Image by JessicaAvsFan via Flickr

The Colorado Avalanche said goodbye to their last remaining veteran from two Stanley Cup teams on Sunday in Denver.  With a 4-3 Overtime victory versus the Edmonton Oilers, the Avs bid adieu to veteran defenseman Adam Foote.  The come-from-behind win was the closing note in a disappointing 30-44-8 season.

‘Footer’ will go out on top (franchise leader in assists from a defenseman) despite the Avalanche struggling to the second-worst record in the NHL.  Adam announced his pending retirement last week.  He has an outside chance at landing in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame.  Foote played 17 of his 19 NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

“It was great to get the win for Foote. What a great career,” said sophomore winger Matt Duchene after the game.  Duchene has been living with Foote since coming to Colorado last season, and credits Adam with his immediate success at the NHL level.

Duchene assisted on both Milan Hejduk’s game-tying goal early in the 3^rd Period and David Jones’ game-winning goal 3:57 into OT.  The Avs came from behind to tie it twice after falling behind 1-0 just 1:26 into the 1^st Period and then handing Edmonton a 3-2 lead in the 2^nd.

Milan Hejduk’s goal moved him ahead of Peter Forseberg on the Colorado/Quebec all-time scoring list with 756 points.  Hejduk is now the only remaining player from the 2001 Stanley Cup Champion Avalanche still playing in Colorado.

Foote won Stanley Cups with the Avalanche in both 1996 (when Hejduk was still playing in the Czech Extraliga) and in 2001.  Said Foote to the Avalanche faithful and his teammates after his final game at Pepsi Center, “Thank you for your support, and I love you all.”

Following Joe Sakic’s retirement before last season, Adam Foote was named Captain of the Colorado Avalanche.  Many expect Hejduk to be offered the C if he is retained through a new contract for next year.

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The Avalanche were teased last week with the return of star goalie Craig Anderson.  Now they need him to return to 100% in a hurry to stay competitive in the West.

Anderson played a stellar game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday, but saw so much work that he was rested the following night in Tampa Bay.  The dropoff between Andy and backup Peter Budaj was made all too apparent as Budaj allowed six goals.  (The continued poor play of the Colorado defense was also made apparent, as the Avalanche allowed 39 shots to reach Budaj.)

The Colorado offense shone again, however, scoring five goals on just 24 shots.  Makes you wonder what this team could do with a solid defensive core and a healthy Craig Anderson.

Now the Avalanche have made their bi-weekly trip out of the 8-team Western Conference playoff field.  The ongoing flux of West contenders should have Colorado back in the hunt by week’s end, but the second half of their east-coast road swing stands in the way.

Tuesday, December 7^th @ Florida Panthers (5:30 MST)

The Avalanche have always enjoyed a thorough dominance of the Panthers.  Dating back to Colorado’s Stanley Cup sweep of their Eastern cousins, the Avs have always taken care of business in Florida.

Last season the Avalanche escaped with a point from a shootout loss in Florida before trouncing the Panthers in Colorado 0-3.  This season the two teams meet just once, and the battle will be fought in Sunrise, Florida’s BankAtlantic Center.

Expect the Avalanche to grab an early lead against an inferior team.  If Anderson plays, we might see ol’ Craigers pitch a shutout against his former team.  If Budaj starts and the Avalanche take their typical mid-game nap, this one could get too interesting for comfort.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 4, Panthers 1

Friday, December 10^th @ Atlanta Thrashers (5:30 MST)

Atlanta has been on a tear that included a 3-2 OT win in Colorado a week ago.

Bad news for the Avalanche, especially considering the rise of young goaltender Ondrej Pavelec.  After all, no defense can stop the Colorado offense, but a hot goalie can.

In their last nine games, the Thrashers have lost just once; to the equally hot Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of ten straight.  Worse than the Thrashers’ great play is the awkward scheduling levied against the Avalanche on this road trip.  Another road game, another opponent playing on multiple days rest.

Atlanta has the entire week to get ready for the Avalanche and a charged home crowd to motivate them for a big Friday night game.  This combination does not bode well…

PREDICTION: Avalanche 2, Thrashers 3 (SO)

Saturday, December 11^th @ Washington Capitals (5:00 MST)

Remember that awkward scheduling comment?  It comes into play again when the Avalanche travel to Washington for their second back-to-back set on this 5-game road trip.  Also working against Colorado is a Capitals team that just got their semi-regular 3-game losing streak out of the way for the month of December.

For a club with the talent level of the Washington Capitals there is no greater gift than a road-weary opponent with bad defense.  Expect the Caps to score often.

