Game 48. Avs-Wild. Avs end season on positive note, but fall to Wild 3-1

The Avs came out and played like a team that was going to the playoffs, not going to play the slots in Vegas, but it was Minnesota who fought for their playoff lives, and beat Colorado 3-1

Milan Hejduk may have played his final NHL game on Saturday, but I’m hoping he comes back for one more year

Before I get to any game notes, it’s worth mentioning that it seems like Milan Hejduk has played his last game in the NHL. Hejduk picked up the puck after the final buzzer sounded, and the team may be ready to move on, but Hejduk has always been a class act and I’m hoping he comes back for one more year, because he can still help the team.

On to the game; if I didn’t know any better, I would have said it was a playoff game. Minnesota came out and fought for their lives (because they had to). Zach Parise netted the first of the game on a backhand in front, but Colorado wouldn’t go away. Late in the first, $Mr. Character himself tied things up on a beautiful shot over goalie Niklas Backstrom’s glove. Of course it wasn’t O’Reilly who did any of the dirty work, it was Gabe Landeskog who worked hard down low and made a nice pass in front to O’Reilly, but of course in the box score you can’t tell.

After that the game really tightened up. Both teams didn’t want to allow the next goal. The refs didn’t want to allow Colorado to win, and called off a Chuck Kobasew goal due to a “kicking motion”. Kobasew didn’t know where the puck even was, and the ref called goal on the ice, yet somehow when they reviewed the goal, the call on the ice was no goal.

That swing of momentum took a lot out of the Avs, and Devin Setoguchi was able to rip a slapper from the top of the far circle on the powerplay, right between Jan Hejda’s legs, and past Varlamov into the net. From then on (roughly half the game) it was all defensive, playoff hockey. Minnesota added an empty netter with just a few seconds left, and picked up the win, getting them into the playoffs.

Despite the terrible season, it’s going to be rough not having the Avs around for the next 5 months or so. Yes, it will be interesting to see what they do in free agency, and they DID WIN THE DRAFT LOTTERY TONIGHT!, but it’s just not the same. I know I can’t wait for October to come around.

That’s going to do it for the 2013 season blog. Time was valuable this semester and the blog had to be put on the back burner, so hopefully next season will be better, but thanks for reading and keeping checking over the summer for updates on the Avs roster moves.

Game 47. Avs-Coyotes. Avs storm back, win in shootout

Phoenix scored a couple of quick goals in the first, and Avs fans everywhere were thinking they secured a top 3 overall pick, but Colorado never said die, and came back to win 5-4 in the shootout.

Photo from nhl.com

David Schlemko got the scoring started less than three and a half minutes into the game on a wrister from the slot. Giguere was borderline in the crease, and Paul Bissonette was standing to Giguere’s right and prevented him from moving, giving Schlemko a yawning net. Avs fans were not happy, but I thought it was a legit goal. Antoine Vermette made it 2-0 for Phoenix at the 8:45 mark, but then the Avs flipped the switch and controlled the game.

Stefan Elliott netted his first of the year to make it 2-1, and PA Parenteau slapped a rocket from the point on the powerplay, over goalie Mike Smith’s glove to tie things up. Exactly a minute later, still in the first period, Patrick Bordeleau gave the Avs the lead- should I even have to explain the type of goal it was?

The second period was actually quite boring compared to the first, but things heated up late when Rob Klinkhammer tied the game with under 5 minutes left on the powerplay. I can’t be upset, because Klinkhammer is one of the best names I’ve ever seen. Well that, and Mr. Character earned some bucks with a goal in the last minute of play. Not a great goal for Phoenix to let up, especially considering it wasn’t a great angle, but I wasn’t complaining.

The third, much like the second, wasn’t that great. There were some quality chances, Duchene had a sweet spin-o-rama, but ultimately it was Phoenix with the only goal in the period to send the game to OT. They also ran over Giguere, literally, knocking him out of the game.

The Yotes controlled overtime, especially the last minute, but Colorado got it to the shootout, and were perfect. Duchene beat Smith on a 5-hole shot, Parenteau beat Smith over the glove, and Varlamov stoned both Coyotes shooters to give the Avs the win.

Colorado’s last game (maybe Milan Hejduk’s too) will take place on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. The game starts at 5:30 p.m. Mountain time.

