The Avalanche returned to the Pepsi Center last night, but couldn’t quite keep up their winning ways. They did get a point, though, after losing to the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in the shootout. The game wasn’t the most exciting of games - there was some good hitting, but not much offensive flow at all. Instead of a full recap, I’ll touch on a couple of bullet points Avs Talk style.
vs. last year:
- Jaroslav Hlinka played on the first line in place of Paul Stastny and played pretty well. His nifty drop pass set up our only goal of the game.
- Jordan Leopold missed the game with the flu (insert your own joke here). He was replaced by Johnny Boychuck. Boychuck did not play much (7:32) but did see some PP ice time. When he did play, it was in Leopold’s old spot with Scott Hannan. When he wasn’t on, Jeff Finger was usually the guy replacing him. Finger had 27:12 of ice time.
- Jose Theodore looked very good again tonight. In almost all the games in this stretch, his best period has been the 3rd period. Really, the 3rd has been his best period all year.
- Like any team, we made some mistakes defensively (like when Brett Clark let Patrick Kane get behind him for the first Chicago goal). Overall, though, our defense has been very solid and I don’t think they are getting enough credit as a group for the improvement they’ve made both collectively and individually (especially Scott Hannan and Karlis Skrastins).
- TJ Hensick played in Hlinka’s old spot with Cody McCormick and Cody McLeod. While Hlinka seemed to gel nicely with the two Corner Codys, Hensick didn’t seem incredibly comfortable. He also got an opportunity to go in the shootout, but was turned away by Patrick Lalime after overplaying the puck.
Game Notes
Lines
the report is up
Next Up
The Avalanche host the Blue Jackets on Sunday, the last time we’ll see Columbus this year. Altitude viewers should expect to see the gorgeous Rick Nash goal from the other night a few times.
See there, was that so hard?
it is. I need assistance with everything over two syllables. This comment alone took three writers, something called a thesaurus, and 27 minutes to compile. I hope you appreciate it.
You’ve only got three writers? Damn, I better cut back on my staff.
Staff? You pay people?
not as much as the MHH people do…
Hey I could use some extra cash…lol.
Skrats has been surprisingly better over this tough stretch much the same as has Theo. He’s still made some mistakes but I can handle seeing him sprawled out sliding across the ice if it is only once a night (and if that once doesn’t lead to a goal). He and Clark have mostly shut down some of that top offensive players we’ve faced in the last two weeks and that has helped make Theo’s job easier I’m sure.
There was one point in the second period (I think it was) that I found myself yelling at Theo to stay in net after he wandered a little to far an Chicago got a scoring chance. But other than that he really has been pretty solid outside of the Florida games.
The Avs are starting to give up more penalties every game. I not sure if this is due to the new physicalness of the team or the fact that we are a little slower and thus getting beat a little more. Some of it is just bad luck, as with some of the tripping penalties, and some dumb players, Arnason hooking and holding in the offensive zone. Thankfully, the penalty kill unit is holding their own, at least when they attack the puck and keep things outside.
It’s still tough to see the Avs lose, but in our current situation I’ll take the 1pt. Remember it was just 1pt that kept the Avs from extending their season last year, and we all lamented that the team often gave up the game in the finals minutes of the third period and didn’t make it to OT.
excellent points.