The free-agent storyline in the AFC-West has been decidedly two-sided in the early stages.

The Denver Broncos & Kansas City Chiefs have gone out and gotten solid role players at key positions of weakness.  Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers have hemorrhaged Free Agents at an alarming pace & the Oakland Raiders have ranged from passive to confused.

The Broncos have strengthened their defensive line with the additions of Justin Bannan, Jarvis Green & burly Nose Tackle Jamal Williams (a former Pro-Bowler with the Chargers.)  Free Agent DB Nathan Jones also signed with the Broncos.

Denver made several deals to keep a few McDaniels favorites from the ’08-’09 campaign.  RB JJ Arrington, OL Russ Hochstein, WR Brandon Lloyd & K Matt Prater will all be back next season.  The Broncos also placed a high 1^st & 3^rd Round tender on Restricted Free Agent Elvis Dumervil, indicating that they have no intention of parting with the powerful young Defensive End.

The Chiefs made a sizeable splash when they signed stout veteran running back Thomas Jones, who ran roughshod over the AFC with the New York Jets last season.  Kansas City also grabbed Cincinnati Free Agent DT Shaun Smith.

Like Denver, the Chiefs made a commitment to last year’s offense by re-signing RB  Jackie Battle, as well as WR’s Terrance Cooper & Chris Chambers.

San Diego has taken the opposite approach, cutting loose old ties (Jamal Williams, Ladanian Tomlinson & Antonio Cromartie) and taking on only former Washington Redskins RB Marcus Mason off waivers.  The Chargers had hoped to win Jamal back at a lower rate after cutting him, but Williams opted to shop around, setting in with the rival Broncos days later.

Oakland has decided to continue wallowing in its self-made mire by remaining almost completely inactive through these first tumultuous days of free agency.  The only change to the Oakland roster has been the loss of tough, slashing RB Justin Fargas.  My opinion is that Fargas was the best back on the Raiders’ roster, and by letting him go they will lose any semblance of a rushing attack they had left.  Darren McFadden is an average NFL back, and Michael Bush, though quick & versatile, doesn’t have the breakaway speed necessary to be a big-play change of pace back.

McFadden may end up across the bay in San Francisco, a brilliant match for his skills.  Darren is the perfect back to shoulder some of starter Frank Gore’s hefty load, and both sides will work to make a deal happen.

The Raiders and Chargers may get more active as time passes, but the majority of the top Free Agents are locked up with new teams.  That leaves Oakland and San Diego to dabble in a Restricted Free Agent market laden with high draft pick price tags.  Not an admirable position, but we all know how meddling Raiders Owner Al Davis & dimwitted Chargers GM AJ Smith are experts at keeping a good team down.  (Or in Davis’ case, driving a good team slowly, methodically & completely into the ground.)  In fact, San Diego’s official website took the time to play the part of AJ’s apologist.

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Backup head coach Adrian Dantley filled in for George Karl in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.  Dantley kept Denver focused while Karl recovered from chemotherapy and surgery related to neck/throat cancer.

No doubt, George told his team to go out and play solid ball in his absence.  The Nuggets have responded by playing fluid and loose.  Coach Karl has made his impression on each one of these players and it shows.  When the Nuggets play in accordance with his principles, they don’t necessarily need him courtside to be successful.

That’s not to say we don’t need Karl back on the Nuggets’ sideline.  He matches wits with the best coaches in the game, and gives Denver a chance in any playoff series.  I wish him ongoing strength as he fights through his second bout with cancer.  A speedy recovery to you, George.

While the Nuggets starters played well, it was Denver’s on-court backups that worked hardest to make Dantley look good.  Every healthy Nugget except Malik Allen and Joey Graham played double-digit minutes; a fantastic stat in the first game of a four-game road swing.

Johan Petro started again for the Kenyon-less Nuggets.  A backup in a starting role, Petro had another strong first half of a first quarter before Chris Andersen spelled him 7:40 in.

Then Andersen, a sort of 6^th Man in the frontcourt, made up for a pitiful first quarter with an outstanding, workmanlike effort the rest of the way.  In 25 minutes of live time Birdman had 14 points, 10 boards & 3 blocked shots.  Better yet, Chris did it on the road where he has struggled mightily in the past.  (The Timberwolves have a way of bringing out the best in their opponents.)

