Alexander Ovechkin was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks with 7:44 remaining in the first period for a high-speed hit from behind that launched Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards behind his own goal, leaving him stunned on the ice for several minutes before heading to the locker room.  (Video of the hit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je9nEbQASNc) Ovechkin received a major penalty for boarding and game misconduct. He will be subject to possible suspension for the hit.

The hit comes just days after NHL general managers recommended a rule change to eliminate “lateral, back pressure, or blindside” hits to the head. Hits that a player can or should see coming will not be outlawed, but many of the side hits will be subject to either a 2 or 5 minute penalty, and all such hits will be subject to supplemental discipline.

Avalanche fans are more than familiar with the escalation that hits to the head can reach. In 2004, Avalanche center Steve Moore hit Canucks captain Markus Naslund hard in the head, though the hit was ruled clean both by the referee on the ice and the league office. The Canucks took exception, however, and the next time they played, Moore was lured into a fight and ultimately, while trying to avoid a fight with Todd Bertuzzi, ended up getting attacked from behind. Bertuzzi eventually faced legal action, and Steve Moore never played hockey again due to the injuries sustained in the incident (fractured vertebrae, concussion, lacerations).

The new rule changes were agreed to by a unanimous vote of general managers, and now goes to the competition committee this summer for final adoption.

Articles similar to this:

• November 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 7 Preview: cycles, trends & more Foppa news (0)
  The story goes on to tell of a team that plays its best...
• November 3, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 6 Preview: welcome to the rest of the season (0)
  NHL 1st Star for October Craig AndersonThe first month ...
• October 20, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 4 Preview: at home on the road (0)
  [caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" wi...

The Northwest Division saw a brief shakeup mid-week when Vancouver crushed the Flames in Calgary.  The Flames eventually used one of their games-in-hand to climb back over the Canucks by beating the lowly Oilers 4-1.

However, Vancouver’s increasingly dangerous play (especially their dominance within the division) has made them real contenders for the division crown.  The Avalanche managed to hold strong as they were the first team in the division to realize 50 points before the half-way point in the season.  But Colorado will need to find some consistency to hold its 3-point lead over the struggling Flames, and its 4-point lead over the surging Canucks.

In a soft week featuring only two games, the Avalanche gave up another (#@$%&*!!) 2-goal third-period lead at home to the Ducks, and followed that shameful performance with an impressive handling of the formerly hot Dallas Stars.

Two wins last week would have been nice, because the Avalanche start a tough week on the road in one of the toughest arenas to land a visiting win…

Wed, Dec 30^th @ Ottawa Senators (5:00 MST)

After visiting nearly every Canadian city in its first month of play, the Avalanche had to wait two months to make its one and only trip to Ottawa this season.

This matchup against the Senators looks about as good as they come.

The Sens have struggled with their two (mostly bad) goaltenders all season, and the Avs have routinely punished bad defensive teams.  Colorado plays very well on the road, more or less neutralizing Ottawa’s considerable home-ice advantage.

The Avalanche are well-rested and <knock> healthy.  They have consistently beaten Eastern Conference teams over three consecutive seasons.  And Ottawa is, to put it bluntly, a slow, older team that employs an outdated strategy.

Still, the Avalanche have struggled in the Canadian capital city since coming to Colorado, and this will likely need to be a gut-it-out game for the ‘Lanche to produce a victory.  Then again, the Senators’ goaltending problems could rear up, allowing the Avalanche to run away with the game early.

I’ll stick with the great-on-paper look of this matchup, and call it an Avs win.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, SENATORS 3

Thu, Dec 31^st @ Detroit Red Wings (5:00 MST)

Over this season and last, the Avalanche have trounced the formerly rival Red Wings, winning 5 of 6 games.  In the two games this season, Colorado has made Detroit look old, slow, tired & injury depleted… and by most accounts that is exactly what the middling Red Wings have been since losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the ’09 Cup Championships Series.

What’s more, none of those things have changed since last these two teams met.

The Avalanche will have a short trip over from Ottawa to complete the second half of a back-to-backer, and will be particularly motivated should fall to the Senators.

I like the Avalanche to play another strong road game in Detroit, and eek out an OT win.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 2, RED WINGS 1 (OT)

Sat, Jan 2^nd @ Columbus Blue Jackets (5:00 MST)

I tried so hard to find a loss in this tough three-game road stretch, but it’s just not there.  The Senators game could go either way depending on goalie play for each team, and I picked a win over the Wings because Detroit has been on an ugly slide of late.

But the Blue Jackets have looked even uglier, dropping 17 games in their last 20 played.  That’s horrendous.

With the level of parody in the NHL being what it is, there is no excuse except a total systemic collapse (including your formerly stud goaltender struggling late in games) for that many bad games in a row.

One of the Blue Jackets’ three wins over that terrible five-week stretch came on Monday against the Red Wings (a 1-0 OT barn-burner.)  They will have that victory to look back upon fondly when the Avalanche complete their three-game road sweep in Columbus this Saturday.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, COLUMBUS 1

WEEK 12 PREDICTION:  3-0

**Bonus Coverage**

Happy New Year to us!!

Avalanche forward Chris Durno finally scored his first NHL goal after a very successful career in the AHL.  His call-up last season for two games, and thrice this season for a dozen games has been the result of his hard work for the Lake Erie Monsters, as witnessed by current Avalanche coach (and former Monsters coach) Joe Sacco.

That Durno did not score sooner is not actually so surprising, despite his great minor-league play.  Chris is simply a strong, hard-working defensive forward, and his success in the AHL was much more a result of out-willing opponents than outstanding stick handling.  He worked on his foot speed in the offseason to give himself a better chance at a long-term call-up, and that’s exactly what he got.  Many Kudos to Chris.