Can the Avalanche keep up in a scorefest?  No doubt.  Can they do it at the end of a long road trip in the second half of back-to-back games?  Not bloody likely.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Capitals 5

**BONUS COVERAGE**

Not much extracurricular activity this week for the Avalanche.  Last week I talked about the Avs’ acquisition of two new readheaded hockey demons, so we’ll just do a status update on center Tomas Fleischmann.

Excitingly enough, Tomas is rumored to be skating this week with countryman Milan Hejduk and powerful young forward Matt Duchene.  I hinted at the powerful combination of Czech forwards last week, but we’ll go a little more in-depth here.

The Czech style of offensive attack is amazingly similar to a lot of the run ‘n gun transition offenses of the modern NHL.  Fleischmann’s former team, the Washington Capitals, come with speed and authority through the neutral zone, and Tomas has had no trouble translating that aspect of his game to the Avalanche.  (He logged two assists and three shots on goal at Tampa Bay.)

But in Washington Fleishmann was relegated to third line play.  With the Avalanche he has a chance to shine.  And with Milan Hejduk & Matt Duchene for linemates he has a chance to get comfortable and produce consistent offensive effort.  In fact, a big week from the newest Avalanche forward could swing a losing road trip in Colorado’s favor.

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Greg Mauldin stepped up his game when the Avalanche needed him most Saturday night.

After forwards Daniel Winnik & Chris Stewart went down with early injuries, Mauldin saw a lot of ice time versus a Wild club that has stymied Colorado in recent seasons.  The last two Avs-Wild meetings at Pepsi Center played out to twin 1-0 shutout losses for the Avalanche.

This time Colorado got on the board early one minute into the game on Paul Stastny’s bad-angle wrister.  But two Wild goals closed out the first period, and the Avalanche started to struggle against Minnesota’s brutal defense.

Enter Mauldin, who took a slick pass in transition from Stastny to the bank through a crowd of Wild defenders.  It was only the second goal of Mauldin’s brief NHL career, but he would follow quickly with another tally five minutes later.

Just 32 seconds after Milan Hejduk put home a snapper from the slot, Mauldin wrangled a Ryan Wilson slap-shot off the end boards and finished top-shelf over a diving Niklas Backstrom.

Colorado never looked back, and Mauldin got the good assists on third period goals by David Jones & Matt Duchene scored less than two minutes apart.

The Wild hung in with goals at the end of the second & third periods, but Colorado’s season-high seven goals were too much.

Greg Mauldin had played in only seven games for the Blue Jackets (6) and Islanders (1) before coming to Colorado.  He played well enough in pre-season camp to earn himself fourth-line ice time this season, logging a goal and two assists before tonight’s game.

Final score: Wild 4, Avalanche 7

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The 2010-2011 Avalanche Season started with some familiar themes.

First, the Avalanche continued a budding rivalry from last year with a fast, tight thriller versus the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks.  Three of four 2009-2010 contests between Colorado & Chicago went to shootouts.  Two of those three ended the same way this new season began; 3-4 post-regulation style.

Matt Duchene played beyond his 19 years, another theme from last season, scoring a 2^nd Period goal and assisting on the OT winner by Paul Stastny.

Chris Stewart, another standout youngster from ’09-’10, made the Blackhawks’ old-new goaltender Marty Turco (35) look his age.  Stewie opened the Avs’ scoring with a pass-deke to flip-shot that had the former Dallas Stars netminder falling backwards into his own crease as the puck spun past him.

The most exciting trend that the Avalanche carried from last season into this one is a major victory for the whole team…

Colorado brought forth the tenacious, physical play they developed in April through their heroic playoff effort against the San Jose Sharks.

In that 2010 Cup Playoff Series, the young Avalanche were decided underdogs against a tough, veteran San Jose club.  It took a stunningly rapid improvement in energy level and execution just to hang in through that series, but the Avalanche took two of the first three before losing in six.

Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks skated into Denver as Cup Champs, and the Avalanche pressed back from a 0-1 deficit to take a 2-goal lead.

No small feat with Colorado getting just one Power Play to Chicago’s five through two periods.  More impressive, though, was how the Avs pushed back; with a tough, aggressive presence along the boards.

Colorado played defense-first hockey tonight, and it was good enough to stymie the reigning champions for most of the game.

Second-year Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson was lights-out in this one, and looks to be developing into the big, physical shut-down defender that Colorado will need to succeed in the postseason.  Offense-minded defenders Kyle Cumiskey and John-Michael Lyles were both +2 on the night.

The Avalanche’s next stop on the long road to the playoffs is in Philadelphia versus last year’s runner-up, the Eastern Conference Champion Flyers.  That stop in Philly followed by a visit to Detroit will kick off a 5-game road swing before the Avs return home to welcome those burly Sharks to town… heckuva way to start the new season.

For now, Colorado has a solid first victory to celebrate with the 1996 Cup Champion Avalanche in town for the home opener.  If the young Avs can carry their momentum through a week on the road and back home, they will be playing on another exciting 2009 theme… a red-hot start.

