Well the season for the Avalanche is now over. There are certainly reasons for optimism going forward for this team and I can't wait to see what they do in the offseason, however that isn't the point of this writing. This will be the last "week that was the Avs" for the 2011-2012 season. I realize that I got a bit away from weekly reporting as I took on more at work and became busier, but I hope those that read this enjoyed it and maybe took a thing or two away from it as well. I think I'll definitely pick back up next year, and likely will have some things to say through the summer, but for now here we are with a wrapup of the last few weeks of the Avalanche season.
The Avs entered this stretch of games with a real chance of making the playoffs once again. Things started off well with a win against the Rangers on the road and then an OT win against Calgary back at home but a loss to Phoenix which would be followed by a difficult trio of games in Vancouver and then back at home against San Jose and then Vancouver again would likely determine the outcome of their season. They would jump out to a lead in that first game but lose it, then lose the other two but still had a chance late in the season but in the end they would lose 6 of their last 7 games of the year and miss the playoffs once again.
@ NY Rangers : 3-1 W : When you look at the Avalanche lineup you would think they would have to have some luck on their side on St. Patrick's day, right? O'Reilly, O'Byrne, O'Brien, McLeod, McClemment... It would be Varlamov that would be the star of the day though. He was asked early and often to make big saves and regularly did so. The Rangers would get on the board first however, but Varly would respond with a huge glove save on Gaborik. It would be Matt Hunwick, who I have grown to respect for the way he continues to work despite being a scratch for much of the season, who would tie things up though. Getting a pass from Mueller and breaking in he deked the defender and then put a move on Lundqvist before burying the puck. The Rangers would continue to pile up shots but it would be Landeskog with a redirect putting the Avs ahead. The Rangers would then go back to peppering shots on goal and late Downie would take a pair of bad penalties which put the Avs in danger of losing the lead but Varly stood tall. Stastny would eventually net the empty netter but the story here was goaltending by Colorado without question. Varlamov would end with 41 saves on 42 shots in a big game for the Avalanche.
vs. Calgary : 2-1 OT W : Things in this one started off in the one way no team does, by allowing a goal just two minutes in as Stajan walked out of the corner in front and beat Varly 5-hole. The team seemed to be a step slow with Varly playing big until Landeskog woke up both teams with a huge open ice hit in the Calgary end on Comeau. Just moments after the hit Stastny would get his 19th goal of the season with a nice re-direct of a O'Brien point shot. With the first winding down it would be Varly's turn to shine as Iginla would break in alone but he would get shut down, keeping the score tied. Kipper and Varly both would come up with big saves to keep things tied at 1 but the game wouldn't end without some controversy. In a game that was poorly officiated with questionable calls against the Avs and no calls against the Flames we would get more of the same. O'Reilly fired a shot off the crossbar but in the process got a stick across his nose that would break it. He would leave the ice bleeding profusely but of course no one saw it so no call. O'Reilly wouldn't let that keep him down though and was out shortly after. The game would go to OT where Hunwick would make a rush up ice, get it to Stastny, and then Jones would tuck the puck in behind Kipper for the win. After the game O'Reilly wasn't mad about the missed call or getting the stick in the face, rather he was more upset about missing the chance to end the game when he hit the crossbar. Landeskog became only the second rookie to ever break 20 goals and 200 hits in a season in this game.
@ Phoenix : 3-2 L : The Avs can say they caught a bit of a break as Shane Doan began his suspension this game, but one player isn't a team and the game still had to be played. This game had a playoff feel to it right from the start. The Avs fell behind early with one of those dirty playoff type goals with everyone digging around the net just a few minutes in and despite a couple good chances for the Avs and what Phoenix thought was a goal (but on review clearly wasn't) the score remained 1-0 until O'Brien, on a 4-on-2 rush entering the Phoenix zone bobbled the puck leading to a 4-on-1 back the other way. Downie, the only guy back, made a make or break dive to try to break up the play but Whitney slid the puck past him breaking Chipchurra in alone and it was then 2-0. The second was all Avs until late when a rebound bounced to Torres who would get his second of the game. The Avs would rally back in the third with goals by O'Reilly and Stastny late, and with an empty net continued to pelt Smith having 41 shots in the game but couldn't get the equalizer.
