The Avs ran into a very hot San Jose Sharks team and were defeated 4-0 in a tough game. The Sharks scored 3 PP goals, and a 4th seconds after a PP to beat the Avs, but the thing everyone is talking about is Brad Stuart's questionable hit on Gabriel Landeskog. The Avs controlled the 1st, they got the first 5 shots and held the Sharks without a shot for 12 minutes. However, as Landeskog had his head down at centre he was flattened by Stuart and limped off the ice. Ryan O'Byrne immediately went after Stuart (as he should have) and started fighting him, receiving 5 for fighting, a 10-min misconduct, 2 for instigating and 2 for instigating a fight with a visor on (never heard of that before). This was the TSN turning point no doubt, Marleau scored a pair of PP goals to make it 4-straight 2 goal games for the scorching hot Patty Marleau. Landeskog didn't return until the 2nd period, which was by far the best news for the Avs today. Not much else to write about, Sharks deserved this game 100% but I didn't like the hit 1 bit and I hope Brendan Shanahan comes down on Brad Staurt.
Three Stars:
3. Thomas Greiss - In his 1st start of the season he had a 24-save shutout, he wasn't particularly busy but made some good saves
2. Joe Thornton - Jumbo Joe continued his red-hot start, scoring his 2nd of the season and adding an assist on 1 of Marleau's goals. Thornton now has 2 goals and 9 assists on the season (tied with Marleau for the NHL lead in points)
Patrick Marleau - Marleau became the first player since 1917 to score 2 goals in 4-straight games. He had 2 goals and an assist, and continues to play amazing hockey early on. Him and Thornton are tied with 11 points to sit at 1-2 in the NHL currently
Avalanche Misplay of the Game - Avs PP gets it tonight, simply awful in the first and they can't shoot the puck at all. Stastny also gets it for passing up a wide open net, he needs to start shooting the puck
Avalanche Play of the Game - Landeskog returning was the lone highlight, very important that he wasn't significantly injured on that dirty hit
Game #5 - The Avs continue their road trip, as they head to Edmonton to play the young and exciting Oilers on Monday (@930pm)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Game #3 - Colorado 4, Columbus 0
Building off a great performance against the defending champs, the Avs wasted little time against the Blue Jackets as P.A Parenteau took a nifty Duchene feed and put the Avs up 1-0 (51 seconds in). The Avs took advantage of a tired Columbus team (having played last night), and they took a 2-0 lead after Duchene knocked in a rebound for his 1st of the year. The Avs dominated the 1st, and the Duchene-Landeskog-Parenteau line continued to lead the way. The Avs played a tough period, with Bordeleau and McGinn getting in fights (McGinn's after his huge hit on Anisimov) and John Mitchell taking a puck off the face (2nd game in a row an Avalanche got a puck in the face). I really liked the play of the 4th line of McLeod-Olver-Bordeleau they were tough but also played a strong game and made it tough for Columbus players to play against. The story of the 2nd period was Varlamov, as the Avs were outshot 12-6 but Varlamov was up to the test. He looks really comfortable in net, and make some spectacular saves (especially on Foligno). The Avs came out in the 3rd and looked like a much better team, as newcomer John Mitchell iced the game with his 2nd of the season to put the Avs up 3-0. What a game for Mitchell, he comes back from a horrific face injury that would have kept many other athletes out of the game and scores an insurance goal (and hit the post minutes after). Matt Duchene added a beautiful goal to make it 4-0, as he took a pass from Parenteau and slashed between the 2 D before sliding it five-hole. The Avs once again were great blocking shots, as they blocked 26 compared to Columbus's 7 (The Avs now have 50 shot blocks in back-to-back wins). The other stats from the game: Columbus outshot the Avs 33-28, the hits were 19-18 Columbus, the Avs won 36 of 67 face-offs, and the Avs were once again perfect on the PK killing 5/5. I really like what Landeskog-Duchene have been doing on the PK, they are blocking shots but also creating chances offensively and creating havoc for powerplays. The Landeskog-Duchene-Parenteau line is starting to gain great chemistry, and they are so talented on the cycle and bring a great combination of size, speed and skill. Overall a great performance from the Avs from start to finish, another big 2 points and a shutout for Varly.