In other news, this sportswriter is off to New Orleans, and will probably be too debauched to watch the two games that take place before the New Year.  I’ll do some extra-hard drinking if y’all do some extra-hard cheering.

Stay thirsty Avs fans.  2010 in ‘Lancheville promises to be a wild ride.

Articles similar to this:

• November 17, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 8 Preview: NW division tour (0)
  The fast start for Colorado’s new-look Avalanche has fa...
• January 12, 2010 -- Team Ninja… go! (0)
  There’s something extraordinary about this Avalanche ho...
• December 15, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 12 Preview: some rest for the weary (0)
  Knocking off the Flames three times in three tries with...

Avalanche 2nd Goaltender Peter Budaj

image by Sakic_19

The (veteran?) Avalanche goaltender with the oft-mispronounced last name was the savior of the Avalanche in Week 10.

After starting goalie Craig Anderson was intentionally injured by the dirtiest little defender in the league (Keith Ballard) one week ago at Florida, Peter Budaj stepped into the crease and immediately began playing inspired hockey.

Anderson lay prostrate on the ice in the closing seconds of overtime on Dec 2^nd.  The Avalanche had scrambled to tie the contest with two goals in the final minute of the third period. (Thirty-seven seconds apart @ 19:07 & 19:44.)  Ballard, streaking down the right side, leaned into Anderson’s head as Craig covered the puck just outside of his crease.

Adam Foote, skating back on the opposite side of the goal, met Ballard on the ice at the back of the net and landed three fists (one face, two side of head) before a pile of players and referees smothered the fight.

Ballard is the same skating yutz that slashed his own goaltender’s ear two nights previous.  Krazy Keith swung his stick in frustration after a first period goal.  Instead of hitting his intended target (a goal post) Ballard struck goalie Tomas Vokoun in the side of the head.  Vokoun was taken to the hospital with a deep laceration to his ear.  Ballard went on to ignore his injured goaltender to take another, more successful swing at the post.

Ballard would later issue an apology to Vokoun (who was back on the ice by Saturday,) but not to Anderson.  Craig sat out the week with a neck injury, and Peter filled in magnificently with two wins and one close loss.

Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/10 possible points and returned to the #1 spot in the Northwest Division.  Kiss off, Krazy Keith, you can’t ruin our party.

Wed, Dec 9th @ Minnesota Wild (7:00 MST)

Budaj will likely start again tonight, and he’ll look to land the Avs’ first win against some Wild Minnesotans.

Despite three spirited games, the Avalanche have faltered against the division’s bottom-feeding Wild.  Colorado lost one in regulation and two in shootouts, so they nabbed a couple of pity points, but this home game needs to be a decisive win.

Look for the Avalanche to play hard for both their injured star goalie and their suddenly stellar backup after a rockin’ roadtrip.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, WILD 1

Fri, Dec 11^th vs Tampa Bay Lightning (7:00 MST)

A week and a half ago Tampa put 33 shots on net against Craig Anderson, and not a single one got through.  The Lightning played a good game (buzzing until the game was out of reach after an Avs empty-netter late in the third,) but Anderson was simply better.

I expect Anderson to play after being listed as day-to-day since the injury.  Being out of the lineup is likely an opportunity to catch Anderson up on lost rest.  He played the most games in the NHL over the first two plus months.  But I guarantee Anderson wants to get back in net.

Watch Craig come in with his usual fire and a little extra against Tampa, and I like the Avalanche to capitalize on the Lightning’s aggressive neutral-zone play.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, LIGHTNING 2

Sun, Dec 13^th vs Calgary Flames (6:00 MST)

I know we’ve had the Flames’ number this year, but Calgary is just too good to lose to us every time.

Twin 3-2 wins at Calgary are nothing less than a slap in the face to Colorado’s top competition for the division… and I expect the Flames to ride into Denver with twin chips on their shoulders as a result.

The Avalanche will need another outstanding goaltending performance to beat Calgary again, but I think the Flames’ D will stand strongest in this game.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 1, FLAMES 2 (SO)

WEEK 9 PREDICTION:  2-1

**Bonus Coverage**

The Ballard Effect

Florida’s Keith Ballard is quickly becoming a noteworthy thug in the National Hockey League… but he’s not big… and he’s not tough… he’s just a fiery idiot.

The result is going to be a lot of attention from opposing enforcers.  That was already the case in two games against Washington and Atlanta, as Ballard spent much of both nights with his face against glass and boards.

But those minor rubs are nothing compared to what awaits Krazy Keith when he takes the ice at Pepsi Center on March 11^th of 2010.  I’m gonna get a ticket.  Double K is going down.

Craig Anderson was a backup in Florida last season, and this was his first game back since signing with the Avalanche in the offseason.  His injury was an instance of damned if you do, damned if you don’t, as Craig could have very well been in net to take Ballard’s stick to the head had he stayed with the Panthers.

Articles similar to this:

• December 15, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 12 Preview: some rest for the weary (0)
  Knocking off the Flames three times in three tries with...
• November 23, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 9 Preview: back in the saddle (2)
  Colorado will play an unprecedented five games in eight...
• December 29, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 14 Preview: 50 points plus 6 (0)
  Two wins last week would have been nice, because the Av...

Home ice advantage? Not at these ticket prices.

What do you get when you take an outstanding Goaltender, a subpar Defense, and a 4-line-deep Offense and throw them onto a sheet of ice?  I have no idea, but I think they’re calling themselves the Colorado Avalanche.

Craig Anderson has proven himself to be the top free agent acquisition for any NHL team in the offseason.  He regularly stares down 35+ shots, which is most definitely an indictment against the Avs’ D.  But to the great credit of Anderson, the Avalanche have the 4^th best record in the Western Conference.

