Colorado Avalanche

Lets get the loss out of the way by saying: yes, we should have beat Anaheim and played rather ridiculously according my my snobby, high-nosed standards. We did play, however, like we have all year, which is to say we underachieved.

Continue reading "Avalanche Recap - 3 Games, 2 Wins, 1 Loss"

Here's a fitting summary of tonight's game. Toronto wins 7-4. Terrible Toronto just beat the Avs. Stewart had the first Avs goal. Hejduk had two. Liles had a nice one from a bit out on the dot. Hejduk had another that was called back on a most ridiculous display of officiating. And the snowball took off and the Leafs became an unstoppable machine. Not the finest night of Raycroft's career, against his former team. And Tucker's former team. Again, the first line looked the best. Poor Cumiskey finally got some ice time and then lost an edge, hit the boards, and left with an injury. Honestly, he looked a lot like Stastny when he blocked the shot that broke his arm.

Continue reading "Wow... Toronto? Really?"

Ok. Ok. so I know that I haven't posted here since the season actually started, but I'm renewing my vow to this blog and tonight seemed just as good a place as anywhere to start.

Tonight was officially one of the worst games I have seen the Avalanche play. And I had the added benefit of witnessing the devastation in person. The team couldn't click, they were working against each other and the worst part was that the Sharks didn't even look like #1. Nabokov wasn't impressive at all. In fact, he looked like a nervous rookie at the beginning of the game, flailing around and making unusual plays. It took him a while to find his poise.

Continue reading "Sharks devour Avs"

     

So here it is.  Here is my civic duty as a fan of the NHL and the Colorado Avalanche to thank Joe Sakic for a decade-plus of good times.   

Thanks Joe for bringing the Avalanche two Stanley Cups.  The first against the Florida Panthers during the ill-fated “glow puck” era on Fox, and the second that brought a championship to perhaps the most deserving man in hockey, Ray Bourque.  I shed a few tears at the end of that one, I must admit.  Maybe it’s the way he quietly led his team, minus Avalanche legend Peter Forsberg, to victory in seven games over the New Jersey Devils.  Or maybe it’s because he handed the Cup straight to Bourque, and wasn’t the first to hoist the chalice over his head and skate it as the Captain of the team is supposed to be.      

Continue reading "Joe Sakic: the Man, the Myth, the quiet Legend"

So I'm sitting home, watching the game, season opener, wondering if our boys will have what it takes this season. And I just think there is so much to be excited about right now. First and foremost: it's hockey season, baby! I'm so excited for fall because of three things: old sweatshirts, pumpkin beer, and hockey season. I used to work out almost everyday, take my dog for a walk, help my girlfriend with dinner, but during hockey season, I'm sad to say I lose a bit of my figure, so does my dog, and my girlfriend is pissed at me for how much time I spend glued to the TV tracking a puck too fast for her to see. All the nay sayers think the playoffs are a long shot for us this year. Sure we lost the big 2-1. But even without Forsberg, we have a lot to be excited about this season. On Sakic's between-period interviews on Versus, he promises, "Our D is as good as it's been in years."  I couldn't agree more. Liles is playing tight. Foote is healthy, and Salei has found his niche, to name but a few. The forward lines are as solid as ever, of course, led by the legend himself, Joey Boy. The acquisition of Darcy Tucker will solidify a much-needed physical presence in the offensive corners. Svatos and Wolski are coming off a fantastic season last year and will only keep building on their willingness to grow and adapt on the ice. Not to mention the stalwart presence of Brunette and the ex-Denver Pioneer Mr. Paul Stasney. Overlooking it all, the suit on the bench, Tony Granato. I never really understood why he was coach a few years a few years back, stayed with the club and now gets the big call. I was ok with Quenneville. i hale from from Missouri as an old guard Blues fan from the Hull/MacInnis days. That Quenneville. He's alright. But I really think Granato has his head right, is motivated to do good by the club and will prove it in the win column. 

Continue reading "A season pending"

ood guys, sparing a damaging arbitrition hearing and solidifying his spot as a major player for the Colorado Avalanche.

Svatos finished second in goals last year despite a season ending ACL injury. Despite this and a recent shoulder injury, Svatos has proven himself - with sufficient ice time - to be quite talented. He fought along with Ovechkin and Crosby for Rookie of the year and really stepped it up recently.

Continue reading "Svatos!"

It's hard to be excited about a man that Denver Post writer Adrian Dater, quoting an Edmonton sports writer, defines as: "Not great offensively, not great defensively. Plays a safe game, kind of like Sauer."

Continue reading "Less than sufficient"

The number one blunder in Colorado Avalanche history: Letting go of Chris Drury.

That said, the Avs have had been relatively lackluster in the period of free agency thus far.

Continue reading "Avs wheel and deal with a lot less ..."