Game #9 - Calgary 4, Colorado 2

Your classic case of to little too late, the avs were outplayed through 2 and couldn't quite muster a comeback late in the 3rd as Miikka Kiprusoff made some stellar saves before Calgary iced it with an empty net goal. Through the first period, the score was tied 1-1 but the avs were badly outshot 21-5. The second saw a little push back, but sloppy play defensively led to 2 goals right in close in which defence were out of place, including a terrible miss of the clear by Erik Johnson to the 2nd flames goal that really was the game changer. Simply put only the O'Reilly/Winnik/Landeskog (OWL) line was good tonight, as Sacco continuously changed the other lines to find chemistry. Right now Matt Duchene just can't buy a goal, he made a few beauty moves and rang one off the cross-bar, but just can't find the back of the net. I thought he was better tonight, but he is really lacking a scoring winger and that is Peter Mueller. While Mueller had no points before he got hurt, he really made Duchene better by having someone to cycle with, and I think that playing Duchene with Kobasew and Lindstrom just doesn't give him that option. If Mueller is going to be out a while, the avs seriously need to look into adding another left winger to play on his line. I think that the OWL line and Stastny/Jones/Hejduk line are effective and Duchene and Lindstrom are missing a 3rd person. Not the best game from the defence or from goalie Giguere tonight, as I felt all the goals (minus the empty netter) were soft, defensive breakdowns. While the season is still early, and at 6-3 they definitely don't need to panic after a loss like this, I feel that they really need to look at obtaining a top-6 winger if Mueller won't be healthy
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Ryan Wilson - Scored his first goal of the season tonight, I really feel Wilson is coming into his own this season. Not only production wise (1g, 4 assist), but he is crushing people with his bodychecks and really implementing a tough attitude that the avs need out of their defence
2. Erik Johnson - Despite a horrible play on the Stempniak goal, Johnson played a very solid game tonight picking up an assist and firing the puck on net for the Wilson goal. Johnson is really logging serious minutes (23 tonight) and becoming the leader on the back-end
1. Gabriel Landeskog - Prior to the game Greg Sherman made it obvious Landeskog isn't going anywhere, and he continues to play great hockey. He picked up an assist on the Wilson goal, fired 7 shots at Kiprusoff, and continued to just play an overall effect style of hockey. It is evident how much Sacco trusts Landeskog already, and he just simply excels with his linemates at the moment which is hard for a young kid 9 games into his career.

Misplay of the Game: Easy choice for me, Johnson missing the clearing attempt leading to the Stempniak goal which really gave Calgary momentum in the 2nd

Game #10 - The avs look to rebound from this loss with another divisional matchup, heading home to meet Edmonton Oilers Friday night (@9pm). Unless Nugent-Hopkins gets sent down after tomorrow's 9th game for the Oilers, this will be the first matchup of the #1 and #2 picks in Nugent-Hopkins and Landeskog, a game featuring some of the games' youngest talent, should be a great one.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #8 - Colorado 5, Chicago 4 (SO)

