Avalanche v. Predators - Scoring Chances #3

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
NSH	1	17:26		8	10	23	24	26	41	2	10	11	18	39	51	5v5
COL	1	12:02		8	10	23	24	26	41	6	10	11	18	20	39	5v5
COL	1	10:56		15	22	25	27	37	41	2	6	19	26	27	39	5v5
COL	1	10:31		4	7	16	39	41	52	3	4	24	28	39	51	5v5
COL	1	10:06		4	7	16	39	41	52	3	4	24	28	39	51	5v5
COL	1	6:32		8	22	23	26	27	41	2	8	19	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	1	5:22		4	15	25	37	41	52	3	6	20	24	28	39	5v5
NSH	1	4:12		9	24	41	52	55		6	19	20	26	27	39	4v5
NSH	1	3:15		10	23	24	26	41		2	8	10	11	18	39	4v5
COL	2	15:31	Goal	4	9	23	26	27	41	6	20	24	25	39		5v4
NSH	2	13:23		4	9	40	41	52	55	2	9	21	25	39	51	5v5
COL	2	10:07		9	22	27	40	41	55	2	8	9	21	25	39	5v5
NSH	2	9:06		7	10	16	24	37	41	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	2	9:00	Goal	7	10	16	24	37	41	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
COL	2	6:46		9	22	27	41	55		6	19	20	26	27	39	4v5
COL	2	3:12		7	10	16	24	25	41	2	8	9	10	39		5v4
NSH	2	2:41		22	24	25	37	41	55	2	4	19	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	2	2:21		22	24	25	37	41	55	4	19	26	27	39	51	5v5
COL	2	2:09		15	22	23	37	41	52	4	18	19	27	39	51	5v5
COL	2	0:09		9	15	22	26	27	41	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	19:01		9	22	27	40	41	55	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
COL	3	15:36		10	15	16	24	37	41	4	10	11	18	39	51	5v5
NSH	3	14:24		9	22	27	40	41	55	2	8	9	25	28	39	5v5
COL	3	14:10		4	9	23	26	27	41	6	9	20	25	39		5v4
COL	3	14:09		4	9	23	26	27	41	6	9	20	25	39		5v4
COL	3	13:27		4	9	23	26	27	41	6	9	20	25	39		5v4
COL	3	13:21		4	9	23	26	27	41	6	9	20	25	39		5v4
COL	3	13:18		4	9	23	26	27	41	6	9	20	25	39		5v4
COL	3	12:49		7	10	16	24	40	41	2	8	10	11	39		5v4
COL	3	12:17	Goal	7	10	16	24	40	41	2	8	24	25	39		5v4
NSH	3	9:01		9	22	27	40	41	55	6	8	19	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	8:59		9	22	27	40	41	55	6	8	19	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	7:48		22	23	26	27	41	55	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	7:31		4	9	40	41	52	55	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	7:30	Goal	4	9	40	41	52	55	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
COL	3	6:13		7	22	27	37	39	41	6	10	11	18	20	39	5v5
NSH	3	5:22		7	22	23	26	27	41	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	5:13	Goal	7	22	23	26	27	41	6	19	20	26	27	39	5v5
NSH	3	3:27		4	7	23	24	26	41	6	10	11	18	20	39	5v5
NSH	3	3:12		4	7	9	23	41	52	2	8	10	11	18	39	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	18:33	2	6	2:03	6	0	0:00	0	0
7	T. HENSICK	15:38	3	6	2:03	3	0	0:00	0	0
8	W. WOLSKI	10:02	2	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	16:00	2	8	1:54	6	0	1:51	1	1
10	K. CUMISKEY	13:36	2	3	1:54	3	0	0:26	0	1
15	M. HENDRICKS	8:30	4	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
16	D. TUCKER	13:02	3	2	2:03	3	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	19:17	6	9	0:07	0	0	2:16	1	0
23	M. HEJDUK	16:29	3	6	1:54	6	0	0:26	0	1
24	R. SALEI	15:23	2	6	2:01	3	0	1:44	0	2
25	C. STEWART	8:16	1	3	0:38	1	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	15:39	3	5	1:54	6	0	0:37	0	1
27	K. QUINCEY	21:00	5	7	2:03	6	0	2:16	1	0
37	R. O'REILLY	13:36	4	5	0:07	0	0	1:43	0	0
39	T. GALIARDI	11:07	3	0	0:00	0	0	1:43	0	0
40	M. SVATOS	13:25	1	7	1:32	2	0	0:00	0	0
41	C. ANDERSON	50:34	10	18	4:04	9	0	4:00	1	2
52	A. FOOTE	16:03	3	5	0:00	0	0	1:18	0	1
55	C. MCLEOD	15:26	1	10	0:07	0	0	1:40	1	1

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	5	4	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
2	6	5	3	5	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
3	9	11	2	11	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	20	20	10	18	9	0	0	0	1	2	0	0

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.