Rob Blake must dieâ€¦ but Avalanche down San Jose in OT

By: Ian Cerveny on Apr 04 2010 - 9:22pm

Former Avalanche defender Rob Blake has brought a curse upon a cursed team just before the playoffs. Looks like another 1st round exit for the Sharks

: Image via Wikipedia

Peter Mueller had two goals and one assist in the Colorado Avalancheâ€™s desperation OT win versus San Jose on Sunday night.

Unfortunately, the big win against the Westâ€™s best team was marred by a dirty blind-side hit on Mueller by ex-Av Rob Blake.

You may remember Blake as the shifty creep who screwed the Avalanche into paying him while he played for the LA Kings.Â Now, he will also be remembered as the slow old defender who couldnâ€™t keep up with Mueller and the rest of the speedy Avalanche forwardsâ€¦ so he took the cowardâ€™s way out again.

With the game tied at 4, Mueller swung down behind the San Jose net to meet a dumped puck.Â Blake hit him on his left shoulder from behind, sending Peter head-first into the boards.Â No penalty was called on the play (boarding!) and San Jose got a temporary 5 on 4 rush while Peter lay immobile in the Sharksâ€™ end.

Even Altitudeâ€™s commentators made excuses for the Blake hit on Mueller, but it was clearly a dirty hit from behind by a player who had been beaten by speed. Â The Sharks have long been cursed in the playoffs despite their outstanding regular season performances. Â May Rob Blake bring a new era of playoff curses to San Jose.

Blake deserves nothing less than to be force-fed a Cody McCleod knuckle sandwich. Â â€˜Nuf said.

The officials invented a make-up call at the end of regulation a few minutes later.

The Avalanche started the 5-minute sudden death overtime period with a Power Play, but couldnâ€™t generate any offense in the rare 4 on 3 situation.

Despite a failure to pressure San Jose during the man-advantage, the Avalanche were able to press the Sharks at 4 on 4.Â In fact, the Sharks were never able to get a full change after the Penalty Kill, as Colorado didnâ€™t let San Jose clears get beyond the Neutral Zone.

The result was a great slap-shot by Ryan Wilson that got redirected past Evgeni Nabokov for the game-winning goal.Â The embattled John-Michael Liles got the blade of his stick on the puck, and Nabokov never stood a chance on the redirection.Â A beautiful goal to end an ugly game.

The Avalanche were down 0-2 after 9 minutes of play.

Sharks Douglas Murray and Jamie McGinn scored 56 seconds apart in the opening frame, and it looked like Coloradoâ€™s season was continuing into the crapper.Â San Jose was thoroughly dominating play, and got the first Power Play of the game a minute and a half later when Kyle Quincey was called for Tripping.

Then, after a nice Penalty Kill, Ryan Oâ€™Reilly was able to clear the Avalanche Zone with a pass to Quincey as he exited the penalty box.Â Kyle took the puck in on a clean break and scored to Nabakovâ€™s right on a great wrister.

The Avalanche would score the next two goals, as Peter Mueller took over the game.

Mueller scored on a solo break and an assisted break with Matt Duchene, those scores coming just over 4 minutes apart.Â That put the Avalanche up 3-2.

Colorado had been coming out strong in 3^rd Periods for two weeks without generating any goals.Â This time it only took the Avalanche 20 seconds to increase their lead in this must-win home game.Â Future Captain Paul Stastny got the goal, assisted by Milan Hejduk and the still dominant Peter Mueller.

The 2-goal lead wasnâ€™t enough for the shaky Colorado defense, though.

Two of San Joseâ€™s biggest contributors came through for the Sharks through the remainder of the final period.Â Patrick Marleau & Joe Pavelski jumped on missed defensive assignments in both cases to tie the game at 4 apiece.

The Avalanche got what they needed in the end, grabbing two points in the super-tight race for the Western Conferenceâ€™s 8^th and final playoff spot.Â After losing on Friday to Calgary, the Avsâ€™ prime competitor in the standings, it looked like a long road to the playoffs for Colorado.