Andersen was the only Nugget with a +/– below 0, but he repeatedly demoralized the Timberwolves whenever they got on a good groove.  At one point Bird literally chased Minnesota Center Al Jefferson out of the paint with a block followed by an assertive flapping of his arms.  Jefferson pitched the ball out above the key without enough time for the Wolves to complete a play.  Turnover on the shot-clock violation.

J.R. Smith had another explosive game off the bench.  Mr. Swish threw down a set of threes early when the Nuggets were lagging, and slammed home a wild, twisting alley-oop as Denver closed out the game inside the last five minutes.

Anthony Carter continued his hyper-competent play of the last couple weeks, dishing 8 assists in 16 minutes on the court.

The total team effort was good for a Nuggets victory over the Timberwolves, 110-102.

Denver climbed within 3.5 games of Los Angeles in the Western Conference Standings.

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There’s been a changing of the guard in Colorado. The Rockies have known since the day Ubaldo Jimenez first made the major league roster that his true position was at the top of the rotation. The question was whether he would ever mature into the kind of pitcher that deserved the number one spot, and consequently the honor of the opening day start. It’s also not very often that last year’s opening day starter willingly hands over the reigns to this year’s top dog.

When the Rockies open the 2010 campaign at Miller Park in Milwaukee against the Brewers, Ubaldo Jimenez will get the ball, and he’s taking it from Aaron Cook, who’s handing it over with a smile. It’s another example of a team that holds the team dynamic in high regard. Aaron Cook could get away without playing hard in spring training, and he could stomp his foot and demand that he be given the opening day start. But by all accounts, he runs and trains as hard as anyone on the team, and when the time came for Ubaldo to take the top spot in the rotation, Cook asked to be there when Tracy made the announcement as a show of support.

Jimenez posted a 15-12 record last season, and made impressive strides in his maturity as a pitcher. In his second spring training appearance of this season, Ubaldo pitched 3 impressive, scoreless innings in a 12-0 drubbing of the Dodgers, overwhelming with his fastball and forcing hitters to put the ball into play. Jimenez also got significant work in winter ball this year, so it’s not surprising to see him dominating early.

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The Broncos signed a deal to retain Matt Prater as their placekicker Wednesday. Prater, who struggled through the end of the 2008 season, seemed to have a resurgence in 2009, making 30 of 35 field goal attempts with no extra point misses.

The Broncos also worked on bolstering their defense, signing 348-pound Jamal Williams, who visited Denver as a free agent earlier this week. Williams will presumably enter training camp as the backup to Justin Bannan, who the Broncos signed to a 5-year deal. The details of Bannan’s contract were not immediately available, but sources indicate he’s getting “starter money”, which almost certainly sets the depth chart. But knowing the McDaniels system (and the short road to the McD Doghouse), the job is definitely up for competition.

The signings of Williams, Bannan, as well as Jarvis Green, indicates a movement that Broncos faithful have been clamoring for – a commitment to bulking up the defense. If this does the trick in terms of steadying the front 7, and the secondary can perform to its peak, the Broncos could show further defensive improvement.

The questions on defense are as follows:

1. Will “Wink” Martindale’s leadership be enough to improve the defense?

2. At what point will the secondary start to show its age? Ty Law, Champ Bailey, and Brian Dawkins – it’s a 2004 “who’s who” of secondary all-stars. If these guys can stay fierce without losing a step, look for the secondary to be among the most feared in the league. If they begin to play like guys in their upper 30s, it could be a rough year.

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Artwork by David Barud

There is still some debate as to whether or not Sidney Crosby is the Second Coming of the Great One.  What is not debatable is that Sid the Kid is growing into a Canadian national hero of Gretskyesque stature.  His playing career has unfolded like a hockey fairytale.

Everybody loves a Champion, and Crosby is nothing if he’s not a champ.  Sid has been winning for as long as anybody in sports media can remember, and even his greatest defeat (2008 Stanley Cup Finals) was met with near immediate retribution.  Sid’s ‘Guins grabbed Cup in ’09.

Now that Crosby locked up Winter Olympic Gold in his first try, we can expect to see Sidney on Canadian Wheaties any day now.  (Sid ain’t pretty enough for the American box.)  But could Crosby ever make the biggest endorsement leap of all?  Will Sid the Kid be the first sports hero to grace foldable money?