vs. Vancouver : 3-2 OT L : This game started off the right way for the Avs, getting a PP under a minute in when Vancouver forgot the rules and thought they could play with 6 skaters. Shortly after that Landeskog would get his 22nd goal of the season and the Avs were up early. The Avs were flying and were the better team much of the period. The Canucks would get themselves a golden chance though after a pair of Avs penalties gave them a 5-on-3 but they wouldn't capatilize. Halfway through the second on another PP, Varly fired a pass from the net to the opposite blueline where Stastny took the puck and fed a charging McGinn on a mini-breakaway. After finding the back of the net for his 20th of the season the score was 2-0. It was Varly's first NHL point as well. The Avs however would give the Nucks another PP chance and this time a blocked shot would end up on Raymond's stick and the game would be 2-1. Less than two minutes later it would be tied at 2, and the third period would pass without scoring so we would head to OT. In OT Barrie would find himself going back to protect the puck, however his rookie size and experience would show as he was litterally thrown off the puck and the Canucks would walk out of the corner where the puck would get fed to Higgins who would get his second of the game and the Avs would walk away with only a single point after dominating early.
@ San Jose : 5-1 L : In a big game for both teams the Sharks came out flying taking it to the Avs but Varly stood tall, including a stop on Marleau who broke in alone on him. The Avs PK had to be good early, and then they got a chance with the man advantage as well but to no end. It wasn't until the second period and a bad bounce landed on the stick of Pavelski that the scoring started. It was his 24th point in 27 games against the Avs in his career. O'Brien would then get on the Avs fans bad sides as he screened Varly on SJ's second goal, but he would rush up the ice right after with O'Reilly and Landeskog and get that one back making the score 2-1. The Sharks would get another before the end of the second and an early third period goal would put it out of reach though they would eventually make it 5-1 later.
@ Vancouver : 1-0 L : This game was a lot like many against the Nucks of late, just without the scoring. At times the Avalanche seemed on the verge of scoring, then at times it seemed that they were chasing the Nucks and barely holding on. The Avs would actually get a few power play chances this game but would also give them, including another 5-on-3 (I'd have to go back and look but I think we're nearing 55-60 games since the last time the Avs HAD a 5-on-3 of any length). They would kill that one off and Varly was great all night. The only goal on the night would come when Hunwick on the powerplay would lose control of the puck sending the Nucks on a breakaway the other way and Higgins would put it past Varly. Schneider was just as good for Vancouver though, and with the empty net it looked like they would seal it up but O'Reilly did his best goalie impression making a save in the crease. However it would be for naught as the Avs couldn't solve Schneider yet again.
@ Calgary : 4-1 W : Needing a win in the worst way the team would find themselves without McGinn, out with a back injury, but the Avs would come out with energy and looked to be a team ready to play the game. The Avs would get on the board early as Barrie would rush the puck up the ice, get it to Landeskog who would throw it over to Olver. As Olver went to go back across the crease Bowmeester would get his stick on the puck and direct it past his own goalie. Landeskog and Barrie would get assists, with that being Barrie's first career point, but during the intermission the scorekeepers decided they didn't like that and instead decided it was unassisted stripping both players of that point. Next it would be EJ who would circle the zone maintaining good possession of the puck before firing it on net where David Jones would tip it in. This time Landeskog would retain the assist for his 50th point of the season. The Avs would carry a 3-0 lead late into the game before O'Byrne would put the Flames on their 5th powerplay, and very late Varly's shutout bid would be ruined by Iginla who buried the cross ice feed, and he would finish with 38 of 39 saves. The Avs would add a empty netter and get the important win. This game was also the 7th time in which the Avalanche failed to get a powerplay in a game on the season.