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The Colorado Avalanche were 0:32 away from taking a 2-0 series lead back to Denver when San Jose’s Joe Pavelski tied the game at 5.  Devin Setoguchi would give the Sharks their first lead of the night with the Overtime winner 5:22 into the extra period.

Everything that happened before that game-tying goal late, late, late in the 3^rd Period defied any kind of hockey sense.

The San Jose Sharks, masters of defense in the regular season, allowed 5 Avalanche goals on 22 shots.  The Colorado Avalanche, whose young forwards struggled for much of the year in their own end, fought back the rolling tide of big, physical Sharks attackers with a grit and toughness that was shocking given their lack of playoff experience.

Craig Anderson, who was playing in his second postseason tilt, faced 45 shots before San Jose scored that fateful 5^th goal.  Evgeni Nabokov, who has played in 66 Stanly Cup Playoff games, had a dismal .773 save percentage on the night.  As is often the case in the playoffs, the goaltenders reveal the rudiments of the plotline.

Digging deeper, we see an Avalanche squad whose rookies are outplaying the Sharks’ seasoned playoff veterans.

Chris Stewart, who played in only a handful of games last season, netted the first and last goals for the Avalanche.  He’s not a rookie by strict definitions, but has played less than a regular season’s worth of games.  In the postseason, he’s playing at a championship level.  Stewie also scored the game-winner with 49.3 seconds left in Wednesday’s Avalanche win.

True rookie Brandon Yip had a goal and two assists for Colorado, spending much of his ice time banging with the hefty Sharks along the boards.  His goal came on a slamming put-back late in a 2^nd Period that saw 3 tallies for each team.  Fellow rookie Matty Duchene had assists on consecutive goals in that period, his second the only helper on Yip’s score.

Rookie TJ Galiardi pestered San Jose all night long through 22:44 of ice time.  Galiardi was the biggest player on the ice Friday night, his physical presence often the only thing stopping San Jose from skating freely in the Avalanche zone.  TJ was the thorn in the Sharks’ side, and his numerous cuts and bruises from the first two games of this series tell the story of a 1^st year player getting under the skin of one of the most experienced teams in this league.

There are a lot of ways to look at this loss.  Colorado certainly choked up a shoulda-been win in San Jose.  This young team finally bent under the constant pressure that these Sharks level against even the best defensive teams.

But the Avalanche matched these Cup-favorites stride-for-stride two games solid.

Colorado took the lead in Game 2 in one of the most hostile environments in hockey, and they didn’t relinquish it until the 66^th minute.  For a young team that fought injuries all season in one of the toughest division in the league and still made the playoffs, this game was more than a moral victory.

The baby Avalanche grew playoff brass in San Jose, taking the big boys to task and stealing home ice from the playoff-challenged Sharks.

Now the series heads back to Pepsi Center.  The house that Joe built.  The land of Roy.  Peter’s playground.  The Can has a history that San Jose can only dream of… Championship history.

And now Colorado has the privilege of watching a new generation of Avalanche take playoff ice in Denver.  Can they defend their home rink against the Sharks’ onslaught?  Can’t wait to find out.

See a full recap of Game 2 here

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Avs rookie phenom center Matt Duchene will be ready to play Game 1, and David Jones will miss Game 1 but should be ready for Game 2 on Friday.

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The Vancouver Canucks matched the Colorado Avalanche goal-for-goal through three periods of hockey Tuesday night.  But it was the Avalanche fighting for their playoff lives, and Colorado brought the fight to the Canucks’ doorstep early and often.

The Avalanche scored first on an unassisted Darcy Tucker tally through Robert Luongo’s legs just over 6 minutes into the opening salvo.  It was only Tucker’s 9^th goal on the season, but it couldn’t have come at more critical time.  With Peter Mueller downed by a dirty Rob Blake hit two nights ago, the Avalanche were undermanned offensively going into this crucial final 4 games of the season.

Daniel Sedin tied it and TJ Galiardi put the Avs back up by a goal in the same minute late in the 1^st Period.

At the end of one, Colorado managed a 1-goal lead in hostile territory.

Neither team could establish a clear advantage coming out of the break, but the 2^nd Period served to catch the Canucks up to the Avalanche in shots on goal.  Mason Raymond was able to bring the score back to even at 7 minutes.  Vancouver was playing determined hockey, matching Colorado stride-for-stride in their push toward the playoffs.

Future Captain Paul Stastny put the Avalanche right back ahead 7 minutes later off a flawless cross-ice feed from Chris Stewart.  These two are the heart and soul of this Avalanche offense going forward, and it’s an indescribable pleasure to watch them execute in the pinch.

