On a week that could have put the Avs solidly back into the playoffs they started strong winning against Chicago and then played 2 poor games and 2 periods of poor hockey in a third. Instead of being solidly in, they sit 2 points behind LA and Minnesota and 1 behind Dallas (and 4 behind Nashville who swept the home and home), going 1-2-1 this week.
@ Chicago : The Avs went into Chicago and while the Hawks looked to be a speedy team they didn't look to be a threatening team after the first few minutes and the Avalanche controlled this game from start to end. Galiardi would get things started about 12 inutes in with the kind of play Sacco and all Avs fans want to see from him. Working hard he circled the zone a time or two maintaining control and getting loose pucks including a rebound of his own shot before finally pushing the puck back to EJ at the point who put it on net where Jones redirected it for a 1-0 lead. In the second Sharp would be all alone in front of Varly but a poke check ruined his chance and the puck went the other way where a great pass across ice from Stastny allowed Galiardi to bury the puck in the back of the net. Chicago really didn't seem to have anything left after that one. Later Landeskog on the fore check would take the puck and go to the net, with the puck coming back out to Van Der Gulik after Landy was dumped in front and with that it became 3-0 Avs. The Avs would add another and with time winding down on the game a questionable hit on Stastny was countered with Galiardi grabbing Bolland to have a go of things. When the buzzer sounded the Avs could look back on a very well played game where Varlamov got the shutout and Galiardi had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, the second for the the Avs on the season. With the shutout Varly had allowed only 5 goals in his last 4 games (though we would see each goalie give up 4 in the next couple games).
@ St. Louis : This game was a massive letdown for Avs fans after playing so well of late. Managing only a pair of shots in the first period, the team failed to ever get things going. The team would not only fall behind and play poorly, but they would also lose two big members of their defense. EJ left in the first period with a hand injury and mid way through the game O'Brien would leave to a knee injury, though he would return to finish the game. Later however it would be announced that O'Brien would miss at least the next couple games where EJ would be day to day. The Avs in this one just appeared slow and were sloppy with the puck. The were also undisciplined and while the penalties ended up fairly equal late the effort never was at any point (outshot 39-15). Ex-Av Shattenkirk continues his strong play, especially against the Avs, with another goal and assist on the night and ex-Av Brian Elliott would get the shutout. McLeod with his time in the box in this one broke the 100 PIM mark for the 5th straight year, a feat no one else in Avs history has done.
vs. Nashville : Coming into this one the Avs sat just 1 point from 7th spot in the West with most of the teams around them playing. They would leave a bit further back however. The Avalanche without EJ and O'Brien, both out to injury, saw Wilson return to the game and he was joined by Hunwick. However the Avalanche as a whole didn't seem to get back from their game against Chicago (after being all but absent from the Blue's game) until the second period. In the first period Nashville controlled play and looked to be the faster team. They forced turnovers and got good shots from in close and quickly took a three goal lead. Landeskog would hit a post in the second from in close as the Avs turned things around in the 2nd but for the most part Nashville kept shots to the outside. The Avalanche would get on the board with a great deflection by O'Reilly on the power play, but they wouldn't get any closer. While dominating shots the rest of the way they wouldn't get any more past Rinne and Nashville would tack on another after more poor play. Elliott had his first poor showing, being paired in the first period with Hunwick where both would go -2, and then later would add another minus on the night. On the flip side Wilson looked decent though had a couple turnovers as well and the Avs were a physical team in the third throwing a number of big hits. Wilson in fact led all Avs in ice time, followed by Landeskog, and the normal workhorse Winnik was limited to under 13 minutes on the night. This was the first of only three home games for the Avalanche in the month of January.