In the second game of a home-and-home series, the avs were able to exact revenge on the Blackhawks thanks largely to rookie Gabriel Landeskog. The young swede forward notched his first two-goal game of his career, including the tying goal with under 2 minutes left. The avs played a dominating game for two periods (despite being destroyed 31 to 13 in the faceoff dot), and a late pp goal by Jonathan Toews seemed to swing things in the favour of Chicago. Going into the 3rd up 3-2, the avs solved their faceoff issues (going 14-4 the rest of the way) but really couldn't get much else going and found themselves tied and then down 4-3 after goals by Mayers (awful bounce) and Hossa. With just under two minutes to play, Landeskog made a brilliant breakout pass and hurried down the ice, where O'Reilly found him streaking alone on the right side as he came in on Crawford and beat him glove side. Going into OT the avs were shorthanded, but after a strong penalty kill things quickly shifted back in their favour as Crawford made 2 great saves on O'Reilly and Hejduk before OT ended. The avs remained a perfect 3-0 in the shootout this season, as both Hejduk and Dutchy missed for the first time, but all of Stahlberg, Toews and Kane couldn't beat Varlamov and Joakim Lindstrom finished it off with a filthy forehand-backhand-forehand move that froze Crawford. While the game was up and down for the avs, they were able to fight back late and finish it in the shootout to remain a perfect 6-0 on the road this season. Despite letting in 4 goals, Semyon Varlamov played spectacular again. Frolik's goal was an awful giveaway by Erik Johnson, Toew's goal he had no chance on the rebound and Mayers goal deflected off both of Ryan O'Byrne's skates before going in. The avs netminder has been tested frequently this season, but really has become comfortable with his defence out there and is certainly proving a lot of people wrong so far. The one thing I certainly didn't like about this game was Sacco's choice of putting Duchene on the 4th line. While Duchene didn't have his best game the other night, and Coach Sacco wanted to send him a message, I believe this wasn't the right call and by the 3rd period he found himself moving Duchene back up. While Duchene is young and certainly deserves learning situations like that, he is the avs best player and needs to play with the proper wingers and proper minutes in order to fully utilize his skill. Not the prettiest game, but the Avs will certainly take the 2 pts and remain top of the Western Conference (and division) at 12 points.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Semyon Varlamov - It is really hard to keep him off the three stars so far this season, despite letting in 4 goals he made some crucial saves and was especially strong on the PK in overtime. I, along with tons of other avs fans, have been flat out impressed by his play early on and I believe he is capable of carrying this team all season long
2. Paul Stastny - Despite a slow start to the season, Stastny has become hot of late and has points in 4 of his last 5 including a goal and assist tonight. He made a beautiful deflection on the Kyle Quincey shot to notch his second of the season, and I really believe that he has stepped his game up recently, which is what Coach Sacco needs out of his assistant captain.
1. Gabriel Landeskog - I can't say enough good things about this kid's game, he hustles, finishes his check, but most importantly thrives in the crunch time that you wouldn't expect an 18-year old to not only be in but excel in. This is his 2nd game tying goal late in the game, and he notched his first ever multi-goal game of his career. I know it's early still, but Gabriel has played simply oustanding and has formed some serious chemistry with O'Reilly and Winnik to form the avs most effective line by far. Coach Sacco continues to rely on him in every situation, and we are really seeing the reasons why the avs took him at #2 this summer. What an impressive game from him tonight

Misplay of the Game - Two terrible plays get the tie tonight, first with Erik Johnson's brutal giveaway on the first Chicago goal and Ryan O'Byrne's double skate deflection that tied it up for Chicago and really changed the momentum

Play of the Game - There are two tonight, Joakim Lindstrom's game winning goal in the shootout was simply nasty, as he has tremendous hands and really knows how to score. However, if it weren't for Landeskog the avs wouldn't have a chance to win and his second goal was a flat out beauty as O'Reilly sent him alone on Crawford as he roofed it to tie the game at 4

Game #9 - The avs head to Calgary for a divison matchup with the Flames Wednesday night(@10pm), as they look to keep their perfect road record alive.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #7 - Chicago 3, Colorado 1

In a very uptempo, fast paced game, the avs fell short to the Hawks 3-1. This game was a battle of the goaltender's, as both Corey Crawford and Semyon Varlamov played pretty well respectively, but it came down to a 3rd period goal by Patrick Sharp who put the Hawks up for good. This was a good test for the avs, as they really met an equally fast team and as well a team that is equally effective in the faceoff dot. Colorado won shots and faceoffs, outshooting them 32-29 and winning 31 of 53 faceoffs, but had a hard time beating Corey Crawford. While the Hawks don't have most of their cup winning team from 2 years ago, they still have that core and 3 of them scored tonight in Toews, Sharp and Hossa. This was a close one, but the Hawks found a way to beat the avs on home ice. The avs will look for revenge back in Chicago Saturday, in the 2nd half of a home-and-home series. Tough game for the pairing of Johnson-Hejda who were on for all 3 Hawks goals. Overall not the best game of the season, but once again Varlamov kept them in it.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Ryan O'Reilly - Despite being on for 2 goals against, the young avs C was very effective winning 9 of his 12 faceoffs. His line was very good on the cycle game, but couldn't solve Corey Crawford despite several good chances
2. Ryan O'Byrne - Scored his first goal of the season, and first in an avs uniform tonight. O'Byrne is really starting to fit in this season in Denver
1. Semyon Varlamov - Despite the loss, Semyon played extremely well allowing 2 goals on 29 shots. Both goals were top shelf shots from top caliber players - Sharp and Toews. Semyon is really keeping the avs in games in this early season, and looks to be a solid goaltender for the future