Colorado is averaging 32.8 shots against per game, slotting them in as the 5^th worst team in the NHL in that statistical category.  Put simply, playoff contenders do not give up more than 30 shots a game.  This is not to say that the Avalanche will fail to make the playoffs, but rather that they would be lucky to win a playoff series with such poor defense.  Even with a favorable seeding, this team only gets past the second round if Craig Anderson goes all Matrix on some poor schmucks like the West-leading Sharks.

But that’s all months down the road.  In the meantime, the Avalanche have a treacherous road trip to navigate.  It started with a very impressive 3-0 win at Tampa Bay on Monday night.  The Avalanche killed seven (seven!) Lightning Power Plays to nudge their horrendous Penalty Kill Percentage over the Mendoza Line to a shaky 80.8%.  The Avs’ tour of the Sunshine State continues…

Wed, Dec 2nd @ Florida Panthers (5:30 MST)

This game against Florida smells like an easy victory to me.  Craig Anderson will be returning to play the Panthers for the first time since they decided he was not #1 goaltender material and opted to hang on to aging starter Tomas Vokoun.  Florida let Craig go to Colorado via free agency, and Mr. Anderson definitely lucked out.

On Monday night Vokoun left the ice on a stretcher after getting whacked in the head by his own defenseman, Keith Ballard.  After an Atlanta Thrashers goal in the first period, Ballard swung his stick at the goalpost in frustration, hitting Vokoun in the head instead.  Tomas was taken to the hospital with a deep laceration on his left ear, but did not appear to suffer any concussive effect.

Craig dodged a bullet in getting out of Florida, now he gets to return to the BankAtlantic Center to face off against new Panthers’ backup goalie Scott Clemmensen.  The Panthers are on a five-game slide after peaking above the .500 for the first time since the first game of the season.  The Avs will take care of business, and Anderson will continue his outstanding play.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, PANTHERS 2

Thu, Dec 3^rd @ Pittsburgh Penguins (5:30 MST)

Another East Coast game has the Avs playing two early games back-to-back, the second being their only contest versus Pittsburgh this season.

The Penguins have played very well of late, with different players logging Hat Tricks in their last two games.  Mike Rupp got three of his eight goals this season on Monday in New York, and Sid Crosby scored three goals against those same Rangers at home two days before.

Pittsburgh is every inch the team that won last year’s Stanley Cup, and a win in this game would be huge for the Avalanche.  Despite Colorado’s traditional dominance of Eastern Conference teams, though, I think the ‘Guins are just too hot right now to roll over at home.  The Avalanche will be tired from playing the night before, and the Penguins will be rested having not played since Monday.  Too much is stacked against the ‘Lanche in this one.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 2, PENGUINS 5

Sat, Dec 5^th @ Columbus Blue Jackets (5:00 MST)

The Blue Jackets finally righted the ship with a 5-2 home win versus the Blues after a rough slide that saw them losing five straight games, four on the road.  At home, Columbus is a force to be reckoned with, so the Avalanche had better be up for a brawl when they stroll into Nationwide Arena this Saturday afternoon.

To win this game the Avs will have to get past Steve Mason, the Columbus goaltender directly responsible for the Blue Jackets’ trip to the playoffs last season.  Once they got to the postseason, the whole team dried up, and Mason was left on an island to fend off the Red Wings.  Guess how that turned out.  Now Mason is playing as well as ever while facing shot totals that rival Craig Anderson’s regular workload.

Look for the Avalanche to play from behind most of this game, but I like them for a comeback shootout win in Ohio.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 (SO)

Mon, Dec 7^th @ Saint Louis Blues (6:00 MST)

Saint Louis is not a very good overall team, but they hang in almost every game they play.  They can be counted on to wreak havoc on divisional rivals Detroit & Nashville, and they will certainly spoil the best laid plans of some very good teams throughout the season.

To avoid being a victim of the Blues’ uncanny ability to match up against better teams to the bitter end, the Avalanche are going to have to play fast and loose and hope for the best.  Mr. Anderson will need to be on top of his game, and the Avalanche will have to put together some semblance of a cohesive defense in the third period.

I know it’s a wacky prediction, but I have this feeling that Wojtek Wolski is going to open up a can of Polish Whoopass on the Blues.  His combination of size and speed will be too much for the Blues’ D, and Double W will roll for two or three scores.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, BLUES 3

WEEK 9 PREDICTION:  3-1

**Bonus Coverage**

Rough in the Rough

Not all free agent pickups are diamonds in the rough like Craig Anderson.  The Avs wisely dumped another offseason acquisition, D-man Tom Priessing, after he came back from a preseason injury and spent several games watching plays move very quickly around, through and past him.

Priessing simply could not keep up with the raw speed of today’s NHL, and the result was a minus-6 in four games played this season.  The Avs placed him on waivers and 22-year-old Kyle Cumiskey has been getting his ice time.

Hopefully the roster shuffling on defense will also result in the young Ryan Wilson joining the cadre of Colorado rookies being pressed into consistent service.  For what it’s worth, I think that Wilson is going to be an All-Star for the Avalanche in years to come.  He hits like an old-school defender, but has an excellent presence in the offensive zone to go with a surprising scoring instinct.

Getting Ruslan Salei back from injury helps the Avs’ D a lot, but getting young legs into game situations (as was the case with Wilson for a couple of stretches this season) is the way to playoff success for Colorado.

Home-Ice Blues

The Avalanche are playing better on the road than they are at home.  Why is that?  Perhaps lingering in the basement of the league in home attendance has something to do with it.

The fact that tickets are outrageously priced has robbed the Avalanche of some of their home-ice advantage, as half-full arenas just don’t generate enough noise in those critical moments.