Crosby is on a pace to do just that.  A quick recap of Sid’s last five years…

In 2005 Crosby won his second straight Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year after winning Rookie of the Year in 2004.  Playing in the CHL’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Sidney took the Rimouski Océanic to the Memorial Cup Finals.

Crosby was also awarded QMJHL Offensive Player of the Year, the Michel Briére Memorial Trophy (MVP), the Jean Béliveau Trophy (Leading Scorer), the Paul Dumont Trophy (Personality of the Year), the Mike Boss Trophy (Best Pro Prospect), the Guy Lafleur Trophy (Playoff MVP) and the Ed Chynoweth Trophy (Memorial Cup Leading Scorer).

Sid was drafted 1^st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins after the 2005 season, and was named NHL Rookie of the Month in October of the 2005-2006 season.

In 2006 Crosby made the NHL All-Rookie Team & the Ice Hockey World Championship All-Star Team.  He was the Best Forward & Leading Scorer in those World Championships.

In his rookie 2005-2006 season, Sidney scored 39 goals and logged 102 points in 81 games.  His team also finished next to last in the league.

In 2007 Crosby won the NHL’s Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP), the Art Ross Trophy (Most Points – 120), the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and the Lester B Pearson Award (Best Player – voted by peers).

Sid was also named to his first of three consecutive NHL All-Star Games.

Crosby also grabbed the next rung on the Gretsky ladder when he was honored with the Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy as Canada’s top athlete.

In 2008 Crosby took his Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals only to fold to the Detroit Red Wings in a six-game Finals Series.

Sid was also named to the Order of Nova Scotia, the highest honor bestowed upon a civilian in his native province.

In 2009 Crosby met the Red Wings in the Cup Finals again.  This time the Penguins brought the series to seven games, winning 2-1 at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena in Game 7.  Sid was the first to touch the Cup, but almost immediately handed it off to senior members of the team.

In 2010 Crosby put the gold-medal winning goal past the USA’s Ryan Miller in Overtime of the Winter Olympics Gold Medal Game.

Not bad.  Even if he’s not one of the two Greatest players ever, he certainly has a knack for winning.  Sid is most definitely a Champion of epic caliber.  With the Gold Medal victory Crosby made another amazing leap in the hearts and minds of his Canadian brethren.  Had the US Men won Olympic Gold on Canadian ice, the Canucks would have never forgiven us.

Sid saved us that unforgiveable glory, and saved face for the host nation on one of the world’s biggest stages.  Then Crosby lifted a twenty-feet high, ten-feet wide Canadian flag and skated into another level of lore.  (That’s 6 meters up and 3 meters over for you metric weirdoes.)

But will Crosby’s face grace Canadian money?

Well, it’s been 8 years since the last $100 overhaul in Canada, and nobody likes stale money.

With the way Sidney is racking up hockey hardware (enough to grace a neighborhood worth of fireplace mantles), and logging memorable moments (the 6-disc Blue Ray collection will sell for $887 in 2022) it’s only a matter of time.

For now, Canada can relax in the knowledge that they have Olympic Gold for about four more years, and that his medal-winning stick & glove, missing since February 28th, have been returned to Sid’s Golden hands.

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Game Preview

Though the game tonight is a big NW showdown for first place, do not be deceived; first place in the Northwest will be decided by the Pacific division.

After today, the Avalanche will have 4 more division games while the Canucks will have 5 more division games out of the 16 games each team has remaining.  The Avs will also play one more game against the East. (Home game against Florida.  They must get 2 points.  No excuses.) Then two more against the Central.  The Canucks conversely have two more games against Eastern Conference teams, and one more Central game (against Detroit, a win-win game!)

That leaves 8 and 9 games remaining against Pacific teams for the Canucks and Avalanche, respectively.

This is a schedule that vastly favors Vancouver. Vancouver is physical hockey club, probably the most physical club in the league.  The Avs can bang with almost team, but they are built for a mix of speed and physicality.  The Pacific division is full of big teams (Dallas excluded) that like to beat you up and then win a close won.  Vancouver simply has a better roster to deal with this.

This is why this game is so important.  Any two points the Avs can get and restrict from Vancouver are essential to taking the Division considering the upcoming schedule.