Then Calgary lost 1-4 in Chicago, and the Avalanche cleaned up a sloppy defensive performance for the win over San Jose.Â Suddenly Colorado is back to a 2-point lead over the Flames with 4 games left to play.Â Calgary has only 3 games left and lost the season series to the Avalanche.Â Colorado is also ahead in total wins on the season.

That gives the Avalanche the top two tiebreakers, a game in hand, and two points on their biggest threat as the regular season winds down.

This entry was posted by Ian Cerveny on Sunday, April 4th, 2010 at 9:22 pm and is filed under Avalanche. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Tags: colorado avalanche, Jamie McGinn, John Michael Liles, Kyle Quincey, milan hejduk, peter mueller, Rob Blake, San Jose, Western Conference

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sharks>avs

before writing a blog at least learn how to spell NABOKOV. looks like a super homer to me. cant wait till the sharks knock the avs out in the first round.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

Thanks Sharky, and I appreciate the tip. We’re not all blessed with a choke-artist Soviet goaltender to educate us on the finer points of Russian surname spellings.

Would love to meet San Jose in the first round. Aside from Nashville, they are the team least deserving of their playoff seeding. Let’s see if Nabokov can keep Colorado under 5 games per night when next we meet.

Madbreaks

Dunno. As an Avs fan, I can’t say with certainty that that was a dirty hit. Watched the replay over and over. Dirty or not, it certainly was unfortunate. Meuller’s been a great asset since coming over to the Avs, and at a time when we definitely need it. Looked like a left shoulder injury to me – whatever it is, hopefully not too serious.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

After the game Peter had and the way he’s played since coming here from Phoenix this is just brutal, but it’s been that kind of season for the Avalanche. We’ve lost more player time to injury than anybody except Edmonton, and it looked like we were finally returning to early-season form with Yip coming back to the lineup.

In my mind, any hit from behind on a player going to the boards is a dirty hit. Blake couldn’t keep up with Mueller all game, and he took advantage of a blind-side opportunity. Sure, he didn’t mean to injure Peter, but he did intend to put him to the ice with an illegal hit from behind along the end boards.

Rick

How can that be a dirty hit? I do understand how people with homer-goggles on can get all riled up when one of their boys gets hurt on a play. What Avs fans need to realize was that the hit came from the side of Mueller and not in the numbers. It is not a blindside hit since Mueller was aware of Blake being there. It is unfortunate that Mueller’s momentum carried him in to the boards after he left his feet, but he was hit laterally not perpendicularly to the boards.

What I saw as a more dangerous play was Scott Hannan shoving Torrey Mitchell’s head in to the boards. Litteraly, he took Mitchell’s head and made it the principle point of contact to the boards.

With your line of thinking, a player may only hit a player if the other player is looking directly at him. That sounds a lot like pee-wee league to me. Suck it up and understand that these things happen with every team no matter how much you may think that this is a special case because it is your team.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

Just because the hit wasn’t in the numbers doesn’t mean it wasn’t illegal.

Read the article, I clearly stated that he hit him on the back of his left shoulder. Mueller was turned completely away from him. If anything, Blake placed the hit that far to the side to make it look like a legal hit, but he reached out and across his body to do so.

It was a dirty, dangerous hit from behind on a player going into the boards by a slower player who had been beaten to the puck, and that is EXACTLY the kind of hit that the Boarding penalty was designed to eliminate from the game.

You are right about one thing, Hannan’s hit on Mitchell was a dangerous one. Now, what was that about homer-goggles?

Rick

Boarding rule and Checking rule both state that not only the player that is applying the hit be responsible to make sure the other player isn’t in a vulnerable position, but so must be the player that is going to be hit. It was not an illegal hit. Mueller knew Blake was there and decided to put his body in between the puck and Blake. Not only that, but it wasn’t Blake’s hit that pushed/threw him in to the boards. It was the fact that Mueller left his feet and his momentum carried him awkwardly in to them. He was not propelled in to the boards by Blake.