@ Nashville : As O'Brien was placed on IR retroactive to his injury, Peter Mueller was once again activated and made his first appearance since the third game of the year. Varly who was scheduled to get the start will sit for Giguere however after taking a puck of the knee in Wednesday's practice and not being 100% heading into the game, though Varlamov will be the backup. EJ also returned to the ice after missing one game with his hand injury. O'Reilly would play in his 200th game (still a month from turning 21), his first since learning he wouldn't be an All-Star, and he would have another great game. The Avs would start off strong in this one and after some back and forth play Rinne took the puck and tried to clear it up the middle to one of his guys, however O'Reilly would intercept the pass and put it past an out of position Rinne. The Avs would later add another as O'Reilly would flip the puck over to Landeskog coming down the wing who would take a shot that would beat Rinne, likely one that he would want back. After those two though Rinne would turn things around, and though Winnik would take a brutal accidental high-stick late in the first resulting in a double minor the Avs wouldn't get much going and would lose most of the second power play on a penalty of their own. The Avs did get 15 shots in the first which is an improvement given that over the last 5 games they only had 27 on net in first periods, or just over 5 on average in each game. Starting in the second period the Preds really turned things on and the Avs began to look a little more lost out there. Mid way through the period Legwand would find the puck in the middle of the slot after a wrap around was deflected out and he would bury it. The Preds continued to put on pressure in the third and Giguere made some huge saves and Stastny cleared one puck from the crease a split second before it became a goal after Giguere failed to cover it at the side of the net and it squirted out front. The Preds would eventually tie the game though from their pressure and it would be up to Giguere to make a few more big saves including one diving back into the crease and getting his paddle on a puck Tootoo couldn't elevate just to get it to overtime. However it wasn't long into overtime when Ledwand would make a move in the Avs zone, put a shot on goal and then chip his own rebound in for the game winner. The Avalanche started strong and then played a couple of poor periods that not only cost them a point but put 2 more on the board for Nashville, one of the teams they are trying to catch. They controlled play and got 15 shots in the first but only managed 7 in each of the next two periods and wouldn't get one in OT as Nashville took over. On the bright side Mueller looked pretty decent on the ice and Rinne's best save was on one of his 5 shots where he flew down the center and tipped a pass from Galiardi which Rinne had to quickly close the five hole to stop. He looked to have good jump as well right to the end. The PK also continue to play well of late killing all 6 Preds chances on the night. In other good news the team snapped a streak of 4 striaght games where Martin Erat had at least two points against them.
Six year old Jacob Ahrens is latest to feel the welcome of the Colorado Avalanche during difficult times. Having been diagnosed with a brain cancer he had been making the trip from his home in Wyoming to get treatment in Denver but recently it was found that the tumor had grown and the cancer had spread and the doctors have given him just 6 months to live. The Avalanche before their home game against Nashville invited Jacob and his family to sit in on the Avalanche practice then meet many of the players afterwards. He would later get to watch the Avalanche take on the Predators. Jacob will no longer be making the trips to Denver for medical treatment as there is little doctors can do now but the Avalanche at least were able to provide him a happy moment in times with few to be had. http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-young-brain-cancer-patient-visits-with-colorado-avalanche-20120110,0,6312942.story
Sometimes we fail to remember just how human hockey players are and the sacrifices they make to play this game. David van Der Gulik can attest to this. After being recalled to the Avalanche December 15th it was shortly there after he flew back to Cleveland to be there for the birth of his first child on the 19th. David has been living in a Denver hotel since his call-up, and being in the midst of an NHL season and just now finding his spot on the team he has only been able to see his child twice, once when their son Jackson was born and then again over the Christmas break. http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_19708851
The Pepsi Center rated a 3.7 out of 5 on Stadium Journey's rating, getting high marks in many areas (the highest being neighborhood) and the lowest marks being a 3 of 5 in areas such as Extras and Return on Investment (and in this they mention the Avs ticket prices as being one of the highest in the league). I didn't compare against other stadiums but you can see the reviews for each one by browsing to that team. http://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/pepsi-center-s52/
As Adam Foote awaits to have his number retired by the Avalanche (hasn't been stated that it will be but myself and many other fans believe it should be without a doubt, and should be in the season opener next year), he is to be honored by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with that very honor on March 17th. On that day they will put his number 5 in the rafters alongside Wayne Gretzky's No. 99, Craig Hartsburg's No. 4, Ron Francis's No. 10 and John Vanbiesbrouck's No. 1. http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3421864&auth=BILL+MONTAGUE
Gabriel Landeskog has been named by the NHL as the top left wing rookie through the mid-point of the season. There were few surprises beyond perhaps the fact that 3 of the 6 players were from this year's draft. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610811#&navid=nhl-search
Joey Hishon, the Avs first round pick, was recently released by Owen Sound after being unable to move him after not having played because of concussions since the Memorial Cup last year. The London Knights, hoping he could still return this year claimed him off waivers, however the Colorado Avalanche who hold his rights blocked the move denying London the access to Hishon. No word yet on why the Avalanche made that move... http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=42290
This week also brought about the selection of this year's "All-Stars" and while most fans like to see their players rest, and I agree with that to an extent and also agree the game really isn't much more than a sideshow, I was a little disappointed that O'Reilly's season wasn't recognized. Sure, he may not be the best out there so I understand it, and while I'm excited that Landeskog will represent the Avs as one of the rookies and will take part in the skills, but I was hoping to see him out there. “It would be a cool thing to be an NHL All-Star, but it’s something I never thought would (happen). It’s amazing to just be considered," said O'Reilly. As is I'll likely watch still but have even less interest than I normally would as no Avs are in the All-Star game. The Avs are one of 5 teams with only rookie representation.
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