There is some reason to hope, though.  Versus the Pacific Division’s 3 trap teams (Phoenix, LA, Anaheim), the Avs are a thankful 4-4-0 against this year.   Vancouver is 3-3-1 against the same three.  I would expect the Avs to be trailing in this category.  Perhaps a good sign for the stretch run.

1^st Period

The Avalanche start out the game with a couple of dump and chase attempts that went nowhere and a long pass to Peter Mueller down the left side that he couldn’t handle.   Defensively they are doing a good job of keeping the puck out of the middle, but Vancouver is spending more time in the Avs’ zone than vice versa.

Colorado has moved to working the puck over the blue line on the rush and earned a trio of long shots on the rush.  They  can’t keep the puck in the zone however.

First Five Minutes are about even, but I’m gonna give it Vancouver for more time spent in the Colorado zone.

2^nd line on the ice for the Avs sees a very uncharacteristic defensive breakdown by Vancouver.   After a board battle which pops out to Matt Hendricks at the point, Hendricks skates into the slot to draw the defense and passes to Mueller left side by the net.  Mueller fakes a quick shot to get Roberto Luongo down and then breaks around the back of the net.

Three, count ‘em, three Canucks chase Mueller, no one goes to the far side, pass to Matt Duchene, easy one-timer, GOAL.  Avs 1-0 You won’t get many easy ones like that against Vancouver.

T. J.  Galiardi picked a pass off in the Neutral Zone and dumped in right side near the boards.   Chris Stewart simply outskates Aaron Rome for the puck and sends it to the net.  GOAL.  Avs 2-0 Absolutely something Luongo should stop.

Rick Rypien picks a fight with Chris Durno right out of the faceoff after the second goal.  Durno shouldn’t be fighting after breaking his hand.  Like he’s reading my thoughts, Chris tackles Rypien two punches in.

Vancouver looks rattled after the quick two goals.  They’re making some foolish passes and are pressing the issue in the Neutral Zone in situations they don’t have too.  The Avs on the other hand are playing some good possession hockey and generating some good chances.

Luongo looks focused all of a sudden.

2^nd Five Minutes are dominated by the Avs.  2 gimme goals, sure, but after that they controlled the tempo entirely.  Vancouver is lost in fog and are getting reckless and desperate waaaaaay too early.

Alexander Edler trying to clear the puck during an Avalanche rush puts it over the glass.  Penalty: Delay of Game. Careless.

The Avs looked pretty useless on the PP with 3 quick Vancouver clears, until Paul Stastny worked it in left side and then drop-passed to Duchene on a give-and-go.

Duchene passed up to Stastny down low and it deflected off a Canuck defender and slid past Luongo far side.  GOAL.  Avs 3-0. There couldn’t have been more than 4 inches of open space on Luongo’s left.   It might just be the Avs night.  (Note: Kyle Cuminski credited with the 2^nd assist)

3^rd Five Minutes saw the Avs get a Power Play, and a Power Play goal, and really dictate the even-strength game.    Vancouver looked to be putting back together on the penalty kill and then…. the unlucky deflection.

Vancouver puts together a very nice little 45 second pressure with good keep-in and a decent shot halfway through, but the Avs are clogging the middle.  Colorado seems content to let this lead hit the room.  I can’t blame them.

Final Five Minutes saw some fiery play from Vancouver’s top line, but once again the Avalanche are playing trap and aren’t giving up any space to reenter the game.

End Period.

The Avs got lucky, and then got lucky, and then they controlled every aspect of the game for 12 minutes, and then they got lucky.   That’s the majority of the story so far.   The major beneficiary of the good fortune is Duchene with an easy one timer and a defensive deflection.

Credit to the Colorado defense; only 7 shots allowed in the period against a higher shooting team, and one really had a chance. (Board battle, came out to the point, shot through traffic made it Craig Anderson. I didn’t see who shot it as I’m writing from the bar and they went to commercial too quickly.)

Neutral Zone play has been the best part of the Colorado gameplan.  Two goal generated off the rush speaks for itself, but additionally they have been stifling and had a good mix of work ins, rushes, and dumps and chases (Note to Editor: Is the plural of dump and chase dumps and chases?).

2^nd Period

The period opens the way you would expect with the Canucks trying to outskate and outwork Colorado and the Avs playing cautious and close to the vest.   A little early for the prevent defense in my opinion.

