Milan Hejduk 3rd Captain in Franchise History

I'm not sure what other people think, but I strictly believe in teams having a captain and am really against coaches that go without one during the season. Every team needs a captain, someone who leads by example on and off the ice, and that is something that was lacked this year. Today, Coach Sacco finally decided on his captain, selecting RW Milan Hejduk as the 3rd captain in franchise history. By all means, this is the right choice as Hejduk is not only the oldest on the team but also the most veteran in a young group of forwards. While players like Johnson, Stastny and even O'Reilly/Duchene all deserved the captain, Hejduk was the player that I (along with many other people) thought deserved it the most, and Sacco definitely made the right choice. I have had quite some time watching Hejduk, hes been here since his rookie year in '99 and was a key member of the 2001 Stanley Cup team. Hejduk will certainly have a lot of expectations and big shoes to fill after previous captains Joe Sakic and Adam Foote, both legends in Denver. While Foote was only captain for 2 years, Sakic was the longtime captain of the avs and my favourite player and he was a leader in every respect. Joe possessed leadership qualities that were amongst the best of all time (up there with Yzerman, Messier, Gretzky etc), and lead just as much on the ice (with his amazing play) as he did off it. Hejduk is a much different player then Joe, but that doesn't mean he isn't deserving of this job, and as the oldest guy on the team he is the logical choice. Hopefully this decision will pay dividends immediately, as the avs are in need of a Captain to help the team when they need leadership (as they are a very young team). Overall, I really like this decision for two reasons: Hejduk was the right man for the job, and we finally have a captain because every team needs one.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #17 - Calgary 4, Colorado 3

Once again the avs lackluster start provided too much of a gap to get back into the game, but man oh man was that 3rd period like a playoff game. It had a hell of a pace, back and forth action and a wild flurry where the avs scored twice and had numerous chances on a 6-on-4 in the last 2 minutes including a deflection just wide at the buzzer. There is a simple message from this game: Coach Sacco needs to go, because he isn't doing his job getting his team started and it is costing them games. He continuously changed the avs lines, and then finally realized in the 3rd that Duchene needs to be up with Hejduk and Stastny and it paid off. If Sacco isn't going to be fired, the avs need to make a move and pickup another centre/winger so that they can have 3 solid lines of attack. Despite the loss, the OWL line was just incredible tonight and while O'Reilly and Landeskog were great, Daniel Winnik was just oustanding. He was all over the ice, throwing his weight around and fired 7 shots on goal in probably his best game in an av uniform. The same can be said on d about Shane O'Brien, he really has started to develop into an emotional leader for this team. When they are down, he is jumping into the play and controlling the puck as he flew down the whole ice and created the 3rd avs goal. However, the game shouldn't have even been 4-0 because the refs missed a clear slash by Stempniak before scoring his goal, as he blatantly slashed Hejda's stick out before coming out and scoring. Semyon Varlamov really had a rough first period, allowing 3 goals on 7 shots, but was better the rest of the way through. However, it is time to give Giguere a chance to play as Varlamov isn't getting the job done like he was early on. Despite losing, the avs continued a trend dominating both faceoffs (34 of 57) and shots (39 to Flames 20). The biggest gap in this team is starting slow, as they continue to start slow and not play well through 40 minutes. This is what happens when a team has no captain, they need a leader on the ice and its simply time to name one. If Johnson or Hejduk/Stastny aren't going to be named captain, in my opinion Ryan O'Reilly deserves it as he is simply leading this team right now despite him being 20 years old. These games are really starting to piss off avs fans until the 3rd, and its time to pull the trigger on a trade or coaching change. Hejduk, Jones and Duchene all scored for the avs in a great hockey game despite the slow start.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3.Daniel Winnik - Daniel had his best game in an avs uniform, with 3 hits and firing 7 shots on goal. Despite not getting a point, he was all over the ice tonight and his line of him Landeskog and O'Reilly was by far the best out there
2. Shane O'Brien - The past two games, the avs have been down 3-0 and 4-0 respectively and it was O'Brien (and partner Quincey) who voiced their displeasure and really caried the avs. O'Brien was spectacular tonight, playing his best game as an av picking up an assist and +2 in just under 20 minutes of hard work
1. Milan Hejduk - Milan continues his hot start, scoring his 7th on the season and picking up an assist on Duchene's goal. He really picked up his play when Dutchy joined his line, and this line NEEDS to stay together in order to make the avs a better team as through 2 periods Sacco shifted his lines to much and left Duchene out to dry

Misplay of the Game - Awful no-call by the ref on the 4th Flames goal, cost the avs the game after the no call on a blatant slash

Play of the Game - Goes to Shane O'Brien for his end-to-end rush leading to the avs 3rd goal

Game #18 - Sitting at 500 (8-8-1), the avs head on a two-game road trip starting with the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday (@730pm) in which could be the first game that Sidney Crosby plays in.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

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