Game #16 - Colorado 4, New York 3 (OT)

A must-win game for the avs sure didn't look like it through two periods, as they peppered Montoya but couldn't beat him and quickly found themselves down 3-0 early in the 2nd period. At this point, it was J.S. Giguere's time to shine as he refused to allow another goal and made some key saves to keep the avs in range, and a 5-on-3 advantage in the dying minutes of the 2nd saw the avs finally score off the stick of Paul Stastny. From that point on, the avs really showed the hunger to win, something that wasn't there through 40 minutes but certainly was in the 3rd. Goals from Hejduk and Hejda got this game tied, and again Giguere made several key saves including a breakaway and point-blank shot at the buzzer, both off the stick of the red-hot Michael Grabner to force OT. The avs killed off a crucial powerplay in the last 2 minutes of the 3rd, and then got their own in OT and made no mistake as Kyle Quincey's point shot made it through traffic to seal the come-from-behind win for the avs. In a game that could have gone so sour for the avs, Giguere stood there and was the backbone of this team, really giving them a chance to get back into it. Despite the win, the avs are getting into a horrible habit of being slow through 2 and then pushing hard in the 3rd, but tonight they were able to get back into the game. Through 2, the avs had chances but couldn't score, but after Stastny's goal the top 3 lines (Lindstrom Stastny Hejduk, OWL line and Duchene Galiardi Jones) really pushed the Islanders and all played outstanding the rest of the way through. On D, I felt that Shane O'Brien and Kyle Quincey were outstanding tonight as O'Brien really controls the play out there but Quincey has become a force for the avs, pitching in another 2 assists to put him tops the avs d at 12 points. I also felt the pairing of Johnson and Wilson really woke up in the 3rd, as Johnson was solid with the puck but Wilson was standing out delivering several big hits. Overall, not the prettiest game, but the avs certainly are happy to walk away with 2 points after being down 3-0 for most of the game. The avs also finally got another home win, as well as ended the November losing streak at 4 games. Regardless of the 2 points, I really feel that its time to make some moves and the first step is either making a trade or bringing in a new coach because simply put it isn't working. The avs winning this game saves Sacco's job for another night, but he is certainly very close to being replaced.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Kyle Quincey - I can say a lot about Johnson, Wilson and O'Brien (and even Hejda for his first goal as an av) on how they played tonight, but Quincey simply was the best d out there. After 1 point and a whole season missed last year, he has responded very well with 12 points so far and really playing exceptional on the powerplay. He had 2 PP points (1g, 1a), including the game winner, and has been a big part of the avs early success on the PP as the leagues #1 unit
2. Milan Hejduk - Hejduk was the best avs forward all game long, picking up a goal and an assist. He is so good with the puck, and despite being the oldest av on the team he has not lost a step in his game. He is a true sniper in every way, and whether they have him with Stastny or Duchene, he makes both of them better
1. J.S Giguere - Despite allowing 3 goals, Giguere played very well infront of a completely flat avs team. Regardless, he made saves at crucial times when the game could have gotten out of hand and enabled the avs to fight their way back. He made a brilliant save on Grabner at the end of the 3rd to give them a chance in OT, and it paid off.

Misplay of the Game: Kevin Porter taking draws on the PK, he was beaten cleanly in the 1st as the Islanders scored 5 seconds after. The avs need to make some moves to get another winger or 2 in the system, as players like Porter shouldn't be in the lineup

Play of the Game: Easy choice, Giguere's great save on Grabner at the buzzer takes the cake tonight

Game #17 - The avs have the Calgary Flames in town next, in a must-win divisional game on Saturday night (@10pm).

