Your NHL 3rd jersey source (with some Colorado Avalanche stuff mixed in)
March 2008
The Archives
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03.31.08Things I know for sureOkay, these aren't exactly things I know for sure. But "Things I have a pretty good feeling are true" didn't have the same ring to it. Plus, it gives me a chance to plug a CD that I like. So, here are some things I know for sure: The Avalanche are a different team with Peter Forsberg. It's amazing how much of a dynamic one player can add to the team. With Foppa in the lineup, the Avalanche suddenly became a much more creative team offensively. Instead of relying on the down-low cycle, the Avalanche were using aggressive outlet passes from the ...
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03.31.08Updated playoff outlookThere were a lot of changes to the playoff scene yesterday. While it didn't quite work out perfectly for the Avalanche (they didn't clinch), but it wasn't all bad news either. [table=11] Here's what did happen: Detroit clinched the #1 overall seed. San Jose will be the #2 seed. Sorry, not sure how this idea popped into my head, as SJ can still end up at #1. Anaheim clinched a playoff spot and is assured of either the 4th or 5th seed. Dallas clinched a playoff spot. The Avalanche moved past Calgary into 6th. Vancouver moved past Nashville into 8th. Columbus and Phoenix were eliminated. The seeds are ...
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03.31.08Recap: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)It wasn't quite the outcome we were looking for. Then again, it could have been much worse. The Avs came out flat against the Minnesota Wild. How flat? By the 9 minute mark the Avalanche had 4 minor penalties (including a bench minor for Joel Quenneville's abuse of the officials) and we're in the hole 2-0. It seemed clear that the Forsberg-less Avalanche had decided to mail this one in and I was starting to wonder if maybe my time might be better served with that new game I'd just picked up (BioShock, for the curious). And then a funny thing ...
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03.30.08Just oneThe Avalanche played a horrendous first period but came back strong against the Wild. Both teams had numerous chances to win the game in regulation, but it went to OT and the Wild one on a gorgeous play by Pavol Demitra to set up Marion Gaborik. The Avs will not clinch tonight. They do - at least temporarily - move past Calgary into the 6th seed in the NW. Calgary plays Vancouver later this evening. I'll have a full recap as well as an update of the playoff picture tomorrow.
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03.30.08No ForsbergForsberg is not in the lineup tonight. Jaroslav Hlinka is dressed and is playing in Forsberg's spot with Stastny and Hejduk. I'm just about 30 seconds into the game, but it looks like the rest of the lines & pairings are unchanged. Honestly, if Forsberg is going to miss time, I'd rather it be against Minnesota - they really beat on him the last time we faced them.
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03.30.08The clincher?The Avalanche take the ice tonight at 6pm eastern time. When they do, they'll have a chance to clinch a postseason berth, although they'll need a little help to do it. A Colorado win coupled with a regulation loss by Nashville or Vancouver puts us into the postseason (I had said yesterday that both teams need to lose, but that was incorrect). There's actually something else that's rather exciting. The Avs are a Calgary loss away from controlling their own destiny in the division race. If the Avs win their final 3 games, they'll pass Minnesota in the standings (as long ...
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03.29.08Updated playoff scenariosObviously, last night was a huge win for the Avalanche, and gives us a chance to focus our attention a bit more on moving up in the playoff seeds. Anything better than a 7th or 8th seed would allow us to avoid a 1st round matchup with either San Jose or Detroit. As I've mentioned previously, with the win over Edmonton the only teams capable of knocking the Avs out are Nashville and Vancouver. The Avs can now clinch with a win combined with regulation losses by both either the Predators and Canucks (thanks Selanne). None of the 13 Western Conference ...
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03.28.08Lines tonight (Edm @ Col)Stastny, Forsberg, Hejduk (Deuces Wild Line?) Sakic, Wolski, Brunette Arnason, Smyth, Jones Guite, McLeod, Laperriere Sauer, Foote Liles, Hannan Salei, Finger Dwayne Roloson against Jose Theodore tonight. I'm watching Altitude tonight and, apparently, Jose Theodore has been "red hot" and had a "great game" against Vancouver. Good to know...
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03.28.08Playoff scenarios6 points. I've been working Excel a bit this morning, and I think I've got it figured out. If the Avalanche get 6 points in their final 4 games, they are in regardless of what any other team does the rest of the way. Continue Reading...
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03.27.08Arnason and the luck of the drawDespite the title, this actually has nothing to do with faceoffs. Tyler Arnason isn't very good at them (46.6%) and probably won't ever be very good at them. Enough said. But there is something that Arnason is surprisingly good at: drawing penalties. Behind the Net has tracked which players are best at drawing penalties and Arnason is tops on the Avalanche with 21. And, since Arnason refuses to touch opposing players, he doesn't take many penalties. He has just 5 penalties taken compared to 21 drawn, a +16 differential. Here's how the forwards stack up (at least the 12 Gabe has ...
