contest in nearly two years.
It wasn’t the only tussle as Alexandre Burrows and Shane O’Brien got into it late in the game. They were each sent to the penalty box for roughing and jawed at each other the entire time they were in there.
NOTES: Avs F Peter Mueller was a scratch just before the game because of flu-like symptoms. He missed 40 games earlier this season with a concussion. … Duchene (knee) missed his 15th straight game. … Canucks F Chris Higgins sat out his second game with the flu. … Kesler has scored in four of the last five games.
Colorado Avalanche: Thoughts on the Tyson Barrie Promotion/Stefan Elliott Demotion
This morning, the Colorado Avalanche recalled defenseman Tyson Barrie from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters and sent defenseman Stefan Elliott back down to Lake Erie. Both Barrie and Elliott are promising, young, puck-moving defensemen in the Avalanche organization. Both players were drafted by the Avs in 2009, the same draft that saw the Avs claim star centers Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly. Elliott was selected in the second round, 49th overall and Barrie was the Avs’ third-round pick, 64th overall. The promising juniors careers of these two defensemen made former Avalanche defensmen John-Michael Liles and Kevin Shattenkirk expendable as both Liles and Shatty were traded away in separate deals in 2011.
Elliott was thought to be slightly more NHL-ready than Barrie and was recalled by the Avalanche in late November. Elliott made an immediate impact by netting the game-winning goal in his NHL debut against the Edmonton Oilers and he woul…
Aaron Musick: Now for something completely different
In their search to find some kind of spark plug, the Colorado Avalanche have sent Stefan Elliott back down to Lake Erie for some more seasoning.
Tyson Barrie has also been called up to replace him. Barrie and Elliott are both highly-touted defensive prospects but have several key differences. Elliott is a shoot-first defenseman in the mold of Brian Leetch or Dan Boyle while Barrie is more of a…
Game 52: Canucks vs. Avalanche ready to rumble in Denver
Boy Do I Have A Headache
Seriously, I have a pounding headache and it’s partially due to just having a long day.
Drink of Choice For a NOON game! The Red Eye! At its core beer/ tomato juice.
However, it is also because of the fact that the Canucks have been playing like absolute crap lately.
Although you do have to give credit where credit is due and said credit must go to Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider who have both stood on their heads, almost literally (Schneidz on B-Mo) to keep their team in games.
If it weren’t for the best goaltending duo in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks would have 0 points instead of 3 in the last two games and the goal differential would be -10 instead of Even.
It all started after the Canucks left Boston.
Yes, they actually ended up with a stellar record since that game, but it was all while playing hockey worthy of a crowd in Columbus.
It’s been embarrassing and that all came to a head against Detroit on Thursday.
Once again, they were outshot by a very wide margin and once again, out shooters failed to produce in the shootout.
Don’t get me wrong, Roberto Luongo deserves a ton of credit for getting us there but it’s just ridiculous how all skill goes out the window when we get the so-called “skills competition.”
There are three things the Canucks need to do to not just win in Colorado Saturday, but to have a successful road trip and month of February while not looking horrible doing it.
The first is they need to play up to their level.
We see the customary dressing room shots before each game. Kevin Bieksa is tapping each guy with his stick, Luongo is hunched over talking to himself; and the game-faces are officially on. But when they step on the ice, it’s like they’re playing a game of shinny out there.
They just let all their cares in the world go bye bye.
It’s pathetic; it’s frustrating and it’s a disgrace.
I like to go by one particular saying in life which is, “Say what you mean; mean what you say and do what you said you would do.”
The next step is to rally around their goaltenders….SERIOUSLY!
Well the Canucks need to buck up and do what they always say they’re going to do; play better.
The next step is to rally around their goaltenders.
To be frank, they owe them; and they owe them big-time. Of course Lu and Cory can’t let up, but the players in front of them need to earn the trust of their goalies back. Roberto and his sidekick Robin,
I mean Schnu) have been hung out to dry in recent games and the fact remains that the Canucks have not only two of the best forwards in the game but tons of depth at forward and one of the best defensive corps in the entire NHL.
They need to play like they give a crap because sooner or later, those two men behind the masks are going to start to get kind of P.O.’d.
Would I blame them?
Not at all.
Hell, the veterans on this team also owe a guy like Cody Hodgson.
Hodgson has been one of the most consistent players all season long, not to mention in January, being named Rookie of the Month.
He’s showing up Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler night in and night out; that’s not right.
Finally, they need to treat the road trip as a reality check.