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #15 - Detroit 5, Colorado 2

The losing streak continues, as this team has simply been invisible through 4 games in November picking up a measly 1 point out of 8. This one was no different from the rest, except that the Red Wings just simply outplayed them in every way. Johan Franzen burns the avs every single time he plays them, and scored another hat trick against them. I didn't understand in anyway why Sacco went with 7 d tonight, not only did it screw up chemistry but it really messed up the forwards having to continuously shift players around. Regardless of the struggles, the avs d pairings have been solid and putting in the small Matt Hunwick was a huge weakness for them as he simply just shouldn't be playing. The only positives of this game was the play of young guns Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog, as Duchene has really found his game skating on the left wing. Duchene is no longer waiting for the puck, he is asserting himself in the game and making plays, the dangerous player we have come to love and admire over the past few seasons. Simply put the avs desperately need a change, and that needs to be either a trade or coaching change, or they will keep losing trades and give up a top 5 pick to Washington. After a 5-0 road trip to start the season, the avs are now 7-7-1 and at .500 for the first time, and if they don't fix the problem soon they will find themselves well below it after this month. After a hot start, Varlamov has struggled and simply isn't seeing the puck as well. While it is still early, I feel he still needs time to develop his rhythm as he is still new to the team. If the avs won't make a trade, then atleast name a captain and put someone in charge of this team (Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly or my choice Erik Johnson). While it is always fun to watch this rivalry, I'm getting sick of watching this team lose games that they should be in, and change is needed asap. Everytime the avs got back in the game, Detroit took control and calmed things down, as teams are figuring out how to stop the fast-paced avs. If the avs continue to play this way, Sacco has to get fired, and I have been a supporter of him from day 1 but he just isn't cutting it right now. It will be some time before Mueller comes back, and the avs need to get another top 6 forward asap.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Erik Johnson - The bright spot for the avs this season has been the defence chipping in offensively, and on the 2 goals tonight the avs d picked up 3 of 4 assists. Johnson had 1 assist in just over 23 minutes of work, and has asserted himself as the leader of the back-end which is why I believe he needs to be named captain
2. Gabriel Landeskog - The rookie continues his strong play, scoring his 5th career goal and first on the PP. He had 3 hits, and fired 5 shots on goal to lead the avs this season with 56 shots and 3rd in the league.
1. Matt Duchene - After a horrid start, Duchene has really heated up of late notching an assist for 6 points in his last 3 games. Duchene looks more comfortable on the wing, really finding his place on a line with Hejduk and Stastny and has been one of few good players for the avs this month so far. He now has 5 goals and 7 assists on the season

Misplay of the Game: Easy choice, Hunwick's soft cover in front of the net led to the 4th Wings goal. Simply put, Hunwick shouldn't even be in the lineup as 7 d was just silly, but he definitely played his way back to the press box after tonight (atleast I and many other avs fans hoped so)

Game #16 - The avs look to solve their home and November issues as the New York Islanders are in town Thursday night (@9pm).

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #14 - Calgary 2, Colorado 1

Eventually this team needs to start learning from their mistakes, or they are going to find themselves sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference once again very quickly. Simply put, the avs are outshooting every opponent but not producing, and its time right now for a trade or coaching change. Even with Mueller coming back, players like Kevin Porter and Chuck Kobasew are being forced into roles they shouldn't be in, and it cost them the winning goal tonight as Kobasew made an awful attempt at the clear before Calgary scored. There are two obvious things from this game: that the OWL line and top line of Duchene Hejduk Stastny are going to stay together, as both lines were great tonight chemistry wise. The problem was the other two lines, as Coach Sacco continuously switched guys on these lines and couldn't find the right mix and they cost the avs both goals. Varlamov played well tonight, despite allowing Giordano's soft point shot in, but once again the offensive couldn't back up his strong play. Regardless of the outcome, change is needed asap as they need to either bring someone in or let Sacco go and replace him with a new coach. A healthy Mueller should provide a spark for this team, but after a hot start they have played simply awful and have just been invisible in their own rink, an embarrassing stat at 1-5 in Denver. Another tough one to swallow for this team, but it is early and they need to learn from this game: Change is needed.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Shane O'Brien - Has been a great player for the avs all season long, and he chipped in tonight with an assist in almost 20 minutes of work.
2. Paul Stastny - The first line has emerged after the past two games, and Stastny has some chemistry with Duchene and Hejduk as he scored the avs lone goal tonight
1. Matt Duchene - Matt finally seems to have found his game, as he picked up an assist on the lone goal but more importantly is starting to become a presence on the ice. With true linemates, he is creating scoring chances not trying to find them, and he is primed for a good run with this line