vs. Columbus : 5-2 L : This game was a definition of "must win" for the Avalanche and the team had five days off since their last game to prepare. To make the playoffs they needed to win their two remaining games and still get help from others, but it started here for them. The team looked for large portions of the game though like one rusty from that five day layoff. The teams would trade posts early, with Landeskog hitting the crossbar on the second shift of the game, but then it would be Columbus getting on the board first as Atkinson would split the D following a long pass and beat Varlamov. Jones would soon tie it redirecting a McGinn pass, however Nash (who would look good in Burgandy and Blue but would be the surprise of the offseason if he ends up in Colorado) would give the Jackets the lead back as a shot would trickle through Varly who thought he had it only to be tucked in behind him by Nash. A double minor high stick would give the Avs a chance to tie it, which Stastny did, but that would be the last scoring for the Avs. The Avs would find themselves in penalty trouble and the Jackets would cash in on a 5-on-3 with Nash's second. They would fall behind two when O'Brien lost the puck and Atkinson would get his second, and then the hattrick would be completed by the kid with a minute left into the open net. That officially eliminated the Avs, but had they won they would have been eliminated later by the Sharks comeback win, but it still stung. Barrie for the second game in a row would initially be credited with an assist for his first NHL point but again have it taken away, thus he still sits looking for his first career point.
vs. Nashville : 6-1 L : Much like it must have been hard for the Avalanche, or any team really, to get up for a game after being eliminated, it is hard to write about this one. The Avalanche also looked like a team that had their season ended just before this one as well and despite being able to tie things up on Duchene's first goal in ages while crashing the net and finding the rebound, on a line with Kobasew and McLeod of all people, the team wouldn't ever really challenge Nashville. They would find themselves down 3-1 after the first when Hornqvist batted a puck in with a second to go in the period. The team would start throwing hits regularly in the second period but couldn't get on the board and in the end it would be the Preds scoring again, then twice more in the third. The Avalanche were obviously disheartened about not being in the playoffs and that showed in post game interviews but many were optimistic about the team going forward as well. The night ended just as in season's past, with the Avalanche organization bringing random fans down to the ice and the Avalanche players giving the jerseys they just wore to the fans there.
Avalanche fans are now left wondering if Hejduk has played his last game. It is certainly possible and Hejduk isn't sure which direction he'll go after this season, something not all that uncommon this close to a season's end. Despite his career low in most statistical catagories and failing to hit 20 goals for the first time since his rookie season he is still one of those class acts that you like having around for his veteran presence. I also think he's better than he finished this season and has more to give, so I for one would like to see him back. He is one of many players the Avalanche have to consider this offseason though having only 8 of their top 22 players under contract next season. They have 8 RFAs and 6 UFAs at the end of their contracts to make decisions on, and then they also have a free agent pool which could be used to bring in key pieces for deep playoff runs going forward. I'll talk more on this in another post sometime though.
If there is any question on if Duchene wants to return I think he put those to rest. "I can't stress it enough, the fact I want to (remain with the) Avalanche," Duchene said Saturday night after the Avs' season-ending 6-1 loss to the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center. "I grew up worshiping this team, and the guys that have their banners up in the rafters, they're my heroes. My No. 1 commitment is to raise a Stanley Cup one day in this jersey." O'Reilly, Johnson, and O'Brien also had some good comments in the article. http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_20354021/duchene-oreilly-johnson-and-obrien-want-return-colorado
Speaking of Duchene he didn't finish the season well but that could be in large part to injuries. We all know of the knee injury that cost him nearly 2 months and the ankle injury that was to keep him out 3-4 weeks but he returned after just 9 days later. However Duchene finished the season with a metal brace on his knee and his ankle wrapped heavily. He stated that he wanted to be out there with his team contributing and fighting through the injuries and to be there for the team. He will have some MRIs soon and there is a slight chance he may need surgery, but he showed a lot of grit and heart by playing through these injuries to end the year this year. http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_20311873/avalanches-matt-duchene-learning-live-play-injuries
Sure Varlamov was inconsistent early in the season and even lost his starting job to Giguere for a while, however be it part of the growing experience or the effects of having the veteran mentor laying with him he really started to show more consistancy and grow into the #1 the Avalanche were hoping when they gave up a 1st and 2nd round pick for him. After the All-Star break Varly came back and posted a .932 SV % and 2.06 GAA for a team pushing to make the playoffs.
A recent Denver Post article had a great quote from O'Brien, a guy that I hope the Avs will re-sign. He is a good glue guy and one that the team could use next year as well. Here is his quote... “It’s the way I play the game and we have a lot of character in here, and a lot of guys who want to win,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes that’s more important than skill and size and speed. If you have a group of guys who like to be with each other and want to win and are willing to buy in, that’s almost more important than that other stuff put together. We have that here, and we made some good strides this year and hopefully we can have a good off-season, stick together and see what we can do next year.”