Perfect at home in October, the Avalanche lost 4 of 7 at home in November.  Granted, most of the month was forgettable for Colorado, but the Avs seem to be playing better with their backs against the wall on unfriendly ice.

Articles similar to this:

• December 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 11 Preview: Boo-Da-Yee to the rescue! (0)
  Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/1...
• November 3, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 6 Preview: welcome to the rest of the season (0)
  NHL 1st Star for October Craig AndersonThe first month ...
• March 24, 2010 -- Avalanche scrape out must-win vs Kings (0)
  As tight a game as you'll see between evenly-matched te...

The new Avalanche 3rd Jersey

You would think that losing seven of their last ten games would drop the Avalanche to the middle of the divisional pack.  Not so, thanks to a hot start and a continued dedication to beating the Calgary Flames.

Last week featured three divisional games, and the Avalanche held a third-period lead in each of them.  But Colorado could only convert one of those three late-game leads into points.

If the Avalanche can learn to play with a lead, they will end Week 9 with an extension to their one-point advantage in the Northwest Division.  If not, then this team will fade under the constant pressure to pull off comeback wins in tight games.

Colorado will play an unprecedented five games in eight days, starting tonight and ending next Monday to wrap up their November schedule.  I like this week to produce a return to form for these Avalanche.

Mon, Nov 23^rd vs Philadelphia Flyers (7:00 MST)

Well-rested and back at home after a nasty roadtrip, the Avalanche should turn a slugfest against the Flyers into a W.  After playing three teams that are all too familiar with the Lanche’s playing style, Colorado gets to host a Philadelphia team that is also on a minor losing streak.

This is the only time these two teams will face off this season (barring a wacky Stanley Cup Finals matchup,) and I like the Avalanche to continue their success against the Eastern Conference.  A big part of Colorado’s early-season run was a three-game road stint against East teams where the Avalanche won each in regulation.  This game has a good chance to push into extra time, though, as the Flyers and Avalanche are remarkably evenly matched.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, FLYERS 4 (OT)

Wed, Nov 25^th vs Nashville Predators (7:00 MST)

In the first weeks of the season, Nashville got off to a pitiful start that had them averaging a league-low in goals scored.  They managed a 2-3 home win over the Avalanche in the midst of that lousy start, but will not be so lucky this time playing at the Pepsi Center.

Nashville has continued to struggle in the offensive zone this season, despite climbing back to the middle of the pack in the Central Division.  This game may be closer than I give credit for, but I have a feeling that the Predators’ dismal Power Play percentage will be their undoing in Denver.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, PREDATORS 1

Fri, Nov 27^th @ Minnesota Wild (12:00 MST)

&

Sat, Nov 28^th vs Minnesota Wild (7:00 MST)

When Marian Gaborik left Minnesota for New York in the offseason, so went also the Wild’s offense.  Only two teams in the West have scored fewer goals than Minnesota has in 2009 (Predators and Blues), and those teams can at least boast a stout defense.  The Wild’s formerly fearsome defense has faltered this season, as they have allowed goals in droves.

Don’t take that as an endorsement of back-to-back whoopings when these two teams play their home-and-away miniseries this week.  The Wild will play the Avalanche tough at home, where they have logged six of their eight wins.  But seventeen hours later two tired teams will take the ice in Denver, and the Avalanche’s superior youth and offensive depth will shine through.

I like the Avs to log victories both Friday afternoon and Saturday night for a little instant win-streak action.

FRIDAY PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 2, WILD 1

SATURDAY PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, WILD 1

Mon, Nov 30^th @ Tampa Bay Lightning (5:30 MST)

The Lightning have played past regulation in an amazing ten games this season.  Equally amazing is that they have only won three of those games, but managed to stay (roughly) on the tail of the Washington Capitals in the Southeast Division race.  Those one-point games add up over the course of a season, and I think Tampa has a chance to upset somebody in the playoffs this season because they play in so many tight games.

But this week the Avalanche will ride into Tampa on two days’ rest and a hot streak, and when the lightning get down by a couple goals early they get blown out.  Let’s hope that this game is the culmination of a stellar return to form for the Avalanche.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, LIGHTNING 3

WEEK 9 PREDICTION:  5-0

**Bonus Coverage**

The Avs’ third jersey unveiling was a disaster, as they got up early and struggled late in a loss to Vancouver.  However, the jerseys themselves are an homage to both the old Sunday jersey (diagonal COLORADO front) and the team’s roots in Quebec (predominantly blue), so they get one big thumb up.

Whether these new sweaters will generate wins (and additional up-thumbs) like the old all-burgundy third jerseys did is still a question mark.  For now, watch this video and enjoy the palpable discomfort of hockey players playing fashion model.  (ftg. Kyle Quincey & Paul Stastny)

Articles similar to this:

• December 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 11 Preview: Boo-Da-Yee to the rescue! (0)
  Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/1...
• December 29, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 14 Preview: 50 points plus 6 (0)
  Two wins last week would have been nice, because the Av...
• December 15, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 12 Preview: some rest for the weary (0)
  Knocking off the Flames three times in three tries with...

#19 was raised to the rafters at Pepsi Center, next Super Joe will enter the CO Sports Hall of Fame (4/20/10)

Whoa is the team that starts hot, for the first losing streak is all the more painful.

The fast start for Colorado’s new-look Avalanche has faded into a series of missed opportunities and blowout losses.  The best team in the NHL in October, the Avs have been decidedly middle-of-the-road in November, posting a 2-3-1 record since the beginning of the month.

Offense is the big reason, as young stars Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly have all but disappeared in recent weeks, and the team’s Power Play efficiency has seen a precipitous decline that mirrors its recent three-game losing streak.