About 4 minutes in you could see the Avs realize they wouldn’t just skate on to victory with the good 1^st period. They wake up a bit from the Intermission.  Now they’re meeting Vancouver’s aggressiveness.

1^st Five Minutes had Vancouver playing much better for the first four.  But the Avs are showing some energy now.

Avs give up a rush to the top line of Vancouver.  Sedin to Sedin (I’m not even going to try and tell them apart) at the blue line on the right side rush.  Shot, Save, Rebound by Mikael Samuelson. GOAL. Avs 3-1. They are a dangerous line.

In a play that happens 20 times a game and nothing bad ever happens, disaster strikes Vancouver on a cross ice pass in the defensive zone.  Edler cross ice to Pavol Demitra pick off by Mueller, breakaway.  Nice move in the slot from right left, wrist shot stick side.  Goal Avs 4-1. Edler carelessness with the puck gave the Avs a PP goal earlier in the game too.

2^nd Five Minutes Vancouver looked like the better team, but the margin stays the same on a very aggressive play by the newest Av.

Vancouver is showing their frustration now.  Pushing and shouting.

During a decent pressure by Vancouver, Avs fail to clear or H. Sedin steals the puck (take your pick it was about 50-50).  Pass to Christian Ehrhoff at the point, pass back down the slot to Samuelson, and Cumiskey is out of position.  Samuelson skates from left to right easy backhand.  GOAL Avs 4-2. Cumiskey was seduced across the crease by the absence of play and it cost the Avalanche.

Cumiskey almost makes up for it at the other end with a late-man try on the rush but can’t lift the puck.  The Avs keep it in but Durno handcuffs Ryan Johnson in the slot on the next shot.  Penalty: Interference.

3^rd Five Minutes has a Canuck Goal and PP and all-around good play from Vancouver. The Avalanche are reeling a little bit.

Great penalty Kill by the Avs.  Zero shots allowed.  While the Canucks could keep the puck in all they wanted on the sides, whenever they would try to work the puck to the middle the Avs would intercept and clear.  Great positional defense.

Right after Andy makes what might have been the save of the game, the top line of Vancouver does it again.   Sedin tracks down the puck in the right corner, crosses behind the net to the other Sedin, who passes back across in front of the net to Samuelson to complete his hat trick. GOAL 4-3. Andy got a piece of it but it was just high enough to get over his pad.

Final Five Minutes of the period all came down to one good 30-second pressure that cut the deficit to one goal.

End Period.

The Period was slightly in favor of the Canuck in terms of overall play, but with those narrow margins by which they played better they got 3 goals.  The Avs were a bit too passive for much of the period, and as a consequence have to defend just a one goal lead.

The Avs aren’t playing that bad in any of the three phases of the game, they’re just getting beat… and maybe outworked.   I think a little bit of energy is the answer.

3^rd Period

Both team come out of the room skating hard (about time Avalanche).  Both teams are also playing their secondary players off the puck by an extra 5-7 feet.  Looks like everybody wants open ice.

The Avs have managed two good chances in the period in the first 4 minutes but Luongo isn’t the premiere Canadian goaltender for no reason (though he did let in one soft goal today).  Both times the Avs could have beaten him moving from side to side.

1^st Five Minutes Colorado looked like the team  that wanted to win the game.   They’re the ones pressing the issue and Vancouver, after two period of skating very well, looks like they can’t quite find their legs.

Accidental trip by Galiardi on Ryan Kesler moving into the Offensive zone, but still give Vancouver a chance to tie.  Penalty. Tripping.

Avs had put together a decent penalty kill and towards the end of the PP Kelser sets of Ehrhoff in the right circle with Alexandre Burrows screening Andy.  Wrist shot, deflection, GOAL. Tied 4-4. I suppose the game has been so evenly matched both teams would turn out to have same lucky scores.

2^nd Five Minutes are Vancouver’s with the PP and the PP Goal.  10 minutes to go, both teams skating hard, and the next score probably wins.

Vancouver has decided to make it physical, but they do so at the wrong time.  Samuelson fighting Galiardi on a Vancouver rush loses the puck on a very physical work-in and hooks Galiardi in the aftermath.  Penalty: Hooking.