When Colorado went without a powerplay against Calgary it marked the 7th time this season in which the team got no powerplays. No other team in the league has more than 3 games this year in which they went without at least 1, and in the 10 previous years the event occurred only once for the Avalanche. In addition to no power plays in seven games, they also have eleven other games in which they have only had 1 power play. The Avalanche opponents didn't have a single game against Colorado in which they failed to have a single powerplay chance once this season.
While I could argue for and against Landeskog winning the Calder this year (and he is my choice), there are a number of sources over the last couple weeks stating he should be the winner as well. Adam Proteau of the Hockey News, CBC's Greg Stellick, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault ("He's the best rookie in the league this year. In my mind, there are some other good rookies but he plays like a man right now and has a lot of skill to back it up."), and many other articles out there state as much. However this could be the closest race in many, many years and articles stating Hopkins, Henrique, and Read are also to be found for one looking for them...
Landeskog also took time out of his schedule recently to attend the Colorado Select Girls Hockey practice on March 19th. http://www.coloradogirlshockey.com/page/show/398273?referrer_id=
Peter Mueller is this year's Avalanche representative for the Masterson Trophy. Given he missed an entire season and much of this one in recovering from a concussion and is making his way back into the game he has my "homer" vote to win this one.
Former Av Ian Lapperiere admitted to playing with post-concussion syndrome just to help his team and experience the Cup Finals. In a Globe and Mail article it stated...
Laperriere wanted so badly to be part of the Flyers’ run, he didn’t tell anyone he was still experiencing postconcussion symptoms. Before Philadelphia lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, Laperriere was voted the NHL’s toughest player by The Hockey News. He tried a comeback in September of 2010, but has yet to play another game.
"I really do believe there are guys playing right now with concussions," said Laperriere, who will have problems with his eye for the rest of his life. "They don’t want to say anything because they don’t want to lose their job. It’s not like Sidney Crosby who can miss two years and play, especially for the third, fourth liners."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/stud-up-or-sit-down/article2380205/
The Avs recent acquisition Sgarbossa may be out of the playoffs but got recognized plenty by the OHL coaches in the OHL Coaches Poll which provides member club coaches with the opportunity to recognize the top three players in 20 different skill categories within their own conference. Forward Michael Sgarbossa appeared in a conference-best five different categories. The Colorado Avalanche prospect was named Smartest Player and Best Playmaker, the second Most Dangerous in the Goal Area and second Best Stick-handler (he finished third in that category last season). He also ranked third in the Best Shot category. He also won the Eddie Power Memorial Trophy for being the OHL's leading scorer in the regular season having scored 3 goals and an assist in his last game to edge past Tyler Toffoli.
Avs prospect Paul Carey was part of the National Champions again this year in BC. The championship is the second and final of his collegiate career. His tip shot on the power play in the first period turned out to be the game winner. Carey ended up with three goals in the tournament and 18 on the season. He was named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Calvin Pickard's career in Seattle is officially over and is now in Cleveland playing for Lake Erie. He saw his first action in relief of Desjardins, stopping all 8 shots he saw, then played the next game making 25 of 29 saves in an 8-4 win. Duncan Seimens also made his debut for the Monsters in the game which Pickard got his debut.
The Avs Better Halves (yes, that's wives and girlfriends of the players) raised either $20000 or $30000 for five local charaties lately. I say either or because the article states $20k but the photo of the check shows $30k. Those charaties were the Ronald McDonald House, The Gathering Place, Home Front Cares, Freedom Service Dogs, and Miracles on Ice.
It appears that Denver will be getting another hockey team as well. The Central Hockey League will be adding a team in Denver and the team at this time looks like it will be called the Cutthroats. Why the Cutthroats? That name comes from the official state fish, the greenback cutthroat trout. Have to admit that I don't really care for the name but another team in Denver may be great in growing the sport. When asked about past failures of other leagues in Denver owner John Hayes said they will be targeting younger players hoping to bring in the families. "If you recruit the kids, the family will follow" stated Hayes who mentioned the 14000 registered USA Hockey members in the market as their target market. http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_20365826/new-denver-pro-hockey-team-introduced-could-be
No comments:
Post a Comment