The fans get it; this is a player’s career; their job; their occupation. But the players have to remember who’s cheering for them; that being hundreds of thousands of fans back home.
In the whole grand scheme of things, it’s the fans that should provide the most motivation for any team.
The players claim that we are the best fans in the league on numerous occasions but why don’t they play like we’re watching?
They’re heading into the home stretch of the regular season; in a good position but playing like crap.
Maybe an evening watching Forever Faithful would jog their memories that this city is yet to see a Stanley Cup in 40 years of the Canucks franchise.
I think that should be enough motivation to win every game here on out.
Puck drop is at TWELVE PM on Sportsnet Pacific.
Now please, someone bring me some Tylenol!
Follow me on twitter @vancan19 for some great in-game tweets!
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Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche Betting Odds & Handicapping Preview Feb. 4
Nooner?
Another matinee? The Vancouver Canucks head out on the road after a less-than-scintillating six game home stand Saturday with a trip to Colorado – a team that they have absolutely owned the last couple of years.
Vancouver Canucks (31-15-5) at Colorado Avalanche (26-25-2)
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 4, 2012
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Broadcast: SNET-P (HD), ALT (HD)
Canucks vs. Avalanche Betting Lines from Bodog
Spread: Canucks -1 ½ (+180)
Moneyline: Canucks -160: Avalanche +130
Over/Under: 5 ½ goals
*NHL ATS Matchup Report*
The Vancouver Canucks have gone 6-2-2 in their last 10 games while the Avs have gone 3-6-1 in their last 10 including losses in four straight games.
The Colorado Avalanche come into Saturday’s game on the heels of a 6-7-1 stretch that began with a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks.
Nothing much is going right – they are without their top offensive weapon, Matt Duchene which doesn’t help matters!
The Avalanche have been terrible against the Canucks as of later – a 1-7 record and having lost the last two games by a combined score of 9-0. Colorado’s goaltending against Vancouver is another story.
Seymon Varlamov is 0-2-0 with a 4.39 GAA versus the Canucks this season and has lost three straight games going into Saturday’s match. Jean Sebastien Giguere is 0-3-0 with a 4.29 GAA in five games against the Canucks.
Vancouver was somewhat lucky to have gained three of a possible four points in their last two games against Western Conference elite Chicago and Detroit.
They didn’t play all that great but still managed a win and a shootout loss. The Colorado Avalanche could be exactly what the Canucks need.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Colorado Avalanche Gambling Lines & Preview
Vancouver’s second and third lines have been very good lately – David Booth has five points in five games and Ryan Kesler has four points in four.
The Sedins have lit up Avalanche lately- the offense will be fine.
There is a chance that Cory Schneider plays in place of Roberto Luongo but it shouldn’t really matter at all – neither has given up a goal to the Avalanche this season against the Avs.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cory Schneider in goal in an awkward matinee – he is 4-0 in his last four starts and is 11-5-0 with a 2.28 GAA this season.
Betting Prediction:
Vancouver is 9-1 in their last 10 Saturday game and 6-2 in their last 8 road games. The Canucks are 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
I would be absolutely shocked if Vancouver loses this game!
Pick: Vancouver Canucks -160
Here are some interesting Player Props for Saturday’s game:
Dan Hamhuis Points
Line = 0.5 Over (1.75) | Under (1.50)
Henrik Sedin Points
Line = 1.5 Over (1.70) | Under (1.55)
Daniel Sedin Shots on Goal
Line = 3.5 Over (1.40) | Under (1.85)
Ryan Kesler Goals
Line = 0.5 Over (1.75) | Under (1.50)
Alex Burrows Goals
Line = 0.5 Over (1.75) | Under (1.50)
Colorado Shots on Goal
Line = 31.5 Over (1.55) | Under (1.70)
Colorado Power Play Goals
Line = 0.5 Over (1.80) | Under (1.45)
Jannik Hansen Points
Line = 0.5 Over (1.75) | Under (1.50)
David Booth Shots on Goal
Line = 2.5 Over (1.50) | Under (1.75)
(Click To Bet Now At Bodog (Bovada.lv If Your In USA))
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The End of the Stastny Legacy
Before Joe Sakic, the greatest Quebec Nordique was Peter Stastny. Over his long career Sakic uprooted Stastny as the face of a franchise that moved to Colorado. But the allure of Rookie of the Year, Stastny, and the reunion with his brothers, Anton and Marian, has always been a story line for Colorado/Quebec.
