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
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