Comments on: Game 3: Wild 3, Avalanche 2 (OT) http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2 Colorado Avalanche recaps, stats and analysis Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:39:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: David Driscoll-Carignan http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4034 David Driscoll-Carignan Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:37:05 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4034 and, let's see Leopold get an assist on a goal when he's not even on the ice (like Finger did in game 2) seriously, I agree with Dario - the defense has been terrific and Finger has been just fine. He's not the issue. and, let’s see Leopold get an assist on a goal when he’s not even on the ice (like Finger did in game 2)

seriously, I agree with Dario - the defense has been terrific and Finger has been just fine. He’s not the issue.

]]> By: Dario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4033 Dario Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:03:15 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4033 I find it interesting that AD is point toward Leopold replacing Finger as some sort of panacea for the team to do better. The defense has been good, if not great. Pucks off feet, and poor bounces have stung. But all of a sudden Finger is some sort of whipping boy. I don't get this at all. How many legit even strength goals do the Wild have in this series? Not many. We've lamented about the PP all year long, in particular the dumbfounding philosophy of putting a forward on the point. Sakic is brilliant, but he's downright pedestrian at the blueline on the power play. He got undressed on the PP and that is a goal that killed the Avs. They bounced back really well but that goal was not only preventable but it was inevitable with the coaching philosophy on the PP. It's not unusual for teams to shorten their bench in the playoffs. However, when your 4th line is actually carrying a lot of your water and you have a back to back playoff game I don't see why they don't get a more even share of the shifts. Sakic pulled some huge shifts, of his own doing or Q's shifting I don't know. I do know that Theo bailed him out on defense a couple of times. The playoffs are a great time for goalies and young, unknowns to make big impacts. Theo is holding up his side of the bargin, Jones is playing inspired hockey but there are some guys that are really taking a step back. Stastny and Hejduk have to find a way to contribute if they are snake bit. Wolski, in either of those situations would find himself at the end of the bench. Arnason is the same guy, can't get a scoring chance unless it's on the PP. Has trouble with any defense that involves taking the body rather than poke checking. The softest guys on the team are fading in the playoffs. This should come as no suprise to any veteran of NHL hockey in said playoffs. The playoffs are very different from the regular season. No other pro sport changes more from regular season to playoffs than the NHL. The only suprising downgrade from regular season to playoffs is Stastny. So, in summary. No one should be suprised that the power play got burned at the point. No one should be suprised that Arnason and Hejduk are dissapearing for large stretches of ice time. I think they could improve but those players and that powerplay need all the coaching help they can get. They have to be put in the best situations they can be put. Even Datsuyk has learned to play in the playoffs, so those guys aren't beyond saving even if they aren't built for playoff hockey. Leopold to replace Finger? It's not Finger's fault. He gets 20 seconds of power play time at the end of the clock yet he leads the defensemen in scoring. Seemingly, there's nothing he can do to earn more time and show his shot. I know Leo has some playoff experience and proven ice time in the playoffs but Finger is your prototypical playoff nesessity with how he plays the position. I don't think you gain much there. I find it interesting that AD is point toward Leopold replacing Finger as some sort of panacea for the team to do better. The defense has been good, if not great. Pucks off feet, and poor bounces have stung. But all of a sudden Finger is some sort of whipping boy. I don’t get this at all. How many legit even strength goals do the Wild have in this series? Not many. We’ve lamented about the PP all year long, in particular the dumbfounding philosophy of putting a forward on the point. Sakic is brilliant, but he’s downright pedestrian at the blueline on the power play. He got undressed on the PP and that is a goal that killed the Avs. They bounced back really well but that goal was not only preventable but it was inevitable with the coaching philosophy on the PP.

It’s not unusual for teams to shorten their bench in the playoffs. However, when your 4th line is actually carrying a lot of your water and you have a back to back playoff game I don’t see why they don’t get a more even share of the shifts. Sakic pulled some huge shifts, of his own doing or Q’s shifting I don’t know. I do know that Theo bailed him out on defense a couple of times.