An identical play on the other end of the ice by Duchene on Edler.  Penalty: Hooking. Both teams wanted open ice so they get it.  Four-on-Four for 1:45.

Avs Kill a 15 second PP with one clear.

3^rd Five Minutes featured a penalty by each team and a kill by each team.  One good scoring chance by each team.  Both clubs have opened the ice all the way, as though to say, “We have the better offense, and even if we don’t, we have the better goalie.”  Next one to score almost certainly wins.

The open ice is not helping anyone early, just some dumps and line changes.

On a night when the Avs get a load of lucky bounces the Canucks get the luckiest one of all…

Rome launches from the left side point, Anderson makes a pad save.  The rebound bounces up into Jannick Hansen’s jersey who skates through the crease behind Anderson.  The puck falls out of Hansen’s jersey hits Anderson on the shoulder and deflects into the goal.  GOAL. Canucks 5-4. Vancouver just hung around too long.

Throw-away empty net by D. Sedin.  GOAL. Canucks 6-4.

End Game.

That Colorado choke virtually gives the Canucks the tiebreaker.

They now have the Head-to-Head and they sit 4 wins ahead, which means it’s a five point deficit not a four point deficit.  The Avs have one shot to win the division: rattle off no less than 24 point in 16 games. (I suppose the Canucks could stumble down the stretch, but they don’t have that type of team personality. I’m gonna say it won’t happen).

The turning point was the second Vancouver Goal, and I’m saying that because it was the first of 4 straight goals.  Up to that point the Avs were playing great defense.  But after they caught Cumiskey out of position, they began passing back to the point on every second or third pressure.   Firing from the point scored two more goals, one on a deflection and one on a rebound deflection.

I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the Avs’ failure to keep the pressure on early in the second period.  Vancouver gave the Avalanche every opportunity to put the game away and the Avs, rather than failing to capitalize, passed on more than one chance to rush Luongo and put the Canucks in a deeper hole.

Lastly, Andy didn’t have the best game.  He was really only tested 3-4 times and let in 2-3 goals (the screen deflection being a debatable “should have stopped it” goal as he did take good position but he could have taken better considering the tough angle).   I don’t know if he saw the puck well tonight but I didn’t see a lot a of screens or confusing attacks by Vancouver.

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The Denver Broncos signed New England Patriots free agent Defensive End Jarvis Green on Tuesday.  Green’s new contract is good for 4 years and upwards of $20 million.

Green had one of the better statistical years in his career last season, and was a member of two Super Bowl winning Patriots teams.

Green will join former Baltimore Raven’s defensive lineman Justin Bannan, who signed with Denver a few days ago.  Bannan and Green will add a veteran presence to the re-imagined Broncos defensive line. Justin Bannan may team with former San Diego Charger Jamal Williams to form a stout duo at Nose Tackle in the Broncos’ 3-4 system.

Jarvis Green, a 9-year NFL veteran, joins a growing list of former New England Patriots on the Broncos roster.  While he will not likely be a starter on the Broncos’ defense, expect him to be in the game for key pass-rush situations.  His strength is as a fresh substitute against tired O-lines to create instant pressure, and the Broncos coaching staff will work to limit his exposure to likely rushing downs.

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The Nuggets will be offering a contract to free agent power forward Brian Cook, according to Travis Heath at Hoopsworld. Cook started his career in LA, being drafted by the Lakers with the 24th pick in the 2003 draft. He backed up Shaq in LA before eventually moving on to Orlando in the trade that brought Trevor Ariza to Los Angeles. He was most recently on the roster in Houston, but was waived in February of this year.

Cook is a power forward who will be expected to platoon with Johan Petro filling the enormous void left by the absence of Kenyon Martin. The Nuggets are looking for someone with size who isn’t a complete disaster shooting the ball, and while Cook isn’t known as a defensive specialist, the hope is that he can team with Petro to cover the loss of Kenyon Martin’s defensive skill.

Kenyon Martin is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury (tendonitis). It is unclear exactly when or if Martin will return this season.

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The Vancouver Canucks started the season as cold as a Northern Saskatchewanian ice floe.

Colorado took off out of the gates… well… like an Avalanche down a Rocky Mountain Valley.

