Game #12 - Phoenix 4, Colorado 1

It seems that the avs haven't figured out their woes at home, as they put everything towards Mike Smith tonight but only to score 1 goal on 40 shots. At some point, the avs need to figure out their game at home or it is going to be a tough season for them despite a good start. The avs found themselves out-dueled in the faceoff dot for the first time this season, losing 36 of 66 faceoffs. I was only able to catch the first period and a bit of the second before going to my own hockey game, but it seemed that the avs were creating scoring chances just not capitalizing. There have been several similar games like this (e.g. vs Edmonton) where the avs pour on the shots but can't muster up any offence. It seems that the only line really clicking for the avs once again is the OWL line, as they produced the only goal. While Varlamov didn't play amazing, he played alright and the avs are starting to lose games without being able to produce anything for Varly at the other end. While he has played exceptionally well so far, he isn't going to steal every game, and the avs found that out tonight losing to a more defensive Coyotes team. Overall, this wasn't as horrible as some of the other losses this season, but the avs really need to start fixing their scoring issues particularly at home. I think it is time to pull a trigger on a trade and get Matt Duchene a winger he can become comfortable with (something they've lacked since Fleishmann last season, who I hated seeing them let go I thought it was a no brainer to keep him after his hot start with the avs).
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Ryan O'Byrne - Picked up an assist on the only avs goal, and was the only avs player in the plus tonight with +1 in almost 15 minutes of work
2. Daniel Winnik - Probably the most underrated player on the roster, he gets overshadowed by Landeskog and O'Reilly, but Daniel is really playing well this season and his line is by far the best. He picked up an assist on O'Reilly's goal
1. Ryan O'Reilly - The young centre is off to a great start this season, finding his offensive game and he scored the lone avs goal. He now has 2 goals and 7 assists to lead the avs in points with 9

Misplay of the Game: Jan Hejda failing to clear the puck, leading to the Coyotes 2nd goal scored by Vrbata gets it tonight

Game #13 - The avs head to Dallas to meet the streaking Stars on Friday night (@830pm)

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Andy Sutton Suspension - Was it Enough?

My Thoughts: From having watched this game first-hand, I thought Sutton should have been given 5 and a game for the elbow and I knew suspension was looming for him. He was given 2 minutes for elbowing, but I loved how Shane O'Brien stepped in to fight him immediately (showing exactly the reason why the avs signed him in the offseason - to provide size and grit, but to protect their star players). This could have and was a scary incident, and luckily, Landeskog shook it off right away, but Sutton clearly targeted the head as Shanny stated in his explanation. These are the type of hits that are trying to be eliminated from our game, especially in terms of the veteran Sutton going after the 18-year old rookie Landeskog, it just looks horrible on Andy's part. In simplest terms, Sutton wasn't trying to injure Gabriel but it was a head shot on a player who wasn't expecting it, a blindside hit where Landeskog wasn't looking before getting the elbow to the head. For me, if James Wisniewski was given 8 games for his elbow, I felt that Sutton should have gotten a similar suspension as I felt his hit was much worse (and like Wisniewski, Sutton is a repeat offender). Ultimately the biggest factor was that Landeskog was not hurt, but I still felt that it was a vicious elbow deserving of a 8-10 game suspension. Regardless, Sutton paid the price and was suspended 5 games yesterday, forking over $57,432.45 in salary. For me, I love the way Shanahan is handling his disciplinary role so far, and I think he is making our game safer for everyone.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Andy-Sutton-gets-5-game-ban-for-Landeskog-hit-a;_ylt=AqHulA94F_g8dDWgWBvILrd7vLYF?urn=nhl-wp16409

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tSuisrmpnU

Above I have posted two links: the first is yahoo sports' Greg Wyshynski's take on the hit (with video of Shanahan's explanation), and the second is the actual Youtube video of the hit. 

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #11 - Colorado 3, Los Angeles 2