Three Stars:
3. John Mitchell - He continues to play a strong game for the Avs, and he really sacrificed his body for the big 2 points tonight. He took a puck off the face in the 1st, got stitched up and came back to score the 3rd goal tonight (in the 3rd) and 2nd as an Av. He had 3 blocked shots and won 6 of 8 face-offs, and could have had 2 goals as he hit the post in the 3rd
2. Semyon Varlamov - Varlamov continues to play very sharp in the early parts of this season, and he had his best effort in a 33-save shutout tonight. He was sharp in all 3 periods, especially in the 2nd when Columbus seemed to push the pace. Varlamov will be key to the Avs pushing for a playoff spot this season
1. Matt Duchene - Talk about the emergence of the complete Matt Duchene, I thought he played well vs. LA the other night but he was a step above that tonight. He was all over the ice, setting up Parenteau with a nifty pass in the 1st minute, and then scoring a pair of goals for 3 points. However, it is Duchene's defensive play that has really improved and he is playing excellent on the PK with Gabriel Landeskog (the Avs are 11/11 on the PK the last 2 games). It seems he is building really good chemistry with Parenteau and Landeskog, but his defensive play has really shown me that he is building towards becoming a complete hockey player and not one that is one-dimensional.
Avalanche Play of the Game - A tie between Parenteau's goal and Duchene's 2nd goal, both of them were set up by the other person. Parenteau's goal was a nifty play by Duchene, and Duchene's 2nd goal was of the TSN highlight-reel fashion; he took a pass from PA and split the D with speed, as he got by the D he came in and deked out Bobrovsky and slid it five-hole.
Avalanche Misplay of the Game - No play in particular, Jamie McGinn gets it for his several good chances that he missed. He can't seem to catch a break and get a goal so far, but he will find his game and he had a great fight in the 1st after a huge him on Anisimov.
Game #4 - The Avs head out on a season long 4-game road trip and play vs. the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon (@4pm)
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
Three Stars:
3. John Mitchell - He continues to play a strong game for the Avs, and he really sacrificed his body for the big 2 points tonight. He took a puck off the face in the 1st, got stitched up and came back to score the 3rd goal tonight (in the 3rd) and 2nd as an Av. He had 3 blocked shots and won 6 of 8 face-offs, and could have had 2 goals as he hit the post in the 3rd
2. Semyon Varlamov - Varlamov continues to play very sharp in the early parts of this season, and he had his best effort in a 33-save shutout tonight. He was sharp in all 3 periods, especially in the 2nd when Columbus seemed to push the pace. Varlamov will be key to the Avs pushing for a playoff spot this season
1. Matt Duchene - Talk about the emergence of the complete Matt Duchene, I thought he played well vs. LA the other night but he was a step above that tonight. He was all over the ice, setting up Parenteau with a nifty pass in the 1st minute, and then scoring a pair of goals for 3 points. However, it is Duchene's defensive play that has really improved and he is playing excellent on the PK with Gabriel Landeskog (the Avs are 11/11 on the PK the last 2 games). It seems he is building really good chemistry with Parenteau and Landeskog, but his defensive play has really shown me that he is building towards becoming a complete hockey player and not one that is one-dimensional.
Avalanche Play of the Game - A tie between Parenteau's goal and Duchene's 2nd goal, both of them were set up by the other person. Parenteau's goal was a nifty play by Duchene, and Duchene's 2nd goal was of the TSN highlight-reel fashion; he took a pass from PA and split the D with speed, as he got by the D he came in and deked out Bobrovsky and slid it five-hole.
Avalanche Misplay of the Game - No play in particular, Jamie McGinn gets it for his several good chances that he missed. He can't seem to catch a break and get a goal so far, but he will find his game and he had a great fight in the 1st after a huge him on Anisimov.