Game 46. Avs-Blues. Defense struggles as Blues cruise to victory

St. Louis jumped out to a 3-0 lead Tuesday in St. Louis, and Colorado was unable to get back in the game, ultimately falling, 3-1.

Photo from nhl.com

No one is hotter than Cody McLeod for the Avalanche, who added his fifth goal in as many games, but the Avs were unable to add to that, giving St. Louis a crucial two points, and a spot in the playoffs.

I couldn’t watch the game, but a couple deflections in front, and the defense leaving goalie Semyon Varlamov out to dry propelled St. Louis to victory.

Former Av Chris Stewart netted the first goal of the game on the powerplay with a deflection from the slot. The Blues came out in the second period and put the game out of reach with a couple of goals in the first 5+ minutes. On the powerplay it was Patrick Berglund, again deflecting the puck past Varlamov, and Andy McDonald added the final Blues goal as he easily made his way to the front of the net and slipped it under Varlamov’s right pad.

McLeod added a snipe from left side of the slot late in the second, but the Avs couldn’t carry the momentum into the third, and lost by two.

Actually, it was an important loss for Colorado, and due to how other games have played out, Colorado appears to be a near lock for having at worst the third pick in the draft.

The Avs continue the quest for the #1 pick Friday, against the Coyotes in Phoenix. The game starts at 8 p.m. Mountain time.

Game 45. Avs-Blues. Avs continue home dominance over Blues

On Sunday for the 8th straight time, Colorado beat St. Louis on home ice, by a score of 5-3

Photo from nhl.com

For a team that has been clearly better than Colorado over the past couple of seasons, the Avs almost always find a way to put a good game together against St. Louis. The Avs opened the scoring when Jamie McGinn “deflected” the Aaron Palushaj pass off his skate and into the net. The goal was reviewed, but it is a legal play to turn your skate to deflect the puck, as long as there is no kicking motion.

Here’s something I don’t understand; why is Aaron Palushaj not in the lineup every night? Good things happen when he is on the ice. I’m almost positive the Avs have a better record when he is in the lineup. 9 points in 24 games for Palushaj, which in my opinion, is decent depth scoring for the role he’s getting.

David Backes of St. Louis tied things up less than a minute later when Jay Bouwmeester found him wide open in the slot, and easily wristed a forehand over JS Giguere’s glove. What was comical about the play was Mr. Character himself decided to point to other players to hustle back and cover Backes, rather than do it himself.

But with less than a minute to play in the first Cody McLeod scored his fourth goal in as many games after a Stefan Elliott backhand glanced off him and past Brian Elliott. Jamie McGinn added a powerplay goal early in the second for Colorado after David Perron of St. Louis sent him a perfect pass in the slot. O’Reilly was hounding Perron’s back after he lost the puck to Perron, but Perron needs to be smarter than that for St. Louis.

Photo from nhl.com

About three and a half minutes later, Jaden Schwartz slapped a rocket through Giguere’s legs from the top of the left circle. St. Louis third goal (later in the game) was just as weak, as Kevin Shattenkirk wristed a shot from the blue line that found its way in. There was traffic in front, but you need to stop those kinds of shots. If Varlamov would’ve let the Schwartz slapper and the Shattenkirk wrister in, everyone would be on Varlamov’s case, but for some reason, time after time people give Giguere the benefit of the doubt. But Giguere did stop 29 of 32 in the game.

The goal of the game belonged to Matt Duchene, who kept a Jordan Leopold clearing attempt in the Blues zone, then worked his way around Leopold on the goal line, and roofed the puck over Elliott’s sholder from no more than a foot in front of the goal line. Great stuff from Duchene.

In the third, Shattenkirk added his goal, but 4 minutes later Chuck Kobasew added an insurance marker for Colorado down the stretch after scoring from another impossible angle like Duchene, but this time it went through Jake Allen’s legs, who came in to replace Elliott after the fourth Avs goal.

It’s just a shame this team couldn’t get things going when they still had a shot at the playoffs.

Colorado will finish the home and home series with St. Louis on Tuesday in the show me state. The game starts at 6 p.m. Mountain time.

