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

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