It’s not time to push the Panic! button yet, but the way Colorado handles its upcoming three-game road trip around the Northwest Division will speak volumes on the character and the long-term viability of the 2009-10 Avalanche.  The first game is the biggest, but each game in-division is a big deal with what will likely be a tight pack going forward.

Tue, Nov 17^th @ Calgary Flames (7:30 MST)

Despite losing five of their seven games since defeating the Flames in Calgary on October 28^th, the Avalanche still cling to a one-point lead in the Northwest Division.  That lead would likely be a deficit if not for the fact that the Avalanche have played two more games than the Flames to date.  And so this rematch of division leaders takes on particular importance for Colorado, who just finished getting blown away at home by third-best in the Northwest, the Vancouver Canucks.

I called the first trip to Calgary unwinnable barring a minor miracle, and the Avalanche delivered just that.  Trailing by two goals a few minutes into the game, the Avalanche stormed back to win that game 3-2.  This game will be as tough or tougher, as the Flames have been playing very good hockey, and have the good fortune of logging their first two matchups against the Avalanche this season on their home ice.

So I’ll stick to my guns once again and say that the Avalanche will need a minor miracle to pull out a win in a matchup that will determine which team sits atop the Northwest.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 1, FLAMES 3

Wed, Nov 18^th @ Edmonton Oilers (7:00 MST)

The Oilers are not as good as their 3-5 victory over the Avalanche in Denver last week, and the Avalanche are better than their play in that game or the two losses since.

After what will likely be a loss in Calgary tonight, the Avalanche have to pack up and take their tour of Canadian hockey cities to Edmonton for a game the next night.  Many times, back-to-back road games against divisional opponents is a recipe for disaster, and that could well be the case this week.  But I have a feeling about this game against Edmonton, and that feeling is that Colorado will find a way to right the ship against a lesser opponent in its own house.

The key to this game will be the Power Play, but the Avalanche are finally starting to look healthy (knock, knock) and that increases their odds for a standout team performance.  Look for the boys in burgundy to play hyper-motivated hockey and pull out a decisive win on unfriendly ice.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, OILERS 2

Fri, Nov 20^th @ Vancouver Canucks (8:00 MST)

Another night, another road game against a Canadian divisional rival.  Nope, I don’t like the looks of this one.

The Canucks have manhandled the Avalanche in their last two meetings, one in Vancouver (0-3 shutout) and the other here in Colorado (2-8 shellacking).  The Canucks have played the Avalanche like the Avalanche played the rest of the league in October; solid defense that frustrates opponents into getting overly aggressive and giving up transition chances.

It is doubtful that the Avs will be able to best the Canucks with their mutually successful style after two brutal losses playing the same game, especially with this matchup taking place in Vancouver.  I like the Avalanche to play better this time around, but the end of this little trip around the division looks to end a lot like it started.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 1, CANUCKS 3

WEEK 8 PREDICTION:  1-2

**Bonus Coverage**

Peter Forsberg’s agent has confirmed that Foppa will stay in Sweden this season instead of making another NHL comeback.  Potential suitors for a Forsberg return to North American ice did not include the Avalanche anyway (Vancouver GM Mike Gillis broke the story.)  So this is good news for those of us who would rather see Peter play out whatever is left of his career for Sweden’s Modo and his national team than see a Canucks sweater with “Forsberg” gracing the back.

In other ex-Avalanche news, Joe Sakic has been selected for the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.  His induction ceremony will take place on April 20^th of 2010.  Congrats to Super Joe on his first (but certainly not last) Hall of Fame selection.

Articles similar to this:

• December 29, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 14 Preview: 50 points plus 6 (0)
  Two wins last week would have been nice, because the Av...
• December 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 11 Preview: Boo-Da-Yee to the rescue! (0)
  Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/1...
• December 15, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 12 Preview: some rest for the weary (0)
  Knocking off the Flames three times in three tries with...

The patchwork Colorado Avalanche defense has held up well enough to keep the offense within striking distance.  Against a motivated Edmonton Oilers team on Sunday night, the Avs’ D finally cracked, allowing four power play goals in a 3-5 loss.  (This after operating the second-best penalty kill in the league going into that game.)

The cycle of injuries is partly to blame for that big defensive letdown in a game that should have been a relatively easy win.  (See Injury Update below.) The offense did its part, scoring three goals against a team playing with the lead from the early-going.  Really, the story of this team has often involved falling behind early only to come back and salvage at least one point from what would have been a total lost cause for the Avalanche of yesteryear.

And so this narrative has developed for Colorado; the Avalanche get hit in the mouth, they charge back as a brilliantly functional (and impressively deep) unit, and eventually hit a wall where willpower can carry no further.  This has happened in single games, and it has happened over multi-week spans involving entire road series.

The story goes on to tell of a team that plays its best hockey after losing multiple games in a row, and over the course of a long regular season defined by incredible parody through the top half of the league… well, that’s a recipe for success.

Wed, Nov 11^th @ Chicago Blackhawks (6:30 MST)

Last Friday’s game in Colorado saw the Avalanche fall behind early and come back to win in an epic shootout that featured eight shooters a side.  Colorado goaltender Craig Anderson returned from a night off to play poorly early, better late, and out-of-his-mind good through the final minutes of regulation and the shootout.

