For the 2nd time this year, the Avalanche have been shut out by the Nashville Predators. This time it was backup Dan Ellis, who looked stellar while turning away all 38 shots he faced. At the other end of the ice, Jose Theodore looked not-very-stellar behind a defense that seemed confused for much of the night.
The game was close for the first 40 minutes, with the only tally going to the Predators’ Shea Weber. Weber knuckled a one-timer past Theodore from the point at the 4:51 on the power play. Other than that, Ellis and Theodore stopped the other 45 shots the two faced in the first two periods (with a little help from the posts - at least 5 shots hit the pipes last evening).
vs. last year:
Both seemed to have a tenuous hold on their defensive game for much of the night. Although there wasn’t an abundance of scoring chances, it seemed like either team was on the cusp of having their little mistakes compound into a bigger mistake. In this case, Colorado was the team to break down first. All year long, the 3rd period has been Theodore’s best period, but that wasn’t the case last night. The Predators scored 3 times on 8 shots. The three goals came in the first 5:53 of the game [EDIT: er, period, I mean] as the Avalanche moved from “still in it” to “well out of it” within a matter of minutes.
In the last few weeks, Theodore has cemented himself as the starter. Last night, he seemed to have cemented himself into the crease, as he barely made an effort on any of the 4 goals. The worst was the 3rd goal by Alexander Radulov. The play was set up by a really freaky pass by JP Dumont from the front of the net to Radulov by the post. It would have required a difficult sliding save to make the stop. Instead, Theodore kept his feet planted and casually waved at the puck with his stick as it was going in. Super. Am I blaming Theodore for the loss? Not at all; the Predators were the harder working team by a pretty far margin tonight, and really earned the win. But, that looked a lot like the old Theodore - the one we’re all far more familiar with here in Avalanche land. While he was keeping the Preds off the scoreboard for most of the first 40 minutes, he didn’t look all that sharp in doing so.
I don’t think he got a lot of help from the team in front of him either. The Preds scored two PP goals, both while one of our defensemen was off for a penalty (Clark on the first, Hannan on the second). The Predators bread and butter is the one-timer from the left side; Jason Arnott alone seems to have scored 6,000 goals this year from just outside that faceoff circle. Nashville loves to get the puck down low to the right of the net and then cross it back to the left side for that one timer. You’d think our boys would be ready for that, but 3 of the 4 goals were scored on one-timers on the left. That’s two games in a row where we’ve seen some dicey defense; they pulled it together in the Columbus game, but didn’t here.
I’m curious to see who Quenneville goes with in net on Thursday. With the All-Star break coming up, I speculated that Budaj might get a start this week, as his last appearance was on January 2nd. But, if Quenneville goes to Budaj on Thursday, we’re right back to benching a goalie after a loss, and that’s not going to help the situation. While I’d like to see Budaj get some work, this just isn’t the place for that to happen.
Lines
Jordan Leopold returned to the lineup, sending Johnny Boychuk back to the press box. Everything else stayed the same, although I did see Hensick, Jones and McLeod out there for one LEM reuniting shift.
Quick Hits
- Theodore’s 3rd period save percentage dropped from 921 to 910.
- The season series with the Predators is over (buh-bye Weber and Crisp), with each team getting 2 wins.
- Wojtek Wolski was probably the best player for the Avs last night, with a few more of his lengthy puck controlling sessions.
Next Up
We host the Wild on Thursday, our only divisional matchup this month.
Other Recaps
Colorado Avalanche Talk (check out the new digs)
I think you mean of the period.
oops - thanks.
What a disappointing performance.
Arnason was fancy last night. Ineffective for the most part but he was fancy. Once he’s scouted, I think he’ll be next to useless in the playoffs because defensemen will just take the body and not get hypnotized by that long stick (give and take move). Svatos suffers from the same issue with his inside/out move on the rush but he does have a more versatile game by his play in front of the net. I feel sorry for Wolski already. I know they are the best line of late but they haven’t been playing teams that are too familiar with them yet. Can’t Wolski take faceoffs or something on that line? No reason to even let Arnason skate in. Wolski should take it on himself to jump the drop so Arnason gets kicked out.
Theo better get the start next game, I’m totally on board with you there DD. For what it’s worth, Q’s post game quotes claim that it wasn’t Theo’s fault. The team “lost motivation” after that second goal.
Once again a back-up goalie makes us look silly. 38 shots on net and we can’t get one in? Two 4-0 shutouts to the Nashville Predators…asinine.
We’ll have to see what happens Thursday…if Avs lose to the Wild I will put forth an initiative on the ballot that the Avs will no longer be allowed to gain the lead in the NW division until the final game of the season. They seem to be unable to handle the pressure of being #1 and then go on a losing streak to ensure they are no longer in the #1 spot. Crazy.
I noticed Wolski skating circles around the Preds, too. Man, that kid has some serious puck control, that’s for sure. Too bad he couldn’t find a decent teammate to pass to—nobody made much of an effort to get open. All night.
wonder where Thomas is to tell us we’re all too hard on Theodore.
honestly, I’m not too bummed about the whole night. This is going to happen when you don’t have 3 top 6 forwards on the ice. If Theodore doesn’t have one of his nights, it’s probably a 1 - 0 or 2 - 0 game even with the defensive issues. or maybe we’d have gotten one in if they hadn’t been able to play with a lead the entire game, you never know.
my point is, don’t freak yet.
Don’t freak yet? I’ve been freaking since mid-December!
Part of the long-term solution for this team still would have been trading for Bryzgalov. The Coyotes locked him up for less than what Theo is making for the next three years. Too bad FG was asleep at the wheel when he was available.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=228038&hubname=nhl
Theo’s not making anything next year, he’s a FA.
his profile pic says it all
I know that … poorly worded on my part. I meant that Bryz is making less over the next 3 years on average than what is on Theo’s current contract. FG should have:
1. Traded peanuts for Bryz.
2. Locked him up to a long-term deal.
3. Let Theo walk after this season.
4. Saved cap money and been able to sign at least one more quality D-Man in the off-season.
Now we are stuck with what we have, a young goalie who may turn into a solid starter someday or may not, and a way-overpriced soon-to-be UFA trying to play for his career who is most likely done, despite recent glimmers of hope. I just can’t for the life of me imagine why FG didn’t jump on Bryzgalov unless Anaheim was just unwilling to deal with him. Maybe Burke didn’t want to trade him to a WC contender, and figured that a non-contender would pick him up if he waived him?
According to Burke himself, nobody would give him value for Bryz. Of course that could mean that nobody was willing to give him what BURKE thought was value for him. Looking at the players on the Avs and Monsters rosters, there aren’t alot of Burke-type guys other than McCormick or maybe Guite and McLeod, none of which would have probably netted Bryz. That means pics, which in the new NHL are more valuable than ever.
indeed. it’s impossible to say what Burke was asking for. Most likely it was unreasonable — EVERYONE turned him down, not just us, even teams that needed goaltending far worse than us, like TB.
when Burke could’t get what he wanted, he tried to make sure Bryz would go to a team that wouldn’t affect his team’s cup chances by using the order of the waiver wire (i.e., worse teams get to choose first). This seems a little spiteful to me, I’m sure he could have lowered his offer and gone to Phx, or TB, or even us and gotten SOMETHING, but it also fits what we know of Burke to be spiteful.
It’s ironic that Phx got him, and they’re in division and are 2-0 against the ducks since getting Bryz, so serves him right.