Somewhere around the middle of the 3^rd Period, Calgary lost at home to San Jose.

An Avalanche win would lock up the 8^th seed for a 12^th trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Avalanche played some premature defensive hockey, sitting back in their zone for much of the 3^rd Period.  A one-goal lead in a tight divisional road game is as unsafe as they come, and Daniel Sedin got his second score to match Colorado’s 3 on the night.

It seemed like the Avalanche were waiting for that goal, and immediately went from resting on their laurels to pushing the action deep into the Vancouver Zone.  But the even score held through regulation, and Sedin’s goal score pushed the action to Overtime.

In OT, Daniel Sedin got a clean break in 4 on 4 play coming out of the Vancouver end.

Sedin had already put two shots past Craig Anderson on the evening.  Terror time for the Avalanche.

Daniel slowed his momentum to make a play on Craig 1 on 1, but John Michael Liles, chasing the play hard from the breakout pass, dove and got a clean stick on the puck just as Daniel cocked to shoot.  This is the same J-M Liles who was benched repeatedly this year for his lack of defensive fortitude.  The same J-M Liles who scored the game-winning goal a game ago versus San Jose.

A healthy scratch mid-season, Liles was trusted to be on the ice in crucial situations throughout this game, and that trust paid off in a big way for coach Joe Sacco and the Avalanche Tuesday night.

The Canucks pressed the Avalanche Zone for the rest of the extra period, but Anderson made a series of great stops to maintain the tie.

With 0:10 left in OT, the Avalanche made a couple of nice passes to break the Vancouver pressure and dash through neutral ice.  With less than a second left, Matt Duchene controlled the puck to the net, but couldn’t manage a shot as the Vancouver defense caught up and disrupted the threat.  Matty looked devastated that he couldn’t at least level a shot at Luongo… keep that disappointment in mind.

The Shootout was a goalie dual to the end.

Through two shooters, Craig Anderson & Robert Luongo were playing their opponents flawlessly.  Anderson was making the high, glove-side saves that have eluded him for a solid month, and Luongo was using his big body to start high in his crease and eliminate shots in stages.

In fact, Luongo played Matt Duchene perfectly on the Avalanche’s 3^rd shot.  Anderson had stonewalled three Cancucks, and it looked like this one would go to extra shooters.  Then Duchene showed the goal-scoring flare that has eluded him through an untimely dry spell.

Moving right to left, Duchene lifted an unstoppable shot past Luongo’s glove.  As puck met net, the Colorado bench erupted onto the ice to chase down rookie hero Matty D.

Avalanche clinch a playoff birth with three to play.

For all the trials, injuries and setbacks that have marred this surprisingly successful Avalanche season, Colorado is a Stanley Cup contender at last.

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The math is simple if the Avs want to make the playoffs.  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.

1^st 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.

3^rd 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.

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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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Position: Center

Shoots: Left

Drafted: 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 34^th Overall

Vital Stats: 6’ 3”, 213 lbs, born April 13^th, 1987

The Colorado Avalanche made Ryan Stoa their third rookie Center call-up of the ’09-’10 season in December, but Stoa’s first year has not panned out as nicely as that of fellow rooks Ryan O’Reilly & Matt Duchene. He was demoted back to the AHL, returned to the NHL, and then succumbed to a shoulder injury January 29^th at Dallas that placed him on injured reserve indefinitely.

Stoa was back in Lake Erie with Colorado’s AHL affiliate Monsters a week after his first call-up, but returned in January due to injuries in the Avalanche lineup.  He has played well enough in his time in the NHL this season, but his success in the AHL and NCAA suggest that Ryan is due for a breakout season in coming years.

Ryan Stoa spent three full seasons with the University of Minnesota after being drafted by the Avalanche in 2005.  A fourth year (’07-’08) was cut short by injury after two games.  After Ryan’s final season in 2009, he was named a First-Team All American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and Inside College Hockey.  That season, Stoa rounded out what had been above-average offensive numbers with solid defensive play, and was named the Captain of his Minnesota Gophers.

In his 41 games with Lake Erie during their ’09-’10 campaign, Ryan logged 18 goals.  At the time he was recalled to the Avalanche, Stoa led the Monsters in that category.  Unfortunately, his success in the minors never translated to success in the majors, and Stoa has yet to score his first NHL goal.  He did record an assist for his first NHL point on January 22^nd against Nashville in Denver.

Ryan Stoa also played considerable time with the US National Under-18 Team from 2003-2005.  He scored 10 goals in 42 games his first year with the team, and then exploded for 10 goals in just 15 games played (plus 13 assists) in his second season.

Expect to hear see name ‘Stoa’ in Avalanche box scores next season, as Ryan should be ready to join O’Reilly & Duchene in forming a trifecta of young Avalanche Centers.

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