Thursday, October 8, 2009

Avalanche v. Predators - Scoring Chances #3

TmPTimeNoteCOLOpponent
NSH117:26
81023242641210111839515v5
COL112:02
81023242641610111820395v5
COL110:56
15222527374126192627395v5
COL110:31
471639415234242839515v5
COL110:06
471639415234242839515v5
COL16:32
8222326274128192627395v5
NSH15:22
4152537415236202428395v5
NSH14:12
924415255
619202627394v5
NSH13:15
1023242641
28101118394v5
COL215:31Goal4923262741620242539
5v4
NSH213:23
494041525529212539515v5
COL210:07
922274041552892125395v5
NSH29:06
71016243741619202627395v5
NSH29:00Goal71016243741619202627395v5
COL26:46
922274155
619202627394v5
COL23:12
710162425412891039
5v4
NSH22:41
22242537415524192627395v5
NSH22:21
222425374155419262739515v5
COL22:09
152223374152418192739515v5
COL20:09
91522262741619202627395v5
NSH319:01
92227404155619202627395v5
COL315:36
101516243741410111839515v5
NSH314:24
922274041552892528395v5
COL314:10
492326274169202539
5v4
COL314:09
492326274169202539
5v4
COL313:27
492326274169202539
5v4
COL313:21
492326274169202539
5v4
COL313:18
492326274169202539
5v4
COL312:49
7101624404128101139
5v4
COL312:17 Goal
7101624404128242539
5v4
NSH39:01
9222740415568192627395v5
NSH38:59
9222740415568192627395v5
NSH37:48
222326274155619202627395v5
NSH37:31
4940415255619202627395v5
NSH37:30Goal4940415255619202627395v5
COL36:13
72227373941610111820395v5
NSH35:22
72223262741619202627395v5
NSH35:13Goal72223262741619202627395v5
NSH33:27
4723242641610111820395v5
NSH33:12
47923415228101118395v5


#PlayerEVPPSH
4J. LILES18:33262:03600:0000
7T. HENSICK15:38362:03300:0000
8W. WOLSKI10:02210:00000:0000
9M. DUCHENE16:00281:54601:5111
10K. CUMISKEY13:36231:54300:2601
15M. HENDRICKS8:30410:00000:0000
16D. TUCKER13:02322:03300:0000
22S. HANNAN19:17690:07002:1610
23M. HEJDUK16:29361:54600:2601
24R. SALEI15:23262:01301:4402
25C. STEWART8:16130:38100:0000
26P. STASTNY15:39351:54600:3701
27K. QUINCEY21:00572:03602:1610
37R. O'REILLY13:36450:07001:4300
39T. GALIARDI11:07300:00001:4300
40M. SVATOS13:25171:32200:0000
41C. ANDERSON50:3410184:04904:0012
52A. FOOTE16:03350:00001:1801
55C. MCLEOD15:261100:07001:4011


PeriodTotalsEVPP5v3 PPSH5v3 SH
1545200000200
2653520001000
391121170000000
4000000000000
Totals2020101890001200

This was a pretty sloppy game all around in the first two periods from both sides. The Avalanche had significant problems breaking out of their own zone into the neutral zone. Some of that was the defensive positioning of the Predators but another big chunk was the Avalanche defenders' inability to make mid-range passes accurately. In addition both teams were playing very passively, not much hitting, and taking what the defense was giving them, i.e. mostly stuff from the perimeter.

The third period was a different story as the Avalanche fell into a bit of a trap once they took the lead. It was pretty much the same posture they had in the third period against the Sharks except that they only had a one goal lead this time. The fact that they weren't able to generate anything and yet still allowed things like the Hornqvist breakaway (I can't believe Arnott's goal didn't count on that rebound given some of the precedents in other seasons) speaks to a team that needs to work on defending a lead at even strength. The biggest problem the Avalanche have is that they don't have anyone who can defend the top guns on other clubs so far. Paul Stastny is +7 -16 at EV through the first three games while his linemate Milan Hejduk is +8 -20. That's awful. These guys are going to need to be better if the Avalanche hope to win more games. If I were Joe Sacco I might try throwing a combination of three lesser lights (like Galiardi, Hensick and Tucker for example) to the wolves and hope that the money guys can make up what they give away against the lesser lights on the other team.

As for positives, the Avalanche power play was again great. It had a bit of a lag against the Canucks but even there played well and tonight they created a ton of chances and scored twice. I think they could be an elite power play team this year. They're certainly miles ahead of the Oilers and, if tonight is any indication, the Predators too.

Funniest quote on the broadcast was just before the second period. The "Smashville" (they referred to the city like this throughout the game which was ridiculous from an announcer but then even Barry Trotz did it in his interview) commentator remarked that it should be easy to get the players to hit: "you essentially put targets up over the other team's numbers." As someone that played minor hockey for a number of years and always had a "STOP" sign above his numbers that comment strikes me as hilarious. Someone is clearly too accustomed to defending Jordin Tootoo.

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