I find it funny that you feel Blake did all this positioning of himself in a split second play. Remember, slo-mo replays isn’t real speed..

The NHL has been cracking down on boarding and issuing suspensions and fines even on non-calls. Blake will not be disciplined because there is nothing to discipline. Have you not noticed that no real, as in paid to write, sports write is covering this? It’s because it’s a non issue.

Heck, maybe it’s just karma biting Mueller in the butt for quitting on his team (Phoenix) in the first part of the season. The fans deserved better than that.

I’m sure you’ve read up on the rules, but I shall still post these just for those who might be interested.

“42.1 Boarding â€“ A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who checks an opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to be thrown violently in the boards. The severity of the penalty, based upon the degree of violence of the impact with the boards, shall be at the discretion of the Referee.

There is an enormous amount of judgment involved in the application of this rule by the Referees. The onus is on the player (or goalkeeper) applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a vulnerable position and if so, he must avoid the contact. However, there is also a responsibility on the player with the puck to avoid placing himself in a dangerous and vulnerable position. This balance must be considered by the Referees when applying this rule.”

“44.1 Checking from Behind â€“ A check from behind is a check delivered on a player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend himself, and contact is made on the back part of the body. When a player intentionally turns his body to create contact with his back, no penalty shall be assessed.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

I know I’m not going to convince you that you’re wrong, but I will try one more time for posterity’s sake…

Mueller didn’t stop, so he wasn’t in a position to avoid the hit. The onus can’t be on him, because he was simply continuing his motion through the puck along the boards.

Blake reached out and across his body to place the hit; a shove to Mueller’s back left shoulder that sent him off-balance and into the boards head-first. The reason that Blake placed the hit where and when he did, was that he was too slow to catch up to the play. So, as Mueller passed him on the way to the puck, Blake reached out and shoved him high in the back. Premeditation or not, there is only one result when you push a speeding hockey player high on his back as he goes to the boards: player meets low boards.

To summarize: Blake got beaten to the puck for the upteenth time in the game, reached out and shoved a player high on the back, and created an injury. Nothing Mueller could have done to avoid the illegal hit as he passed Blake… except perhaps veering away from the puck.

And I love that you’re playing the “you’re not paid for your opinion” card. It really strengthens the underlying principles of your argument. Especially considering that major news outlets routinely avoid writing against any league’s rulings (or lack thereof) as a basic business practice. ESPN doesn’t report on the obvious slant in NBA officiating either, but even a hockey fan knows the playoffs are fixed. Steady on, Rick.

Rick

Actually, that comment about writers being paid was valid. I don’t care how many bloggers think that they are actual reporters with experience and completely unbiased opinions. The fact is, they’re not. They blog on their teem with horse blinders on.

I’m not talking about the laughable ESPN. Using ESPN as a “major” sports outlet really shows your competence. For hockey, the well informed person knows to look northward for coverage (TSN, CBC, Rogers, etc). ESPN covering hockey has as much validity as a tabloid magazine covering politics.

Once again, the hit wasn’t dirty or illegal and CC will rule it that way whether you like it or not. It was in front of the zebra who was watching the puck and yet, guess what, no call. Say what you want but it’s your fandom deeming this dirty since you lost the only fellow worth his weight on the Avs recently.

I can’t ever imagine you being able to watch hockey pre lockout or your blog would be filled every day with whining for justice. Well not every day. Only the days that the Avs play. I suppose you want to go back to bear-hugging hockey….

Keep up the spin, Ian.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

1) I referred to ESPN as a major news outlet with regards to basketball. You’re not much of a reader are you?

2) Like ESPN’s lovefest with the NBA, the CBC & TSN don’t go against NHL dictuh as a matter of company policy. Especially where a supposedly good guy player is involved.

3) You defend Blake like you’re carrying his love child. He’s just a slow, old defender that’s going to be a liability no matter who the Sharks draw in the playoffs.

