I’m not totally sure how to do this. I don’t know that I’ve done a recap yet when the Avalanche have had a 3-point lead on the division. This is new territory for me. Instead of looking at the schedule to see where we can make up ground, I’m looking at the schedule to see how long we’ll be in first. For the record, the Wild can’t overtake the Avalanche until at least Thursday. So, enjoy the next few days, folks - your Colorado Avalanche are in first place again.
The way the Avalanche are playing, I expect them to hold that top spot for a while. Just look at those lovely, gaudy numbers on the front page. The Avs have 7 more points than they did at this point last season (at this point last year, they were in the middle of a 4 game losing streak). At this pace, they’ll reach 111 points - surely good enough to make the…er, I don’t want to say the “p-word” yet. They have 3 more goals than they did through the first 17 last year, and, most importantly, 7 less goals allowed.
The Wild were again missing their two best forwards last night - Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik. They also were coming off of a 5-game layoff, and it showed. The Wild iced the puck 5 times in the first 4 minutes of the game and managed to win just 37% of the faceoffs in the game. While the shot totals were exactly even (27 each) and the score was close (just a 1-goal game before Wolski’s empty-netter with 1 second left), the Avs seemed to be the better team for much of the game last night. The had a lot of chances that just missed the net, while the Wild scored two very fast goals on the powerplay (20 seconds and 11 seconds) to keep themselves in the game.
For the Avs, Paul Stastny had 3 more points at home (20 of his 22 have come at the Pepsi Center). Wolski had 2 points. Ryan Smyth had 2 points. Brett Clark blocked 8 shots (and remember, some of those Minnesota players have a hard shot). Peter Budaj wasn’t heavily tested, but had some big saves when it mattered and improved to 7-3.
The team has proven that they can score at home - they are 9-1 in Denver. They are just 2-4-1 on the road, though, and are starting on a 4-game road trip (Dallas, Minnesota, Calgary, Edmonton). The Avs won’t see the friendly confines of the Pepsi Center until the Saturday after Thanksgiving (11/24). Needless to say, this is an important trip.
My notes on the game can be found here
Here. There was a bit of juggling. To start the game it was:
- Sakic, Smyth, Brunette
- Stastny, Wolski, Hejduk
- Arnason, Smith, Laperriere
- Hlinka, Guite, Svatos
For parts of the 2nd, Svatos was up on the 1st line and Brunette was on the Arnason line. Laperriere left the game in the 2nd (he’s out 2-4 weeks with a sprained knee), causing some of that juggling. With the game still close in the 3rd, Hlinka and Svatos were both swallowed up by Quenneville’s giant bench - Hlinka had just 2 shifts in the period, and Svatos had just 4.
I have to wonder if Hlinka will be on his way to Cleveland soon. He’s not playing much, and the Avs have numerous other options for the kill on the team. Especially with Lappy out for a while, I wonder if the team will look for someone with a bit more size and forechecking skills to play on that 4th line. How disappointing it must be for Hlinka - this surely can’t be the season he envisioned when he came over.
- Jeff Finger fought recent callup Aaron Voros last night after Voros skated hard towards Budaj after the whistle. In my notes, I commented that Finger seemed to have a unusually quick trigger there, and wondered if the two long-time AHLers had a bit of a history. Sure enough, my intuition was correct (for once) - according to hockeyfights the two fought twice before in the AHL - last year and in 2004.
- As mentioned above, the Avs won a whopping 63% of their draws. Leading the way was - sit down for this one - Tyler Arnason with 71%. I have no words.
- 6 out of the 8 matchups between these teams this year are on a Sunday.
The Avs have 4 days off before visiting the Dallas Stars in Dallas on Friday.
Russo’s Rants (Minnesota Star Tribune)
It’s not a recap, but there’s a semi-related article from Tapeleg at J&HL had a chance to go “backstage” at a recent Wild game.