Misplay of the Game - The avs 5-man unit that was out for the game winning goal gets it this game, as they allowed sharp to walk in and snipe over Varly's shoulder on a total meltdown by all 5 players

Play of the Game - Semyon Varlamov gets it for absolutely robbing Markus Kruger of his first NHL goal (click on the Varlamov picture on the left side of my blog for the replay). Kane made a nifty move at the blueline and fed Kruger for an open net, as Varlamov slid across and got his glove on it for the early candidate of save of the year

Game #8 - The avs get a shot at redemption, meeting the Blackhawks in Chicago Saturday night (@830 pm).

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News

Game #6 - Colorado 3, Toronto 2 (OT)

The avs set out on this 5-game road trip looking to build off a disappointing home-opener, 5 games later they sit at 5-1 and finished a perfect 5-0 on their trip. I got to witness the game first hand, and it was my first chance to see the avs play in over 5 years. I had a great time at the game, but was even happier as I watched David Jones put in the ot goal to give the avs the victory. Tonight I thought the avs played a tremendous game, outplaying Toronto in every aspect (except shots) in a very defensive game. Giggy was solid tonight making 27 saves on 29 shots, and I felt that he was extremely well supported by the avs defence tonight. They were extremely physical (with Ryan Wilson dishing out several massive hits), and they protected Giggy very well. On the offence, I felt that the avs had a very solid 4-line attack, one in which they dominated in the cycle game and most importantly on faceoffs (39 out of 61). Tonight was my first chance at seeing some of the young avs core, and they all played extremely well. It was unreal to watch Duchene and Landeskog play, as the youngsters were both awesome to see in person. The previous avs game I saw, only Stastny and Hejduk were still on the team so it was a lot different this time around. Tonight they also played two former players in John Michael Liles and Phillipe Dupuis, but it was J.S Giguere getting the last laugh against his former team with the win. While Giggy hasn't been too busy in both his first two starts, he has walked away with 2 wins and it must give him some confidence - confidence he lacked his whole time in Toronto. Overall, not 1 player stood out tonight (besides seeing my favourite player Matt Duchene for the first time) as I felt it was a very impressive team win, one in which Coach Sacco should be thrilled about. The avs now sit at 5-1, top of the NHL at 10 points and they should feel great after this road trip.
Avalanche Three Stars:
3. Erik Johnson - I was able to see E.J last year in a leafs/blues game, but this time around he was much more noticeable and he is really becoming the defence the avs needed. Johnson is calm and collected with the puck, and just is a force at both ends. He fed Hejduk on the avs 2nd goal
2. Milan Hejduk - Despite 2 early penalties, Hejduk had a very solid game and scored on a nifty powerplay goal. Hejduk, 33, is the avs oldest player but is showing no signs of slowing down, as he still has that sniper mentality and knows how to score
1. David Jones - For the 2nd straight game, Jones walks away with the first star. The avs forward started slow, but has really responded on the 2nd half of this trip tallying 4 goals in 3 games - including the winner in ot tonight. Jones was able to get a piece of Kyle Quincey's point shot, and he followed the rebound and buried it past Reimer for the ot goal

Misplay of the Game - While Giggy played great tonight, he got caught deep in his net on the Kessel goal. I feel that Varlamov wouldn't have let this one in, as he always is at the top of his crease compared to Giggy who likes to play a little deeper

Play of the Game - In a game of no serious individual efforts or spectacular plays, the play of the game goes to David Jones for scoring the ot goal and completing the perfect 5-0 road trip

Game #7 - After a perfect 5-0 road trip, the avs head home to meet the Chicago Blackhawks (@9pm) in the first of a home-and-home series.

-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News