4) I know San Jose hasn’t caught on yet, but NHL play is moving away from clutching, grabbing, blind-side hitting hockey and towards speed and agility. And until the Sharks improve their defensive speed, they will continue to lose early playoff series.

5) I LOVED pre-lockout hockey, but this is the hockey world NOW, present day, with updated rules to protect players moving at higher speeds. The Avalanche won two Cups with a bunch of muckers and grinders. Now they’re working towards winning with the best team speed in the league. Good stuff… until a dinosaur gets chippy late in a game and injures one of your best players.

Rick

BTW, if anything, I would have called Blake for interference.
http://blogs.myspace.com/goonsquad5.0 Goon Squad

@Rick:
“Heck, maybe itâ€™s just karma biting Mueller in the butt for quitting on his team (Phoenix) in the first part of the season. The fans deserved better than that.”

The so-called fans in Phoenix deserved better than that? Really?
Are you referring to the same ‘fans’ that waited until 70 + games were played before they showed up?
You have it all backwards my friend.
The Coyotes didn’t deserve that kind of treatment from their so-called fans and those same so-called fans in return do not DESERVE that team!

BTW, according to the rules, as interpreted today, that hit was clearly illegal, it should have been reviewed by the league and a suspension handed out on Blake…

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

Couldn’t agree more on Phoenix fans. The Coyotes have been improving by leaps and bounds for three seasons, and put together a very impressive run throughout ’09-’10. They’d be better off in a Canadian city that would appreciate the range of talent and ability on that team.

I didn’t think Phoenix stood a chance in the playoffs until recently, but the addition of Wolski really helps them out. Wojtek is a slacker for sure, but he’s a big-game player with a great scoring touch. He’s going to come up huge for them in the first round.

And with regards to the Blake hit, every major news outlet is reporting it as “a blind-side hit” without making a judgment call on whether he should be suspended. Gotta love mainstream media. They know how to walk the fine line.

http://www.prosportscolorado.com Jason Ackerman

From the San Jose Mercury News two weeks ago:
The NHL decided Thursday not to wait until next season to begin issuing suspensions for blind-side hits to the head, a move that was well-received in the Sharks locker room.
“It will take those hits out of the game,” defenseman Rob Blake said. “And that’s fine.”

Of course that’s fine, Mr. Blake. Unless you got beat by a younger, faster player. Then you just gotta do what you gotta do.

Look guys, it’s pretty simple. The NHL says no blind-sides hits. Like it or not, that’s what they say. It’s like the roughing the passer rule in football – too restrictive and too subjective, but it is what it is and it’s there for a reason. If the NHL doesn’t do anything about this, then all their talk about player safety is a load of tripe, and meanwhile Mueller has to sit at home with a scrambled brain while his team desperately tries to hold on to a playoff spot without him.

Is that really better for hockey?
desdog

You people don’t have a clue about Phoenix. Don’t speak of what you know nothing about besides reading inept fishwrap hacks. Just makes you look real foolish and ignorant.

You had a team looking like they were gone. Dumped coach, dumped ownership right as exhibition was starting. For goodness sakes, Darren Pang, the radio voice jumped ship due to uncertainty. Even talk of moving midseason. Yah, OK, that’s going to get the fans in the seats brainiacs.

The league took ownership, said they were staying and they were winning. Nice combo for getting fans in the seats. Security in ownership and winning are playing equal parts in getting fans back to the arena.

Mueller QUIT on his team. Was horrific to watch game after game after game. No life, no spark. Wasn’t sure why, some said because of trading players that he was friends with, didn’t like the system, whatever. The simple observation was that he quit, ah…shut it down. However you want to put it. Was even healthy scratched. So apparently you AV’s fans have some rose tinted glasses on and too much snow in your ears to listen and read that Mueller quit.