The playoffs are a great time for goalies and young, unknowns to make big impacts. Theo is holding up his side of the bargin, Jones is playing inspired hockey but there are some guys that are really taking a step back. Stastny and Hejduk have to find a way to contribute if they are snake bit. Wolski, in either of those situations would find himself at the end of the bench. Arnason is the same guy, can’t get a scoring chance unless it’s on the PP. Has trouble with any defense that involves taking the body rather than poke checking. The softest guys on the team are fading in the playoffs. This should come as no suprise to any veteran of NHL hockey in said playoffs. The playoffs are very different from the regular season. No other pro sport changes more from regular season to playoffs than the NHL. The only suprising downgrade from regular season to playoffs is Stastny.

So, in summary. No one should be suprised that the power play got burned at the point. No one should be suprised that Arnason and Hejduk are dissapearing for large stretches of ice time. I think they could improve but those players and that powerplay need all the coaching help they can get. They have to be put in the best situations they can be put. Even Datsuyk has learned to play in the playoffs, so those guys aren’t beyond saving even if they aren’t built for playoff hockey.

Leopold to replace Finger? It’s not Finger’s fault. He gets 20 seconds of power play time at the end of the clock yet he leads the defensemen in scoring. Seemingly, there’s nothing he can do to earn more time and show his shot. I know Leo has some playoff experience and proven ice time in the playoffs but Finger is your prototypical playoff nesessity with how he plays the position. I don’t think you gain much there.

]]> By: Mike @ MHH http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4030 Mike @ MHH Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:23:57 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4030 I have a theory about the bounces. It's the hockey gods way of saying that the 29th ranked PP doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Am I bitter? Yes, I am. I have a theory about the bounces. It’s the hockey gods way of saying that the 29th ranked PP doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs.

Am I bitter?

Yes, I am.

]]> By: David Driscoll-Carignan http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4029 David Driscoll-Carignan Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:43:04 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4029 apparently, the playoffs inspire me to babble. a lot. apparently, the playoffs inspire me to babble. a lot.

]]> By: Joe http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4028 Joe Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:37:44 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4028 Drafty, you've outdone yourself. At Mile High we have epic game threads, at ITCS, you have epic recaps. This recap should carry a sword, a shield, and ride a dragon across the sky. Drafty, you’ve outdone yourself. At Mile High we have epic game threads, at ITCS, you have epic recaps. This recap should carry a sword, a shield, and ride a dragon across the sky.

]]> By: thedoctor http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4027 thedoctor Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:50:11 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4027 finally, a game deserving of the "must-win" moniker. :D finally, a game deserving of the “must-win” moniker. :D

]]> By: americanario http://inthecheapseats.com/avs-recaps/04-15-2008/recap-wild-3-avalanche-2-ot-2#comment-4026 americanario Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:40:16 +0000 http://inthecheapseats.com/?p=538#comment-4026 When are some bounces going to go our way? The Wild have won both of their games on bad bounces and have scored at least three goals because of them (2 of our d-men's skates). Maybe it just isn't to be this year. We are playing hard and I haven't been too upset with the overall performance, but things just haven't gone our way, be it penalties (though the officiating was better last night - still not good) or these bounces. Arnason needs to be benched. His play is getting worse and he can't dig the puck out of a paper bag. He coughed up the puck numerous times last night either creating chances for the Wild or forcing us to retreat from the O-zone during a power play because his passes missed their targets by a mile. And how many open net chances did he fumble? When are some bounces going to go our way?
The Wild have won both of their games on bad bounces and have scored at least three goals because of them (2 of our d-men’s skates). Maybe it just isn’t to be this year. We are playing hard and I haven’t been too upset with the overall performance, but things just haven’t gone our way, be it penalties (though the officiating was better last night - still not good) or these bounces.

Arnason needs to be benched. His play is getting worse and he can’t dig the puck out of a paper bag. He coughed up the puck numerous times last night either creating chances for the Wild or forcing us to retreat from the O-zone during a power play because his passes missed their targets by a mile. And how many open net chances did he fumble?

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