Also not pretty tonight were most shifts involving Martin Skoula. In two games here, he’s a minus-4, showing Colorado exactly what it lost when he departed — gaffe after gaffe. -Russo’s Rants
Ahh the more things change, the more they stay the same. Good to see ol’ Skoula is finally helping the Avs
I actually like Hlinka on the PK. He forechecks pretty well, rags the puck when he gets it (ie. doesn’t blindly fire it down the ice, but rather burns as much clock as possible), and breaks up a ton of plays in the neutral zone.
Unfortunately, the coaching ’system’ that is Joey Q. hasn’t given him a stable line yet this year. His early chemistry with Hejduk seems to have been completely ignored by the coaching staff.
I’d hate to see him in the AHL, because I believe that he’s NHL caliber, but with the glut of forwards on the Avs, he just hasn’t been able to find a niche. Still, with Lappy out, I’d rather see Hlinka get a regular shift as opposed to Parker.
I don’t get the Svatos gameplan being imployed by Coach Q. He’s played really well the last few games, but gets rewarded with the fourth line last night. Doesn’t make sense. He seemed to mesh OK with Joe, but like just about everybody else, hasn’t had a stable linemate yet.
After watching Smyth sit for the vast majority of the 1st period against Edmonton, Svatos and Hlinka being juggled mercilously, and the failure to generate anything meaningful with a top line, I’ve gotta wonder what exactly Quenneville does during the course of the game. Is he helping or is he holding the team back somewhat?
I don’t think Q knows what to do with Hlinka. He’s good on the penalty kill, but weak along the boards. He wouldn’t make a great fore checker, and he seems as if he’s more of set-up man.
Honestly I don’t know where I’d want to play him. I kind of like him on a line wiht Guite and Smith. I like him with Stastny and Hejduk too, but what are they going to do, Drop Wolski from that line?
And they can’t be giving Scott Parker all the regular shifts, so who are they calling up for a forward? Hensik? McCormik? Rycroft? McCleod?
Hlinka really does need more playing time, but where. A lot of people complained that about Wolski’s defensive/checking woes last sesason and he seem to have calmed those fears. Hlinka did have good chemistry with Hejduk, but I don’t think you want o break up Stastny and Wolski (at least not right now).
I think we’ll probably see Rycroft called up for Lappy. Lappy is more of a grinder and that is were Rycroft spent most of last season, grinding it out with Lappy and Guite. Hensik, and McCormick would just add to top three line woes of were to put everyone (even though Lappy as been playing on the third line). I wonder if we might see Ritchardson called up and given a shot at earning his spot back though?
I don’t think the Avs will have any roster hole with Lappy being out. Brad Richardson is set to return, and can fill in the vacant spot. Besides, there’s a whole ‘nother week left before the Avs play again, so Richardson will get lots of practice to test that wrist of his before he has to suit up on Friday.
I don’t see the Avs calling anyone up from the Monsters unless Richardson STILL isn’t ready to play.
…at the NHL level. I know he’s been playing in Cleveland for a few games already.
i agree with joe, it’ll probably be richardson called up to replace lappy.
I assume Richie is the guy as well.
but geez, we’re a really small team as it is…
but geez, we’re a really small team as it is… That’s why I think Rycroft may get the nod. Hlinka to the AHL, Richardson and Rycroft up to take Hlinka and Lappy’s place.
man, i would cry if that happened. Hlinka is so much more skilled than Rycroft it’s not even funny…AND he kills penalties. Rycroft isn’t even that much bigger — he’s 6′0″ 195, while Hlinka is 5″10 185. admittedly, they’re probably fudging Hlinka some and Rycroft plays bigger and more physical, but still.
I hope you’re wrong.
“Needless to say, this is an important trip.”
Would you go as far as to classify this as a Must-Win trip?
Richardson would be great on a line with Arnason and Hlinka IMHO.
I finally had a break through on why I don’t like Wyatt Smith. He wears the number 10 which reminds me of the May fiasco. Add that to the fact he’s just Laaksonen-like on the ice in so far as he can play five games in a row and I can barely remember what he did besides clearing the zone on the PK a few times.
This comment thread is must-win.