I would be the first to say that he needed traded and has done well. He may continue to do well. He needs to grow up and not be a sniveling little bi.. and play the game. Has a lot of talent. I’ll take Wolski’s attitude, shot, and inconsistencies over the worry that Petey is going to get upset and shut it down at anytime.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

Calm down there big guy. Clearly the trade was good for both clubs, so what is there to complain about? Wolski is playing well in Phoenix, Mueller is playing well in Colorado. (Kevin Porter was a nice bonus 4th line guy. Not a lot of talent, but a hard worker and good forechecker.)

I don’t know what Peter played like in Phoenix, but I do know that he has played hard in every minute of every game since he came to CO. The organizational issues in Phoenix may have had an effect on Mueller, I’m not sure either. Don’t really care. It was a good trade all around.

As far as the issues Phoenix has had filling the seats, they extend well beyond this season. The argument that recent ownership issues are the reason ring hollow considering the Coyotes are bottom five in attendance every season. I’m not saying that fans owe a loosing team their money and support, but you know as well as I do that the fans filling those formerly empty seats in the last month of the season are the fair-weather variety.

Erik

I’m an Avs fan, and was at the game in the 10th row right behind the hit.

It was clean.

It’s a shame Mueller was injured, but hey, it happens.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

At least Blake did us the service of notching a PP goal in the 1st at Calgary last night. Big goal in a 2-1 San Jose win that knocked the Flames out of playoff contention after the Avs’ W an hour later.

desdog

Now the calmed down version lol.

Yes, real good trade for both teams. Most AV’s fans did not watch the last couple (actually dozen or so for myself) years worth of Yotes hockey. I have and I can tell you I was screaming at the screen watching Mueller play anymore. From the quality and talent he displayed to start with, about where he is now with the AV’s, to zero. What really T’d me off the most is his quotes after the trade. He said he new he had it in him if just given the chance. Really, are you kidding me! He had Â¾ of a season of chances with little effort or output.

There are reasons I understand that guys have for not getting into playing for their teams. They say theyâ€™re trying but you can just tell. He had that obviously but don’t insult the average hockey fan by saying you weren’t given chances.

Agreed on Porter. That kid has a lot of talent but was a long way from getting any ice time with the bigs in Phoenix. I bit smallish in size but really liked his game. I hope he does well. Even had to chuckle when he scored against the Yotes. Was happy for him.

Lived in Phoenix for the first 5 years of the franchise. 3 out of 4 people from that area from somewhere else and everyone saying Phoenix is nice place to be but itâ€™s â€œnot homeâ€ and someday will go back. All those fans with no allegiance but to their own teams. Real hard to get the fans interested in the home team if they arenâ€™t winning and not knowing if the team is even going to be around. Both are turned around now and theyâ€™re getting sellouts.

Speaking of that. I live in Denver, actually a native. Go to a few games a year, relatives have season tickets. Iâ€™ve been amazed how empty the Pepsi Center has been all year and how many fans for other teams show up now. Thatâ€™s all with winning? So things have changed in Denver as well.

Great news on Blake helping knock the Flames out. The AV’s deserve to be in the playoffs this year and the Yotes get Calgary’s 1st round pick.

http://spacesbetween.spaces.live.com Ian Cerveny

A lot of my frustrated remarks towards Yotes fans reflect a deeper frustration with Avs fans. Granted, tix to Avalanche games are well overpriced, but when the team is well on its way through an epic rebuild and all the young players are showing up in a big way, you’d think there would be some more interest. Also similarly to Phoenix, Denver has a lot of other franchises in different sports doing very well right now. The competition means that neither hockey club gets the respect it deserves.

Your tale of Mueller’s decline in Phoenix mirrors Wolski’s in Denver. The trade made sense immediately, and I think both players are more comfortable in their new respective environments. Bravo to both front offices for making the deal happen.

For the record, I became a pseudo-Coyote fan when Radim Vrbata ended up going (back) to Phoenix after leaving Colorado and traveling the league for 8 years. He’s the kind of player that can be a timely contributor on the right line, and it’s good to see him having success with the Coyotes.

Jenn

The sharks aren’t going to get very far in the playoffs with nabby in net. 5 goals on 22 shots? lol