The Stastny brothers, especially Anton and Peter, were the face of the franchise in Quebec. Peter still sits second in points and assists behind Super Joe. Anton sits sixth in both categories. Peter Stastny was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.
The story line of the Avalanche drafting Peter’s son, Paul Stastny, from the University of Denver has always been a great one. From the Hulls to the Howes, the father-son relationship in hockey has always been special. Stastny lived up to his father his first year, he holds the record for the longest rookie point streak at 20 games.
In his first three healthy seasons, Paul Stastny topped the 70-point mark each time. In 2007-2008 h…
Wild 1, Avalanche 0
Niklas Backstrom had 37 saves for his third shutout of the season and 25th of his NHL career, and Greg Zanon scored in the Minnesota Wild’s 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
Jean-Sebastian Giguere had 20 saves for Colorado, which has lost four straight and continued to struggle at home against Minnesota. The Wild are 10-1-2 in their last 13 visits to Denver. Backstrom is 9-1-2 in those games.
Zanon gave the Backstrom the only goal he needed on the Wild’s first shot of the game. After an icing by Colorado, Kyle Brodziak won the faceoff to Dany Heatley, who slid the puck to Zanon. Zanon moved to the center of the zone before sending a shot through traffic that beat Giguere with 13:56 left in the first period. It was Zanon’s second goal of the season.
Backstrom made it stand up, but Colorado didn’t make it easy in the third period. The Avalanche, desperate to score the tying goal, recorded 17 shots in the final frame. Ryan Wilson hit the post with 15 minutes left when Colorado was swarming in the Minnesota end.
Giguere went to the bench for an extra skater with 1:46 left. The Avalanche got their first power play 26 seconds later, but managed only two shots.
The game became physical and chippy in the second period. Colorado forward Cody McLeod fought Clayton Stoner moments after Stoner’s teammate Darroll Powe leveled David Van Der Gulik with a blindside hit. Later in the period, Avalanche forward Chuck Kobasew and Carson McMillan fought after McMillan hit Kobasew with a shot to the head.
The teams traded scoring chances in the period, but neither broke through. Colorado had 10 shots in the second and nearly scored on Jay McClement’s sliding chance in the final minute.
Minnesota came back, but the Wild were denied by Giguere’s great save. After making the initial stop on Brodziak, Giguere was knocked down when the Wild center was checked into him. Cal Clutterbuck sent the rebound toward the top of the net, but Giguere got a glove on the puck at the last moment and sent it over the crossbar.
NOTES: Avalanche LW Gabriel Landeskog had his four-game point streak snapped. … Colorado’s Milan Hejduk has 48 points in 62 career games against Minnesota. His 12 power-play goals are the most against the Wild. … Avalanche coach Joe Sacco has been stuck on 99 career wins for four games.
Aaron Musick: Elliott, Porter in, Jones, O’Brien out
If Joe Sacco’s were a dance, it would definitely be the hokey pokey.
He puts David Jones in, puts David Jones out and shakes it all about.
For tonight’s Avs-Wild game Stefan Elliott is coming back in the lineup after his first ever healthy scratch. However, instead of Jan Hejda (team-worst -15), Ryan O’byrne (who can’t hold onto his stick) or Ryan Wilson, Shane O’Brien is the one to sit….
Aaron Musick: Divisional play killing the Avs
If the Colorado Avalanche is serious about making a team that is competitive in the playoff picture every year, they need to win in their division.
Distressing is the fact that the Avs have never been able to get a winning record in the divisionw ith Joe Sacco behind the bench.
Even during the astounding run into the playoffs in 2009-10, Sacco’s team was still just 10-11-3 in games withi…
Avalanche Warning: Final Stretch
Denver Post writer Adrian Dater reported yesterday that third year center Matt Duchene is still out indefinitely with a knee injury. This is not the news the Avalanche were hoping for heading into the stretch run out of the All-Star break. The Avalanche’s 26-23-2 record is good for 54 points and ninth place in the Western Conference.
The Avalanche have 31 games remaining in their season, at least one fewer than everyone else in Western Conference. To secure a playoff spot, they probably need to win over 20 of those games. That is going to be extremely difficult without Matt Duchene.
The bright spots for the Avalanche must continue to perform. Even more emphasis is going to be put on the talents of breakout center Ryan O’Reilly, rookie Gabriel Landeskog and Peter Mueller who recently returned to the line up. T.J. Galiardi playing at the top of his game could also be a huge asset to the club.
The underachievers on the team are going to have to step up. Paul Statsny leads the team in s…