Misplay of the Game: Both goals tonight, the first just a soft goal let in by Varlamov. But the real thing that pissed me off was the 2nd goal, as Chuck Kobasew just lazily dove at the puck and didn't clear the zone, allowing them to score seconds later. Kobasew needs to be sent a message for his awful play, and that should be him being benched next game

Game #15 - Doesn't get any easier for the avs, as they head to Detroit to face the Red Wings on Tuesday night (@730pm) in search of their first win in November.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #13 - Dallas 7, Colorado 6 (OT)

In a high scoring western conference tilt with the Dallas Stars, they avs came up short losing in OT - a tough one to swallow after dominating OT before allowing the goal. Coach Sacco finally gave Duchene the linemates he needed, and man oh man did he respond tonight recording his first career hatrick and picking up an assist for a 4-point night. Duchene skated on the LW with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk, and the best three forwards on the avs didn't disappoint providing 4 of the avs 6 goals. If this game was a sign for Joe Sacco, he needs to keep this line together as it showed what having good linemates can do for Duchene. Duchene only had 2 goals and 4 assists before this game, but he broke out in style recording his first career hatrick, and I believe this will come as a huge confidence boost for the 20-year old despite the loss. Simply put, the avs D and goaltending were awful tonight, as they were allowing too much traffic to get in front of Varlamov and he had a hard time seeing several of the Stars goals. The avs gave up three leads in this game, a 2-0 (and allowing 4 straight 2nd period stars goals), 5-4 lead and 6-5 lead before losing it in OT. For the second straight night they were defeated in the faceoff dot, only by two draws winning 35 of 72. The avs have been great at getting tons of shots, firing 40 on goal tonight for 6 goals, but came up one short. In a game where the offense was clicking, but the defence was awful, the avs just couldn't get the two points and walked away with 1. Besides Duchene, McClement Winnik (2nd straight game) and Stastny scored the other goals. Ryan Wilson had his best game of the season, with 3 assists he now has 1 goal and 7 assists as well as a team best +8. Despite a great game from the top line, the avs can't be happy with this loss and certainly will serve as a learning point for the whole team.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Erik Johnson - Despite getting victimized on the game winning goal, Johnson had another rock-solid game picking up an assist while logging just over 27 minutes of work. I thought he made Ryan Wilson play a lot better in a new pairing on d, but most importantly he continues to lead with force and strong play on the ice, big reasons I believe he eventually will be named captain of this team
2. Ryan Wilson - Had his best game in an av uniform tonight, picking up 3 assists being paired with Erik Johnson. Wilson has been known for his physical play, but he has really chipped in offensively with 8 points this season and a team best +8. I didn't think he would even make the team this year, but he has been a great surprise and surely solidified his spot on the team after years of fighting for a spot
1. Matt Duchene - What a game for Duchene, paired with Stastny and Hejduk he really got a chance to showcase his top notch talent tonight in scoring his first career hatrick and picking up an assist for a 4-point night. I have been saying for weeks that he needs a true winger, but playing on the wing with Stastny and having Hejduk on the other side really creates room for him to find his place. Simply put, this line is dominant with the puck and can cycle as good as any first line in the league, and Coach Sacco needs to keep them together. Congrats to Matt on his first career hatrick

Misplay of the Game: Two seperate plays here, first being Ryan O'Byrne knocking the puck into his own net for the first Stars goal, which was a real momentum shift for Dallas in the 2nd. But the obvious choice was the OT goal, as Hejda knocked Varly out of his net and Erik Johnson couldn't cover up as Eriksson banked it off EJ in the net for the game winning goal

Play of the Game: No brainer here, Matt Duchene's hatrick goal was simply nasty as he split two Stars defenders with a beauty toe drag and put it past Lehtonen for his first career hatrick

Game #14 - The avs head home for a divisional matchup with the Calgary Flames, as they look to rebound following two straight losses as well as revenge on the Flames who beat them a few games ago. The game is Sunday night (@8pm).

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News