Game #4 - The Avs head out on a season long 4-game road trip and play vs. the San Jose Sharks on Saturday afternoon (@4pm)
Here is a picture of John Mitchell post-game, what a warrior he was tonight and he has the scars to prove it. What a big goal he scored after returning from injury, Mitchell has been a great signing thus far.
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Downie Out for Season, O'Reilly Notes
The Avalanche face the Blue Jackets at home tonight, and they do so after hearing 2 separate pieces of news that will definitely impact the team. The Avs suffered a massive blow on Tuesday night; forward and tough-guy Steve Downie tore his ACL on an akward hit in the Avs 3-1 win over the LA Kings and will miss the rest of the season. Tough, tough break for the Avs just 2 games into this shortened season, and they will need some of their other role players (Mitchell, McLeod, Olver and Kobasew) to make up for the game that Downie brings. The fact is that none of those guys can match the physical side of Downie; he is so good at pissing off opponents and laying the body at the appropriate time, and the bad part is he got injured throwing his own hit. I really like the play of John Mitchell so far, I hope he continues to play well because the Avs need him to step up without Downie.
Onto the 2nd piece of news, and that is unsigned C Ryan O'Reilly; he terminated his contract in the KHL and is coming back to North America. However, he still is unsigned, and at this point in the season the Avs really need him back. The details of their contract negotiations have been shady, and we all have sat back and patiently watched them do nothing. It is ridiculous, of all the Avs players unsigned after last summer I thought no-brainer O'Reilly would be the first to sign. This guy was amazing last year, and he is getting better every game he plays. He is already one of the top defensive forwards in his game, and is coming off a career year where he scored 18 goals and 37 assists to lead the Avs with 55 points. It isn't even the offence that the Avs are missing, it is his defensive qualities that they desperately need. O'Reilly is a complete 200-foot player as they would refer in hockey terms, he isn't the most talented guy on the ice but he will compete about as hard as any player in the league. His work ethic is outstanding, always the first guy on the ice and the last to leave it in practice. It is up to GM Greg Sherman to sign him quickly now that he is officially done in the KHL, however the games keep ticking away of this shortened 48-game season and they need #37 back ASAP.
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
Onto the 2nd piece of news, and that is unsigned C Ryan O'Reilly; he terminated his contract in the KHL and is coming back to North America. However, he still is unsigned, and at this point in the season the Avs really need him back. The details of their contract negotiations have been shady, and we all have sat back and patiently watched them do nothing. It is ridiculous, of all the Avs players unsigned after last summer I thought no-brainer O'Reilly would be the first to sign. This guy was amazing last year, and he is getting better every game he plays. He is already one of the top defensive forwards in his game, and is coming off a career year where he scored 18 goals and 37 assists to lead the Avs with 55 points. It isn't even the offence that the Avs are missing, it is his defensive qualities that they desperately need. O'Reilly is a complete 200-foot player as they would refer in hockey terms, he isn't the most talented guy on the ice but he will compete about as hard as any player in the league. His work ethic is outstanding, always the first guy on the ice and the last to leave it in practice. It is up to GM Greg Sherman to sign him quickly now that he is officially done in the KHL, however the games keep ticking away of this shortened 48-game season and they need #37 back ASAP.