In a close in-conference game with the visiting Kings, the avs refused to go down a goal and allowed 1-0 and 2-1 leads to vanish before taking the 3-2 lead for good on a beautiful Matt Duchene goal. In a game where Duchene was needed at his best, he stepped up in the spotlight and delivered the game winning goal when his team called upon him and this could be the beginning of an offensive outburst for the young centre. The avs scored 3 goals in 3 different ways tonight, starting with a SH goal from Kobasew, a PP goal by Milan Hejduk and the 3rd even strength by Duchene. While they allowed two PP goals tonight, the avs played a very solid 5-on-5 game and really limited the scoring chances for the talented LA forwards (despite being outshot 32-16). The leagues #1 faceoff team (avs) met a very similarly good team tonight, but were able to win 55% of the draws in 27 of 49 faceoffs. Once again Semyon Varlamov had an extremely good night in net, stopping 30 of 32 shots and only allowing two PP goals - one out of mid air by Parse and the other on a 5-3 PP by Kopitar after making the initial two saves (both not his fault). Varlamov has earned the respect of his teammates after a great first month, but the main positive attribute is that he trusts his defence and that is one thing that we never saw last season - the avs defence play a commanding and tough defensive game in front of Varly, while also jumping in to the play to create scoring chances. Kyle Quincey is really starting to standout on this team, after missing most of last year he picked up another 2 assists tonight to give him 2 goals and 6 assists, but also a 4 game point streak. It is obvious that EJ and Hejda are the top pairing on the team, but I have been absolutely impressed with the pairing of Quincey and O'Brien as not only Quincey is clicking on offense but Shane O'Brien has just been a force around the whole rink. He doesn't seem like he was more than a rough defence in his past, but so far with the avs he has shown serious improvements with his skating and puck moving, really jumping into plays and making great reads on passes. Throw in Wilson and O'Byrne who are the tough pairing, and all 3 defence pairs have not only stuck together all season but have really made room for the avs forwards to use their speed. The lines were shuffled pre-game, and I think they really worked tonight as I was particularly impressed with T.J Galiardi. Returning from missing the last game, he skated with Stastny and Hejduk and really played well at both ends of the ice, something that Galiardi didn't have a chance to do on the 4th line. The OWL line played well as usual, but I really felt that the line of Duchene Jones and Lindstrom was their best tonight, and it paid off with the winning goal off of Duchene's stick. Jones is a force on the puck, and really gives Duchene not only a solid winger to pass to but someone that will create space for him which has been needed in the past. Coach Sacco finally took Kobasew out of the top 6, and I thought he played better in a 4th line role with McClement and McLeod (also paid off as he scored a SH goal). Overall, I thought that this was a very well played team game, one that Coach Sacco should be happy with after two terrible losses.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Kyle Quincey - Has been the avs best D the last few games, and its paying off for him as 2 assists tonight give him points in his last 4 games. As stated before, Quincey and O'Brien have formed a great D pairing for the avs so far
2. David Jones - Stepping into a new line tonight, Jones did more than asked for in setting up two of the three goals. He dumped the puck on the PP which led to the bounce for Hejduk's goal, but made a beautiful pass to Duchene to set up the game winning goal
1. Matt Duchene - I'm sure I, along with all avs fans, have been waiting for Duchene to step up and he did it against the right team. Duchene played a very solid game all around, but was the difference scoring early in the 3rd on a beautiful wrist shot. Hopefully this is the start of an offensive outburst for Matt

Play of the Game: Easy choice, Matt Duchene's game winning goal was just an absolute snipe past Jon Quick. Taking a feed off the boards from Jones, Duchene flew into the zone and beat Quick over the glove. Honourable mention goes to Kobasew for his SH goal, as he took a nifty pass from Landeskog and swooped around the net to tuck it past Quick

Game #12 - The avs play their first game in November on Wednesday, as the Phoenix Coyotes are in town (@930pm).

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #10 - Edmonton 3, Colorado 1

Two straight divisional losses have quickly cooled the avs hot start down, as they simply couldn't beat Devan Dubnyk tonight. Sooner or later the avs must figure out how to play on their own ice, they have been horrid in 3 games scoring only 2 goals (while allowing 9) and losing all 3 games. In a game where the avs outshot them 41 to 19, won 35 of 55 faceoffs and just outplayed the Oilers they couldn't finish. Coach Sacco finally did some line juggling virtually switching every line except the OWL line. Matt Duchene had a strong game tonight, and he really needs a winger to play with as Lindstrom and Kobasew were simply weak tonight. With Galiardi sitting with an injury, Kevin Porter stepped in and created an awful giveaway for the Oilers third goal mere seconds after the avs made it 2-1, and he just played a terrible game in a time where he needed to step up for the injured Galiardi. Once again another defenceman stepped up for Landeskog, as Andy Sutton hit him high with an elbow and O'Brien immediately jumped in and fought him (Sutton should be suspended). Overall, I thought Varlamov played well but the 3rd goal was pretty weak, but on the other hand your typical Ryan Smyth goal as the former av jammed it past him. After a hot start, the avs have really fell flat in two games and they either need to try some new lines or trade for a winger for Duchene because they are wasting his skill playing with two non-scoring wingers. If a trade isn't happening immediately, and Mueller remains out my suggestion is this: Move Lindstrom back with Jones and Stastny in a line that was great in pre camp, and then that leaves Hejduk back with Duchene and for now Kobasew until Mueller is back, because there is no point breaking up O'Reilly Winnik and Landeskog as they have been by far the best line all season. Before the game I thought that the Landeskog/Nugent-Hopkins matchup was going to be a factor, but Nugent-Hopkins (and his whole line of Eberle and Hall) were virtually invisible tonight and Landeskog was his usual self firing 6 shots on goal and really playing a solid all around game. Another game where the avs just couldn't score, and this loss will definitely hurt.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Kyle Quincey - Kyle picked up another assist to give him 2 goals and 4 assists this season. Missing most of the season last year, Quincey has really picked up his game this season and continues to be a force on the blueline
2. Matt Duchene - Duchene played a much better game today, was strong on the puck and had several good scoring chances just not able to beat Dubnyk. He picked up an assist on a beauty pass to O'Reilly, his first point in 3 games, and went 11 for 14 in the face-off dot. Simply put the avs gotta change things up and get him some better wingers (either via trade or Hejduk and Mueller if hes healthy)
1. Ryan O'Reilly - O'Reilly is really coming into his own in his third season, with 7 assists coming into this game he finally scored his first of the season via a beauty pass from Duchene. O'Reilly has developed great chemistry with Winnik and Landeskog, and once again was the only effective line on the ice for the 2nd game in a row. The other lines are struggling but it will be extremely tough to break this line up

Misplay of the Game: An easy choice for me, Kevin Porter's awful turnover on the Oilers 3rd goal. He shouldn't even be in the lineup, and when he finally gets a chance he surrenders the puck seconds after the avs were finally able to score, a massive blow to the team and to his confidence as he will surely be benched once again after a terrible game

Game #11 - The avs play their final game of October on Sunday, as the Kings are in town (@8pm). The avs need a win at home, and this will surely be a tough game against the talented Kings.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News