The Avalanche have managed to cull three points (a SO loss away & a SO win at home) out of two games against the Blackhawks.  After last night’s embarrassing loss to Edmonton at home, Colorado will give Chicago a run for its money again.  While a win is doubtful, I can see this game becoming another extra-inning thriller.  I’ll stick with the unexpected trend (a result of three early-season matchups between these two teams,) and bet on another shootout loss in Chicago.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 3, BLACKHAWKS 4 (SO)

Sat, Nov 14^th vs Vancouver Canucks (8:00 MST)

Our lasting meeting with the ‘Nucks was a brutal 0-3 loss at Vancouver, preceded by a 3-0 blowout win in Colorado the first week of the season.  Hockey is such a give-and-take game that the ebb and flow of a given matchup can bleed over multiple games, especially where divisional rivals are concerned.  While the consistent three-goals-to-none trend probably won’t hold up, I will pick the Avalanche to win and to score by the bucket load after logging consecutive losses for only the third time this season.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, CANUCKS 2

WEEK 7 PREDICTION:  1-0-1

**Bonus Coverage**

Peter Forsberg did take the ice for Team Sweden in the Karjala Cup, but did not score.  In fact, his whole team failed to score in an 0-7 shellacking at the hands of Finland (runners up to Russia in the tournament.)

His presence on several shifts did grant flight to a handful of formerly flightless penguins, raising hopes of an unprecedented winged penguin migration from Chile to the Frozen Continent as the Antarctic summer begins.  (See last week’s Avalanche Preview for details.)

Foppa is clearly not playing at an elite level yet, but has indicated that he is close to making a decision on whether to play professionally this season in either the NHL or the Russian Elite League the KHL.  Read about that and his hopes that he will make the Swedish National Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in this Peter Forsberg Interview.

Injury Update

A big bonus is coming.  The Avalanche have been playing with key defensive injuries throughout the season, and are looking at finally becoming whole over the next couple weeks.

D Tom Preissing has not suited up in a regular season game for Colorado yet, but he is expected to return from a rehab assignment with the Monsters of Lake Erie in the next couple games after having his knee scoped just prior to the opening of the regular season.

Preissing was the second half of an offseason trade that sent Ryan Smyth to Los Angeles and brought the hyper-effective D Kyle Quincey to the Avalanche.  Preissing is a solid defender (while Quincey often mixes it up in the offensive zone,) and his veteran presence in the midst of a relatively young defensive core may be the lynchpin in a top-five defense the rest of this season.

Unfortunately, John-Michael Liles reinjured his shoulder against Chicago and did not play in Sunday’s game against Edmonton.  Getting Liles healthy will be a determining factor for the Avalanche going forward.  He is a good, quick defender, but more importantly is the key to both Colorado Power Play units.

Despite missing Liles, Colorado will have Darcy Tucker’s return to look forward to in coming games.  Tucker has been working his way back into playing shape after a vicious concussion-inducing hit from behind by Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu on 23 October.  Darcy is an excellent defensive forward, and his return should help shore up the Avalanche penalty kill.

Articles similar to this:

• November 3, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 6 Preview: welcome to the rest of the season (0)
  NHL 1st Star for October Craig AndersonThe first month ...
• October 27, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 5 Preview: another toughest test (3)
  Well kiss our pucks, NHL schedulers. The Avs are on th...
• December 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 11 Preview: Boo-Da-Yee to the rescue! (0)
  Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/1...

NHL 1st Star for October Craig Anderson

The first month of the season saw the Avalanche touring the far reaches of the NHL landscape.  Colorado traveled to every Canadian city except Ottawa (Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary & Vancouver), winning each game except the last.  They played on both coasts and in three mid-western cities, and in fifteen games played only four at home.

To be sure, the Avalanche petered out at the end of that long haul, losing games @ San Jose and @ Vancouver to wrap up their October road trip.  And yet they retained the top spot in the Western Conference.  This was due in large part to the stellar play of goaltender (and NHL 1^st Star of the Month) Craig Anderson.

Never a number one goaltender until this season, Anderson led the league in Save Percentage and now owns the record for most October Starts by an Avalanche goaltender.  He faced an incredibly high volume of shots and played without a true backup (as Peter Budaj sat out with first an injury and then the flu.)  Hats off to Mr. Anderson.

Now the Avalanche have a schedule advantage and more points than the rest of the conference.  Welcome to the first week of the rest of the season.

Wed, Nov 4^th vs Phoenix Coyotes (7:00 MST)

Phoenix is not the pushover Coyotes of years past.  They are a constant scoring threat, and virtually unbeatable in Overtime & Shootouts due to their offensive capabilities.

However, this squad still has big question marks on defense, and their goaltending is sub-par.  The Avalanche prey on teams like this, because the Colorado game plan begins with solid defense and goes from there.  Look for the Avs to work the Coyotes’ thin defense down early and score in spades late.

The Coyotes will score too.  But back at home after another long road-trip, the Avalanche will push the action into the Phoenix end all night long, and the result will be another dubya for dem Avs.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, COYOTES 2

Fri, Nov 6^th @ Chicago Blackhawks (7:00 MST)

The Chicago Blackhawks will have the pleasure this week of traveling to Phoenix on Thursday (after the Coyotes’ frustrating loss to the Avalanche on Wednesday) and to Colorado on Friday.  They will have had five days off previous to those two games, having not played a game since a 3-2 victory vs Montreal on October 30^th.

Some people think that lots of rest is good for hockey teams.  Five days to relax, eat something greasy in downtown Chicago, and watch the Chicago Bears look really bad in a win over a team that is much, much worse (the Browns).

The reality is that hockey teams thrive on continuity, and a five-day absence from in-game competition is like hitting the reset button on the season.  The Blackhawks came out flat to begin October, losing two of three before winning a couple of games in bonus time.  Expect the Avalanche to jump on the ‘Hawks early and hang in late for the win.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 3, BLACKHAWKS 2

Sun, Nov 8^th @ Edmonton Oilers (8:00 MST)

The Avalanche beat the Oilers soundly in Edmonton a week ago, and this Sunday should be no different.  The Oilers have lost five of their last six games, scoring a mere three goals in those combined losses.  Their only win was a shoot-out victory over the lowly (!?!?!) Detroit Red Wings, a contest that saw 10 regulation goals scored on a pair of terrible goaltenders.