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Game #2 - Colorado 3, Los Angeles 1
The Avs played their best hockey of the early season in the 3rd period, rallying for 3 goals to take the 3-1 win. The Avs couldn't get anything going through 40 minutes, and a bad goal by LA off a rebound had the Kings up 1-0 after 2 periods. Jon Quick was playing well in net, but the Avs weren't getting great chances and really didn't control the pace of the game. That all changed in the 3rd, right from the 1st shift the Avs showed intensity and grit and started pushing back. The Landeskog-Duchene-Parenteau line was very effective all night, especially in the 3rd as they had a long offensive shift leading to the Landeskog tying goal. From then the Avs seized the momentum, and after a Jones PP goal on a lucky bounce off the boards they took the first lead of the game. After another strong shift from the Duchene line, Parenteau converted a pass right infront from Erik Johnson for his 1st as an Avalanche. The Avs shut them down the rest of the way, with Varlamov making 28 saves on 29 shots for his 1st victory of the season. The Avs outshot the Kings 31-29 (12-7 in the 3rd), won 31 of 60 faceoffs, out-hit the Kings 26-20 and most impressively had 24 blocked shots to the Kings 8. I thought that the avs entire 6-man D-unit played strong defensively, letting Varlamov see the puck and clearing the space around him. I like what Greg Zanon has brought to the team, hes really strong in his own end. The only change I would make is putting Shane O'Brien in for Barrie, Barrie is good offensively but is too small and the Kings goal showed that. Overall a great 3rd period from the Avs, they didn't play well through 40 minutes but really deserved the game after dominating the 3rd with 3 goals.
Three Stars:
3. Matt Duchene - I thought he had a really solid game offensively and even better game defensively. He has not been known for his defensive skills early in his career, however he is playing 1st line PK with Landeskog and the two were extremely effective in killing 6/6 penalties. Duchene had an assist on Landeskog's goal, and his line was +2 with Landeskog and Parenteau scoring their 1st of the season respectively
2. Semyon Varlamov - Varlamov was really strong tonight, he looked steady and consistent all night. The only goal was not his fault, bad play by Barrie leaving Clifford wide open off the rush. Varlamov made 28 saves on 29 shots, and gave the Avs a chance to come back in the 3rd and they rewarded him
1. Gabriel Landeskog - He had such a good game, and you can see him maturing as a player and captain every time he steps on the ice. His goal was huge tonight, after a great shift by him Dutchy and PA he got the Avs rolling in the 3rd. I felt him and Duchene were extremely strong on the PK for the 2nd straight game, and I hope Sacco keeps this combination for the future. Great game by Captain Landy
Avalanche Play of the Game - PA Parenteau's first goal in an Avalanche sweater, you could see how excited he was and how equally excited his teammates were for him. I thought him-Duchene-Landeskog were very effective tonight, and PA continues to build chemistry with his new teammates.
Avalanche Misplay of the Game - Tyson Barrie's giveaway for the only Kings goal, as he gave the puck away and got burned on the back-check by Clifford.
Game #3 - The Avs will play next at home vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night (@9pm)
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
Three Stars:
3. Matt Duchene - I thought he had a really solid game offensively and even better game defensively. He has not been known for his defensive skills early in his career, however he is playing 1st line PK with Landeskog and the two were extremely effective in killing 6/6 penalties. Duchene had an assist on Landeskog's goal, and his line was +2 with Landeskog and Parenteau scoring their 1st of the season respectively
2. Semyon Varlamov - Varlamov was really strong tonight, he looked steady and consistent all night. The only goal was not his fault, bad play by Barrie leaving Clifford wide open off the rush. Varlamov made 28 saves on 29 shots, and gave the Avs a chance to come back in the 3rd and they rewarded him
1. Gabriel Landeskog - He had such a good game, and you can see him maturing as a player and captain every time he steps on the ice. His goal was huge tonight, after a great shift by him Dutchy and PA he got the Avs rolling in the 3rd. I felt him and Duchene were extremely strong on the PK for the 2nd straight game, and I hope Sacco keeps this combination for the future. Great game by Captain Landy
Avalanche Play of the Game - PA Parenteau's first goal in an Avalanche sweater, you could see how excited he was and how equally excited his teammates were for him. I thought him-Duchene-Landeskog were very effective tonight, and PA continues to build chemistry with his new teammates.
Avalanche Misplay of the Game - Tyson Barrie's giveaway for the only Kings goal, as he gave the puck away and got burned on the back-check by Clifford.
Game #3 - The Avs will play next at home vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night (@9pm)
Here is Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog pre-game receiving his Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie from last season
-Joel Forman - Colorado Avalanche News
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