Then the ‘Nucks got red hot and the Avs cooled to a respectable simmer.  Now, with 17 games left in the regular season and the two clubs separated by 2 points, Vancouver will visit Pepsi Center determined to lock up the season series and stretch their division lead.  This game will go a long way towards determining whether or not the young Avalanche are playoff-ready.

The Canucks are near the end of a remarkable (and remarkably successful) 14-game road swing that spanned the Vancouver Olympics.  Vancouver has managed to squeeze every drop out of their team through this trip, and I think they may finally crash tomorrow at Phoenix.

But despite the long road the Canucks have travelled to get here, Vancouver is still going to put up a helluva fight versus Colorado.  These two teams rolled over Calgary to make the Northwest Division a two-horse race, and this game will be played in a vacuum as a result.  The Avalanche trounced Vancouver in the second game of the season 3-0 before getting embarrassed with 0-3, 2-8 & 2-5 losses to the Canucks over three short weeks.

The Canucks will score, as they have quietly moved into a tie for 4^th highest goal total in the NHL.  Colorado has the speed and skill to skate with Vancouver any day, but will need to be efficient with their scoring chances to stay ahead.  My gut tells me that Milan Hejduk will need to generate some offense early to get his young team believing hard in the win.

The Canucks game is the first in a week of marquee matchups for the Avalanche.

Tuesday’s game versus Vancouver is followed by the Florida Panthers’ first visit to Craig Anderson’s new digs since they let him dip to Colorado in the offseason.

Then on Sunday the Avalanche will trek to Dallas for a pitched battle with a desperate Stars squad eager to break into the playoff field.  (They’re currently 4 points out.)  Colorado typically plays extremely well against Dallas, but did lose 2-3 on their last trip to Texas.  This is a nationally televised Sunday afternoon game, and the Marc Crawford-coached Stars will definitely be playing up to the big audience & high stakes.

Tue, Mar 9^th vs Vancouver Canucks (7:00 MST)

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, Canucks 3 (SO)

Thu, Mar 11^th vs Florida Panthers (7:00 MST)

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, Panthers 2

Sun, Mar 14^th @ Dallas Stars (1:00 MST)

PREDICTION:  Avalanche 2, STARS 3

WEEK 19 PREDICTION:  2-1

**Bonus Coverage**

Stewart’s Star shines brightly in first full season

Avalanche right wing Chris Stewart was named the NHL’s First Star for his stellar performance over four games last week.  Stewie bagged four assists and five goals, three of which came in his first career hat trick Saturday against the Blues.  Stewart is technically a sophmore, but only played a handful of games last season.

Chris is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Colorado, and his balanced combination of quickness and raw power has made him the Avs’ leading goal scorer on the season.  Stewart has 51 points in 60 games this year, and is emblematic of Colorado’s tough, aggressive approach on both sides of the puck.

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Less than a week after being released by the San Diego Chargers (just prior to receiving his roster bonus), former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jamal Williams was in Denver sizing up the Broncos.  The Dove Valley staff was surely sizing up the bullish behemoth (6′3″, 350-pound) to decide whether or not he can still eat up two blockers per down.

Jamal Williams was tagged in his hey-day as the prototype Nose Tackle in a 3-4 defense.  He anchored a series of San Diego defensive lines known for their ability to bring pressure up the middle, and Williams was the guy resetting the line of scrimmage with each step.  He appears to be the type of veteran defensive lineman that the new Broncos Admin prefers, and would be especially helpful as the team transitions.  Williams was a pioneer of the modern incarnation of the 3-4 defensive scheme after San Diego made the big switch in 2004.

The Broncos already signed their apparent starting NT in University of Colorado Alum Justin Bannan (formerly of the Ravens & Bills) to a rock-solid five year deal.  But that doesn’t mean that Williams would be out of place in Denver.  After a year in which he only played one game due to a triceps injury, and at 34 years old, Jamaal may be better off in a platoon with the younger Bannan (30) leading the charge.  After all, versatility and depth at the Nose Tackle position is a rare but potent luxury for teams that can afford it.

The Broncos’ roster moves so far this off-season indicate that Denver is gathering veteran depth as they seek to establish traditions on which to rebuild the franchise.  Keeping to that form, the Broncos will take a look at New England Patriots Defensive End Jarvis Green later this week.  Green posted one of the best statistical seasons of his 9-year career in ‘09-’10.

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