The Red Wings got aging number one goaltender Chris Osgood back after that game, but the Oilers are still stuck with aging number one goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin.  The Edmonton defense is simply not good enough to make up for Khabibulin’s lack of speed across the crease, and the Avalanche will take advantage of that fact.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, EDMONTON 2

WEEK 6 PREDICTION:  3-0

**BONUS NEWS**

I know this happens every year, but Peter Forsberg is playing hockey again.  After helping the Swedish National Team win Olympic Gold in 2006, Forsberg will again don the blue ‘n yellow for the Karjala Cup starting this Thursday.

Here’s hoping that Peter the Great gets himself into playing shape for next year’s Winter Games, because (as everybody knows) every time Peter Forsberg steps skate on competitive ice a penguin gets its wings.

Week 5 Preview

Week 4 Preview

Articles similar to this:

• November 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 7 Preview: cycles, trends & more Foppa news (0)
  The story goes on to tell of a team that plays its best...
• December 1, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 10 Preview: G minus D plus O = ? (0)
  What do you get when you take an outstanding Goaltender...
• March 27, 2010 -- Colorado Avalanche @ Phoenix Coyotes 03-27-10 recap (0)
  The Avalanche are as dangerous as any team in the leagu...

Colorado Avlanche rookie Matt Duchene

To begin this week’s column I’d like to offer a shout-out to the NHL scheduling crew, who saw fit to set the Avalanche up for failure…

October 1^st thru November 1^st, the New Look Avalanche kicking off the next era in Colorado pro hockey.  Fifteen games.  Eleven on the road (73%!)  Two against the Red Wings.  Two against the Sharks.  And a total of nine against ’08 playoff teams.

Well kiss our pucks, NHL schedulers.  The Avs are on the war path now, and it’s all thanks to you.

This week’s stretch of games will undoubtedly be the toughest yet, even as good as the club must be feeling about their chances.  Each of these games could be a loss, and one of them is almost guaranteed to be.

Tue, Oct 27^th @ Edmonton Oilers (7:30 MST)

There are two main reasons that this should be an easy win for the Colorado Avalanche:

1)  The Avalanche are the better team.

2)  Colorado will be looking to avenge the loss of Darcy Tucker to Injured Reserve after Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu’s cheap shot resulted in a severe concussion.

Ruutu was given a game misconduct and will not take the ice against the Avalanche again until January 8^th, 2010.  As such (and this is really unfortunate for the Oilers) the Avalanche will be looking to play tough hockey for the next few games, as they did against Detroit on Saturday, to dispel any myths that such behavior is acceptable.

A pure speed game, as is typical of the Oilers-Avalanche matchup, favors Edmonton more because they are a team of burners with great puck-handling skills.  But the Avalanche have predicated their early-season success on rough ‘n tumble defense and forechecking that wears opponents out and leads to transition chances.

With the added motivation to look like a squad of bruisers, the Avalanche will slow this game down to a crawl and prey upon the Oilers in the neutral zone.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, OILERS 2

Wed, Oct 28^th @ Calgary Flames (7:30 MST)

Going into Detroit a week and a half ago there was not a chance that the Avalanche were going to come away with a victory.  Well… the same goes for this game.

The Flames are going to challenge the Avalanche for the division lead all season long.  They are a talented, deep team with great goaltending and veteran leadership throughout.  Calgary will bring the game to the Avalanche early, as the Red Wings did, and the only glimmer of hope is that the Avs will muster another huge final period.  This will once again depend on the young talent that seems singularly determined to turn Colorado into an offensive powerhouse.  Here’s why a win in our first trip to Calgary is even remotely possible…

Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly, both 18-year-old rookies, have played extraordinarily well in an experimental call-up that could have easily led to two weeks up and the rest of the season down in the minors.  Instead, Matt & Ryan are giving the Avalanche an incredible boost and a chance to win every night.

Add to that success the continued and exciting development of young players like T.J. Galiardi, Wojtek Wolski & Paul Stastny, and you have a full-on youth movement in the Avalanche forecourt.  Yet the Flames will still be the toughest out of our young season.  My prediction will call for a loss, but bear this in mind…

Darcy Tucker went down, and 28-year-old Center Chris Durno is coming up.  Durno has been thriving for two straight seasons in Lake Erie as a Monster, and this is his big chance to prove himself worthy of the Burgundy & Blue.  If the Avs win, I’d bet money that this guy has something to do with it.  Keep an eye out for #45 but…

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 2, FLAMES 4

**GAME NOTE: Should the Avalanche lose by two goals, it will be the first time this season.  Should the Avalanche fail to lead at any point during this game, it will be the first time this season.  Losing games happens.  The only thing that matters is that trends like those noted above continue immediately afterward.

Fri, Oct 30^th @ San Jose Sharks (8:30 MST)

The Avalanche shocked the hockey world when they beat the Sharks in the opening game of the season on October 1^st.  A win at the Shark Tank four weeks later would be only slightly less shocking.

Then, the Avs won 5-2 on the strength of a Pepsi Center full of good vibes after the pre-game Joe Sakic Retirement Ceremony.  This time, the Avalanche will be slogging through the back-end of a brutal road trip that has them playing three games in four days with another one two days later.

Now, the Sharks have had trouble dealing with the Avalanche for a few years, and even last season’s palpable awfulness was punctuated by a thrilling win in San Jose.  We seem to match up well against this team, as their slower defensemen have trouble keeping up with our speedy forwards.  But the Sharks have been scoring a lot of goals lately, and even in the best-case-scenario of a three period scorefest I don’t see this game ending as a win.  We’ll call it an overtime ending and a point gained from a tough road loss.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, SAN JOSE 5 (OT)

Sun, Nov 1^st @ Vancouver Canucks (10:00 MST)

Some time this Saturday the Avalanche are going to get together as a team and huddle around a schedule that details the remainder of their season.

