The streak of futility is over. The Avalanche won for the first time since October 25th, blanking the Nashville Predators 1-0. I had other stuff going on last night, so, while I watched most of the game, I wasn’t really paying all that much attention. Of course, that won’t stop me from talking about it.
The embattled goaltending and defense of the Avalanche finally put in a solid 60-minute effort. Peter Budaj turned away all 26 shots to record his first shutout since March 6, 2007 against the Bruins - a game I happend to see in person. Like that game, Budaj didn’t have to do everything on his own. The defense was much better in this game and when Budaj did have to come up big - like on a couple of Shea Weber shots in the 3rd - he was up to the challenge. 10 of the 26 shots were on the PP - Nashville was 0 for 7 in the game. That’s an area Budaj (and the entire team) has struggled at this year, so that’s even more good news.
On the flip side, the Avalanche offense is sputtering. For the 2nd game in a row, the lone goal-scorer was Darcy Tucker. And those goals have been almost mirror images of each other - each scored with TJ Hensick taking the puck to the wing (left side against Minnesota, right side against Nashville) and centering to Tucker in front. Interestingly, those are almost the exact opposite of the go-up-the-middle-and-then-dish-to-the-wing style usually employed by Tyler Arnason (see below). Hensick has looked terrific and was 2nd among Avalanche forwards in ice time. However, the Avs have scored just 10 goals in the last 7 games. Three have come from defensemen (Leopold and Liles) and 3 more have come from the fourth line (Tucker and Guite). The have have been 0-for on the PP in 6 of those 7 games (they were 0 for 9 last night). Hensick seems like he intends to stick around for a while. His presence has helped, but the top two lines need to get untracked.
Lines
For the first time in 2+ years in Colorado, Sanjaya Arnason was finally voted off the ice (healthy scratch). The Avalanche were better with Hensick at center instead of Arnie and it’s great that Tony Granato took just 14 games to make a move that Joel Quenneville refused to do in 164. I’m really curious to see how Arnason responds to the benching - I’ve said before that I think he can still be a very useful player to us if Granato can find the way to motivate him. For all the knocks about lack of effort, Arnie doesn’t strike me as the pouty type and this move just might be the catalyst he needs to jump start his game.
Arnason is not the only one feeling the pressure. David Jones, fresh up from his 1-game demotion to the AHL, had just 3 1st period shifts on the way to a shade over 10 minutes of ice time. Cody McLeod (5:14) took his last shift at the 14:29 mark of the second (could that be an injury that I missed?) and Marek Svatos (6:07) had just 1 third period shifts and most of his meager ice time was on the PP. He had no shots in the game, and was tabbed for 2 penalties. Don’t be shocked if he’s in the press box at some point during the upcoming road trip.
Some of the low ice time was likely related to Joe Sakic, who left during the first intermission with more back trouble, but I think it’s clear there are a few people Granato would like to get more effort from.
On defense, Scott Hannan returned to the lineup and Granato took the opportunity to make a tweak - Hannan played with Adam Foote and John-Michael Liles paired with Brett Clark. I didn’t see enough to evaluate the new pairings, but the score certainly seems to be a vote in their favor.
Quick Hits
- After warning folks about the awful Nashville announcers, I accidentally recorded the Nashville feed. That’s a mistake I hope to never, ever repeat.
- The game was just the 4th sellout out of 8 Colorado home games.
- The Avs improved to 3-1 when scoring first.
Next Up
It is a crucial time for the Avalanche. Their next 4 games are against NW division teams. Wednesday starts a slow, 3-day swing through Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary (with 2 off-days between each game) and then the Flames fly to Colorado on Thursday the 20th. After that, the Avs have just two more NW games until after the first of the year.
Other Recaps
Denver Post (with bonus Foreigner reference in the title)
This last one isn’t a recap, but it’s a terrific answer to why the Avs have been struggling
*weeps for joy at Arnason scratch*
Hensick was the best player on the ice too. His speed added a different dimension to several plays — a dimension the Avs have been sorely lacking. I loved him on the top PP unit too, great creativity.
On Arny’s scratch: Somewhere out there pics of FG, TG and a goat are making their way to the internets.
I was at the game and I know I saw number 39 in the preskate warmup. My guess is that Arnason’s benching was a product of circumstance. I think Arnason suited up because Sakic was going to be a game time decision once he did the warm-up. Once he gave the thumbs up that he was good to go that left Granato with the choice of putting Arnason in or Hensick. Since Hensick did well in the last game and they’ve said very clearly that they don’t want their young guys wasting away with no shifts so Granato gave Hensick the start. If Sakic said he wasn’t ready, then Arny would have played I’m almost certain.
that makes sense, especially since he was the only other forward available.
Dario:
The important part was that he chose Hensick over Arny. I have no problem with Arny being a “Well screw it someone’s hurt and we have to put someone out there” player.
I dunno, I’d go with Q’s old 7-defenseman strategy and play one of them on the wing. :p
I don’t disagree Jib. I loath the style of play that Arnason uses and think there are lots of options including Stewart/7th defensemen that are better than Arnason most of the time. I was just pointing out that Arny wasn’t in the doghouse per se.
I sat in the attack twice zone on Saturday and watched a powerplay where the Avs just overpassed ad nasium. The Hensick has gotten two assists in as many games is because he’s getting the puck on net. Queue one of the most overused sayings in hockey, “Put the puck on net and good things will happen”.
What really drives me nuts is that the defensemen on the point (or forwards) don’t take a pass and “walk the blueline”. It’s like one of the oldest tricks in hockey and it plays havoc with the two forwards out front. Lidstrom and Phenuef do this all the time. They get the pass out to the point and they corral the puck along the blue line as they skate backwards looking for a shot or a pass. The defending forward has a point of no return where they follow the point man and have to give up that coverage. If they cover over too far then the vacated spot opens up for a forward to get a pass. If they abandon coverage then there’s opportunities for shots between the circles. Some of the best powerplays in the game do this. But right now the point men get that puck and are totally stationary. Even Liles will get the puck, maybe fake a shot and then skate. He won’t take the puck in stride and glide over. The only defenseman we have that seems to do this by instinct is Leopold. Anyway, if anyone is anal as I am about this stuff just watch the PP of the Avs and say Detroit/San Jose/Anaheim etc… and notice that difference.
One play that Detroit does that I think would work wonders on the Avs, is the play where Lidstrom gets the puck, glides back along the blueline, passes to the forward that cheats up the vacant spot on the top of the circle. That forward does a snap “shot” that is really a hard pass right in front of the net to Zetterberg. Zetterberg just deflects the shot on goal. It’s all set up from Lidstrom taking away that defending forward. Once that pass goes to the forward for the fake shot, that defenseman that’s down low on his post almost always has to come out to contest the shot. With Smyth, Hejduk and even Stastny on this team that play would be deadly. But it all starts at the point.
I completely agree with Dario about the point man on the power play. Finding a way to take more shots from the point would be a big help. The Avs also need to find a way to make those quick cross ice passes that other teams seem to score on as well. Passing the puck only helps when it makes the other team’s defense move. The Avs passing does little to make the opposition move.