Well, I was vacationing in the Northwest. It was relaxing for a number of reasons. First and foremost I wasn’t working or parenting (I found that I missed both upon my return), and secondly I was blissfully unaware of all but score updates as the Avalanche took a vacation of their own, dropping four in a row beginning with a hard-fought loss to the Detroit Red Wings at home. This was an excusable loss as it came against the best team in the league according to the record books, but losses to bottom-of-the-barrel Los Angeles (at home!) and the dangerous but manageable Coyotes both in Phoenix and at home were inexcusable. Even with offensive injuries there’s no way to explain being outscored 6-12 over a three game stretch against lesser teams. Phoenix was .500 coming in to the home and away against the Avs and left two games above, and have I mentioned that the Kings are the worst team in the NHL? Beatable by certain talented college hockey teams? And would likely be shut out by most national Junior teams? Okay, just so you know.
The Avs did come away with a point for overtime in one of the Phoenix games and followed up the four consecutive losses with a hard-fought overtime win against the Islanders. Bright spots in a bleak landscape that may look even bleaker after this five game road trip (against mediocre Eastern Conference teams… but you know how we play on the road) followed by a five game home stand (against considerably better Western Conference teams.) And all that without Joe Sakic or Ryan Smith. Looks like we’ll need all of those talented young Avalanche forwards to come through in a big way and in a hurry. Ready for some fearless predictions for the near future? Of course you are…
1/09 @ Washington Capitols
The Caps have a good little stable of young scorers and even a viable blue-line scoring threat in Mike Green. They’ve been piling on goals lately and losing only when their sloppy defense allows more goals than any offense can reasonably expect to score. All of this adds up to trouble for an Avalanche team that has had a great deal of trouble scoring lately, even as its defense and goaltending tightens up. The Avs could conceivably come alive in this game on the road against a bad defense and find a way to score four goals and win, but I wouldn’t count on it. Call it a loss and the end of the Avs’ perfect record against Eastern Conference teams this season.
1/12 @ Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are holding on to a tenuous lead in their division and their divisional opponents all have games in hand. They’re coming off of a hard 0-1 loss in Saint Louis and they are a tough team with a mean defense. The Avalanche are 3-44 in their last 13 games on the power play and they’re not going to score many even strength goals against this very physical team. I know, it sucks, but this is looking like another loss folks. I dunno, maybe my perception is skewed by watching these Eastern teams play each other and we’re actually heads and shoulders above them all… but I ain’t holding my breath.
1/13 @ Florida Panthers
The Panthers are the definition of NHL mediocrity. They don’t score much and their defense is hot and cold. After a tough couple of weeks expect to see the Avs maul this one time winner of the Eastern Conference crown. How did that end again? Oh, that’s right. It’ll look a lot like that, but without the spectacular goaltending on either side of the ice.
1/15 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
I don’t know what to think of this team except that I’m positive that we can score on them. They are exactly one line deep on offense, but that line can be a real killer. Hold line one to two goals or less and the rest is pretty easy… that is; score three goals. Should be easy. Should be a win. But my brain hurts just thinking about it.
Call it a 2-2 week putting us at 2-3 for this road trip. Considering injuries and Peter Budaj’s fall from grace we should be so lucky. Now the weighty and awkward mantle of Avalanche Goaltender falls to veteran disappointment Jose Theodore.
A note to Jose Theodore:
If you play well on this road trip and we win the next four games and remain unbeaten by Eastern Conference teams I will officially take a break from talking smack about you to all my friends, family members, passers by in the streets, and people who don’t understand English but who like to watch me yell and jump up and down and get red in the face. Deal? Cool.