They’ll see that they have to play another tough road game at Vancouver the next night.  They’ll see two games in five days against the very dangerous Chicago Blackhawks.  And then, inexplicably, they’ll all begin to laugh.  Quietly at first, but then in great roars and guffaws.  Soon the whole team, from players to staff, will be laughing uproariously.

A passing Zamboni driver will ask a trainer standing on the outskirts of the crowd, “What’s all that aboot?”

To which the trainer will reply, “It’s only Halloween, and the worst part of our schedule is already behind us!  Pauly just offered to buy a round, and our two best forwards can’t even drink yet!”

The mirth and merriment will carry over to a very defensive-minded shootout win over the vulnerable Vancouver Canucks on November 1^st, and that will wrap up the Avalanche’s first month of hockey.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 2, VANCOUVER 1 (SO)

WEEK 5 PREDICTION:  2-2

Articles similar to this:

• November 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 7 Preview: cycles, trends & more Foppa news (0)
  The story goes on to tell of a team that plays its best...
• April 6, 2010 -- Avalanche clinch playoff birth with gutsy SO win in Vancouver (0)
  The Vancouver Canucks matched the Colorado Avalanche go...
• November 3, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 6 Preview: welcome to the rest of the season (0)
  NHL 1st Star for October Craig AndersonThe first month ...

Avs General Manager Greg Sherman w/ scouts Richard Pracey & Alan Hepple

Listen to this recipe for disaster…

Your Captain just retired.  Your GM just turned over the coaching staff and brought in a host of inexperienced young players.  You start the season with two games at home; one against last year’s best regular season team (the San Jose Sharks) and the next against division rival Vancouver.  Then you go on the road for the next seven games, four of them against playoff teams from last season.

With one game to go in that hellish opening run, the Colorado Avalanche are the best team in the Western Conference, have the second-best power play in the league, and celebrated a hugely thrilling victory in Detroit with a flight back home and three days of rest.  Bring on the Wild…

Wed, Oct 21^st @ Minnesota Wild (6:00 MST)

The Wild began the 2009-20010 season with a similarly tough draw.  They lost their opener in Columbus, toughed out an OT win against Anaheim at home, and then lost every game of a five-game road trip.  Now they get to come home and play the 6-1-1 Northwest Division leading Avalanche.

No doubt, Minnesota will be fired up for this game.  They play great defense at home, and if early trends hold the Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis will be the only place that they score more than two goals a game this year.  Head Coach Todd Richards just promoted 24-year-old Mikko Koivu to team Captain for the ‘09-‘10 season after choosing Captains on a monthly basis the last couple years, so this team will be big-time motivated to go out and get a win.

That aside, Minnesota is offensively-challenged and slow.  They put up four goals against the suddenly defensively inept Ducks, and scored three at Los Angeles in a blowout loss.  Every other game has been a one or two goal affair for the Wild, and that trend will likely continue as they face the stellar goaltending of Craig Anderson and his cadre of veteran defensemen.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 3, MINNESOTA 2

Fri, Oct 23^rd vs. Carolina Hurricanes (7:00 MST)

The Hurricanes are a dangerous team that often underperforms.  They have looked unimpressive on the road this season, getting outscored 4-14 in their three away games.  Continuity has been the most pressing issue for this team, and the remedy is not likely to come in the midst of a four-game road trip.

The Avalanche, win or lose at Minnesota, will be heading back home with the best record in the division.  As much time as Colorado has spent towards the bottom of the division the last few seasons, the Avs will be keyed-in on beating so-so teams at home.  Call that a season-long mission for the Lanche, and expect them to pound out a convincing victory with Detroit coming to town the next night.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 4, CAROLINA 1

Sat, Oct 24^th vs. Detroit Red Wings (7:00 MST)

The Red Wings were the better team for two periods in Detroit last Saturday.  Were it not for the impressive play of Cody McLeod Red Wing Slayer (2G) and rookies Ryan O’Reilly (2A) and Matt Duchene (who scored his first of what will be many NHL goals), this game would have gone down as a W for the Wings.

One week later, the Red Wings will skate on Pepsi Center Ice looking for revenge in no uncertain terms.  Detroit has struggled in the early going this season.  They started off with home and away losses to the speedy St. Louis Blues before winning 3 of 4 to hit the .500 mark.  The Avalanche dumped them unceremoniously below that mark by handing them an OT Loss.

The Wings will most likely come out of their next game in Phoenix with another win.  Pushing them back below the Mendoza Line will be an equally difficult task.  But consider this…

Against speed offenses this season (St. Louis, Buffalo & Colorado) the Wings are 0-4.  The ultra-fast Sabres put six goals past the aging Chris Osgood, and the Avalanche scored most of their goals (including both shootout goals) by making the slow-as-molasses goaltender come across his crease to attempt a stop.  Look for a lot of one-pass-and-shoot hockey in this game, and look for the Avalanche to outscore the Red Wings in this key rematch.

PREDICTION:  AVALANCHE 5, RED WINGS 4

WEEK 4 PREDICTION:  3-0

Articles similar to this:

• December 9, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 11 Preview: Boo-Da-Yee to the rescue! (0)
  Over the five-game road trip, the Avalanche grabbed 7/1...
• February 24, 2010 -- Ryan Stoa Player Profile (0)
  Despite an early-season demotion to Lake Erie (AHL) and...
• December 29, 2009 -- Avalanche Week 14 Preview: 50 points plus 6 (0)
  Two wins last week would have been nice, because the Av...