Patrick Roy elevated his game as soon as he got a whiff of the playoffs. Craig Anderson has yet to take a stand for the Avalanche
- Image via Wikipedia
The math is simple if the Avs want to make the playoffs. Â Anything less and the math gets complicated.
The Avs have 7 games left with a 4 point advantage over the Flames with 6 games left, and the Avs already have the tiebreaker. That means there are 26 points remaining between those teams to decide the last man into the playoffs and 8 must fall the Avs way to clench. 7 games left; if you win 4 you go to the playoffs. I’d expect a playoff team to win 4 out of seven. It might even be a good warm up for a 7 game playoff series.
As an added bonus and/or problem with tonight’s game, it is an elimination game for Anaheim. Anaheim has played well against the Avalanche, winning 2 of 3. They also averaged 4 goals a game against the Avs, all three games played against Craig Anderson.
1st Period.
I must admit I could only listen on the radio during the first 7 minutes of the game but it sounded like the Avs were dominating (after haven’t watched the highlights at half time I found out it was true).  It sounds like most of it is being created the way I like, off the rush.
Avs just got a no goal because of a high stick by Cody McLeod. Avs better let that one go quick because it’s the type of thing that can take wind out of you sails. I guarantee you that Anaheim will try to get some momentum out of this.
4:20 After a bad push around the board by Anderson, Saku Koivu wins a battle along the boards and center to Steve Eminger who sets up and slap shots, GOAL Anaheim 1-0. Matt Duchene had position to stop both the pass and the shot and could stop neither. Making matters worse the puck bounced off Duchene’s hand on the way to the net.
0:04 Bad stick handling the Neutral zone gives the Ducks a two on one with Koivu and Jason Blake.  Blake gives a nice tip forward to Kiovu across Andy right to left, tip in GOAL Anaheim 2-0. Awful time for a turnover; Andy got a shoulder on it.
End Period Anaheim 2-0
The Avs are certainly playing with more fire this game than the last few. But immediately after the disallowed goal the energy went from controlled forcefulness to recklessness.  The Avs have to figure out how to settle it down and keep the energy; not an easy task.
2nd Period
Right out of the gate McCloud picks a fight (I might have predicted it), with Mike Brown. Kicks his ass too. Matching 5:00 Fighting.
16:29 Matt Duchene is starting to earn a name for himself. Nick Bonino is call for hooking on a clear non-call. Hooking 2:00 Penalty. Good times will come in Denver if he continues to get such respect calls.
Avs put together a decent powerplay with plenty of good chances, but here’s the problem: THEY KEEP MISSING THE NET FROM 15 FEET. 5 good shots; 4 misses and 1 Curtis McElhinney robbery of Darcy Tucker. Kill.
10:18 Ryan Wilson has a lapse of judgment and lifts a puck in to the Anaheim bench over the crowd. Delay of Game 2:00 Penalty.
The Avs play a solid penalty kill. Only one opportunity, and it was a clear sight shot from the point; Andy had it the whole way. Kill. I suppose you could say there was a good opportunity for the Duck with a tough angle shot after a cross ice pass to Teemu Selanne, but the set up didn’t look like it was intended to go to him, and when it did he looked surprised.
7:03 Sheldon Brookbank Holding on Chris Stewart. I never agree with the Holding call, but this time I won’t argue. Holding 2:00 Penalty.
6:38 Paul Stastny took a moment because it was so easy he had to make sure he didn’t miss something. He didn’t. Somehow, with him in uncontested control of the puck behind the net, Milan Hejduk sat in the slot uncovered. After he made sure he wasn’t an idiot, he made the Ducks look like idiots. Pass to Hejduk in the shot, one timer GOAL Anaheim 2-1. Note: Duchene get the second assist for finding Stastny all alone behind the net.
6:02 The Avs are turn up the heat with a good pressure with plenty of play right in front of McElhinney. In the chaos Brendan Mikkelson trips Ryan O’OReilly. Tripping 2:00 Penalty.
Anaheim puts up a good kill. No good scoring chances except a shorthanded breakaway by Bobby Ryan. Kill.
0:30 Scott Neidermeyer perfect shot from a rough angle. Anaheim 3-1 What do you do?
End Period Anaheim 3-1
Two periods in a row, the Ducks prey on the Avs in the final minute.  The first time it was recklessness, the second time it was luck, but both together make the lead pretty insurmountable against a trap team like the Ducks. Those late period goals are so crushing. The Avs need a break now to win this game.
3rd Period
Right out the gate the Avs miss the net again.
17:26 After a failed rush by T. J. Galiardi, the Ducks get essentially a 1 on none break (because it was 2 on one, but Scott Hannan slipped on defense and allowed both men inside).   Selanne is a fine shooter but we know that already. Wrist shot, glove side Goal Anaheim 4-1. Game Over.
The Avs are pushing against the immovable stone that is the trap. It’s just hopeless. But the most disappointing part is that every time the Avs have a chance to score they miss the net. Not just on the guaranteed goals either. The Avs are missing the net on decent chances that McElhinney should save. The Avs could have 35 shots at this point (24 shots).
7:55 Nuetral zone turnover by the defense against the Ducks top line. Selanne to Jason Blake down the right side, cuts in front of Andy, wrist shot glove side. Goal Anaheim 5-2
6:34 O’Reilly fires a shot from the right side circle from 25 feet, save, rebound to Tucker in the slot, Goal Anaheim 5-2 Credit where credit is due, Tucker has played a solid game.
End Game Anaheim 5-2
Here’s an unpleasant thought: what if Craig Anderson isn’t the man. Here’s the goals allowed in the last 9 games:
Dallas 3
St. Louis 3
Calgary 3
Anaheim 5
LA 4 (OT)
LA 3
Phoenix 6
San Jose 4
Anaheim 5
You have to go back to February 6 thru February 8 to find two games Andy has put together where he held the team to 2 goals or less. You simply cannot win consistently when you require your offense to get 4 goals in regulation as a minimum.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Andy. I think he is the reason for the instant turnaround. I think he will just get better and his services need to be retained for the next 2-3 year at least.  Here’s my point:
There are some players who are elites and some player who are merely good. The difference between them is when the season comes to its end, the good player maintain while the elites raise their game. I’ve yet to see Anderson raise his game. I’ve yet to see Anderson will his team to win when they need it most.  I‘ve yet to see Anderson put the team on his back and carry them forward. He did it the entire year, but he hasn’t since it started to really matter.
In Andy defense, I don’t know if anyone other than Stastny, Galiardi, and Chris Stewart has gotten considerably better since the Olympic break. This is a short-term and a long-term problem for the Avs. The Avalanche of old have numerous players whose games would get considerably better this time of year; not just on offense (Sakic, Forsberg, Kuri, Kaminski, Drury) but defense too (Borque, young Foote, Blake… not to mention the hallowed Roy).
This team needs two defenders, a second liner (I’m looking at you Hejduk, and at some point in the future you Duchene), and a fourth liner to raise their games to playoff level. Otherwise this is all just an exercise in futility.
In closing I must warn you that I may be abandoning you in our time of need, but I can’t help it. With my unending knowledge of all things competitive, I have been chosen (by me) to go to Milwaukee for the website (at my own expense) to watch the opening series for the Colorado Rockies in person. I won’t be back in time to comment on a remaining regular season Avalanche game. I promise I will post my commentary if I find a game while there. Just consider yourself warned.