Game 44. Avs-Oilers. Varlamov and Hejduk return to a blowout loss

The Avs played like a team that wanted to go to Vegas Friday night, and Edmonton took advantage by dominating the full 60 minutes on route to a 4-1 victory.

Photo from nhl.com

The Oilers, who were on a six game slide, came out and scored early to take control of the game. Just 2:33 into the first, Taylor Hall found the back of the net. Hall took a shot from the far circle, had it blocked in front, got it back on the side of the net, and lifted it over Varlamov’s left pad. Colorado struggled all night to play defense in front of goalie Semyon Varlamov, who stopped 20 of 24 on the night.

Colorado fought back, and tied things up 5 minutes later on a PA Parenteau one-timer backhand. John Mitchell deserves some credit for getting the puck to Parenteau with an impressive pass, but Parenteau stunned everyone by being able to one time a backhand up and over Devan Dubnyk’s right shoulder, off the crossbar, and into the net.

From then on, one team was playing hockey, and one team was thinking about playing the slots.

Justin Schultz gave Edmonton the lead on the rush, by skating perpendicular to the goal and having a Jordan Eberle backhander glance off him and into the net. Maybe the bad break deflated Colorado’s moral, but either way Edmonton never took their foot off the gas.

The second period came and went with the Oilers adding a couple of more goals. First was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who was set up (wide open) in the slot by Eberle, and then Eberle added his third point of the night with goal of his own. Eberle was making his way to the front of the net when defenseman Mark Fistric took a shot from the point, which was blocked, and landed on Eberle’s stick who was able to backhand it over Varlamov’s right pad. Varlamov was reacting to the Fistric shot when Eberle got the puck, which led to an easy goal for Edmonton.

The third period was exactly what you would expect out of a team with a 3 goal lead. Edmonton made sure to get the puck deep into the Avs zone, and were solid defensively. The Avs looked like a team tonight, that was trying to win the jackpot….the draft lottery jackpot.

Colorado will next host St. Louis on Sunday in a nationally televised game. The game starts at 6 p.m. Mountain time.

Game 43. Avs-Blue Jackets. Overtime thriller ends in Avalanche disappointment

Rather than write about the game, I’m going to post the audio I recorded for the game and list the time frame for major events during the game.

First Period: Meh, boring period, no goals, no penalties, nothing too exciting at all.

Second Period: McLeod goal starts at 13:48. Vinny Prospal tied things up at 1, starting at the 16:22 mark.

Third Period: BJ’s make it 2-1 starting at the 4:05 mark. Cody McLeod scored his second of the night starting at 8:56. McGinn gives the Avs the lead starting at 27:48. RJ Umberger responds to send the game to OT, at the 29:05 mark. And if I were you, I’d just listen to the rest of the game from there, because it was such an entertaining overtime period.

Game 42. Avs-Canucks. Canucks win streak over, as Avs score late

Jan Hejda scored with 8 seconds remaining in the third to give the Avs a 4-3 win Saturday. Their first win against Vancouver since 2009.

Photo from nhl.com

With no shame I will say I intentionally didn’t watch the game, because of the Masters, but it’s safe to say that JS Giguere will cost the Avs that #1 pick.

The Avs got off to a strong start with Gabe Landeskog being gift wrapped a goal from Kevin Bieksa. Bieksa centered a pass in his own zone, right to Landeskog in the slot, who proceeded to beat Schneider blocker side.

But in the second period it looked like Vancouver was going to take control with goals from Max Lapierre and Jannik Hansen. Neither were particularly good goals, but the Avs wouldn’t go away. Cody McLeod scored early in the third to tie things up. It might be the prettiest goal he’ll score in the NHL, because he at least stick handled a little in front of the net.

Less than a minute and a half later, a Jason Garrison slapper from the point found its way past Giguere to give Vancouver the lead. But the never say die, unless Vegas is involved Avs, came back to tie it again when PA Parenteau tipped/whacked the puck past Schneider with 7 minutes left. And finally, with one last push in regulation, Jan Hejda slapped one home from the near point with traffic in front. Nice to see a defenseman other than Tyson Barrie score a goal this year.

Colorado has officially been eliminated from playoff contention, and will continue their pursuit of the #1 pick (well, at least having a 25% chance at it) on Monday against the Blue Jackets in Denver. The game will start at 7 p.m.