Oilers v. Red Wings - Zephaniah 2:1-3

Gather together, you pathetic Oilers.
Come on, bring it in you shameful people.
The appointed time is almost here
and God's chosen instrument is about to sweep us away.
Yahweh's anger is almost fully complete for another year,
his unending punishment ready for a small reprieve.

See Also:
Oilers v. Red Wings - Zephaniah 2:4-7

Oilers v. Blues - Zechariah 5:5-11

Then the angel who was speaking to me came closer and said, "Look up, do you see those numbers floating in the sky?" And so I asked, "What do the numbers mean?" Then the angel of Yahweh replied saying, "They are wins and losses and near-losses all counted and assigned to the Oilers as payment for their sins."

See Also:
Oilers v. Blues - Zechariah 5:1-4

Oilers v. Ducks - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

Let us all be joyful no matter the circumstances. Let us all pray continually for God's deliverance. Let us give thanks for God's generosity in letting us being truly terrible instead of the worst kind of middling. Indeed, this sort of thankful spirit is exactly what God desires from us as we prepare to cast lots for the first pick overall.

See Also:
Oilers v. Ducks - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Oilers v. Ducks - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

Oilers v. Canucks - Psalm 27:4-8

There is only one thing that we ask of Yahweh,
one thing that we seek:
That his favour would rest upon us every day
and that his hand would be with us forever.
We dream about the promised team he is creating for us
and expect to get a foretaste of that victory tonight.

See Also:
Oilers v. Canucks - Psalm 27:1-3

Oilers v. Sharks - Psalm 74:12-14

You, O God, are our king for all time,
you bring salvation to your chosen team and hope for the future.

See Also:
Oilers v. Sharks - Psalm 74:1-11

Oilers v. Red Wings - Ezekiel 25:15-17

This is what Yahweh, the sovereign God of Edmonton has to say: "Because the Red Wings play with ennui in the regular season, splattering one team after another like mosquitoes and because they would dare seek revenge against my people by convincing Marian Hossa that Edmonton isn't the place to play I will speak.

Avalanche v. Wild - Scoring Chances #38

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
MIN	1	18:00		4	5	23	37	39	41	3	11	21	25	51	55	5v5
COL	1	15:43		4	5	8	23	26	41	5	11	12	25	32	55	5v5
MIN	1	11:48		4	16	22	37	41	55	5	7	21	22	24	32	5v5
MIN	1	11:45		4	16	22	37	41	55	5	7	21	22	24	32	5v5
COL	1	11:16		9	22	23	27	39	41	12	14	16	32	34	55	5v5
MIN	1	10:16		8	22	25	26	27	41	5	7	11	25	32	51	5v5
MIN	1	2:50		8	23	25	26	27	41	3	6	20	25	32		5v4
COL	1	0:14		9	16	22	39	41	52	3	6	11	22	32	51	5v5
COL	1	0:12	Goal	9	16	22	39	41	52	3	6	11	22	32	51	5v5
MIN	2	18:09		4	5	16	37	41	55	11	25	32	34	51	55	5v5
COL	2	16:12	Goal	8	22	25	26	27	41	3	6	9	15	20	32	5v5
MIN	2	13:16		8	22	25	26	27	41	3	5	21	22	24	32	5v5
MIN	2	12:52		8	22	25	26	41	44	3	6	21	22	24	32	5v5
MIN	2	12:13		8	23	25	26	27	41	3	6	9	12	32		5v4
COL	2	10:20		8	25	26	41	44	52	3	6	14	15	16	32	5v5
COL	2	9:32	Goal	9	22	23	27	39	41	3	6	11	25	32	51	5v5
COL	2	8:42		4	5	37	41	55	59	9	15	20	32	34	55	5v5
MIN	2	7:57		4	5	25	26	41		5	14	21	32	55		4v4
COL	2	6:53		8	23	26	27	41		3	6	9	32			4v3
MIN	2	6:06	Goal	4	8	9	16	25	41	5	20	22	32	55		5v4
COL	2	3:45		4	25	26	27	39	41	6	9	15	20	32	55	5v5
MIN	2	3:35		4	25	26	27	39	41	6	9	15	20	32	55	5v5
COL	2	2:45	Goal	15	41	44	52	55		5	9	11	14	22	32	4v5
MIN	3	13:31		15	22	37	41	52	55	7	9	15	20	32	34	5v5
COL	3	11:04		8	25	26	41	44	52	21	24	32	34	51	55	5v5
MIN	3	8:44		26	39	41	44	52		5	9	11	14	15	32	4v5
MIN	3	7:56	Goal	4	5	15	37	41	55	5	11	12	16	32	55	5v5
MIN	3	6:05	Goal	5	8	25	39	41	44	7	9	14	15	32	34	5v5
MIN	3	5:50		8	22	25	26	27	41	5	7	11	14	16	32	5v5
MIN	3	5:49		8	22	25	26	27	41	5	7	11	14	16	32	5v5
MIN	3	3:26		9	23	27	39	41	52	3	6	11	14	25	32	5v5
MIN	3	3:23		9	23	27	39	41	52	3	6	11	14	25	32	5v5
MIN	3	1:58		8	22	25	26	27	41	5	7	9	15	20	32	5v5
MIN	3	1:56		8	22	25	26	27	41	5	7	9	15	20	32	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	11:30	3	7	4:31	0	1	0:28	0	0
5	B. CLARK	11:06	2	5	3:48	0	0	0:28	0	0
8	W. WOLSKI	11:31	4	8	4:47	1	3	0:59	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	10:57	4	2	3:42	0	1	0:00	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	6:24	0	2	0:04	0	0	1:58	1	0
16	D. TUCKER	12:11	2	3	3:37	0	1	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	18:59	5	10	0:05	0	0	2:51	0	0
23	M. HEJDUK	9:21	3	3	4:38	1	2	0:00	0	0
25	C. STEWART	14:53	4	10	3:54	0	3	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	13:53	5	9	5:05	1	2	2:35	0	1
27	K. QUINCEY	15:30	4	9	3:24	1	2	2:51	0	0
37	R. O'REILLY	13:35	1	6	0:21	0	0	2:58	0	0
39	T. GALIARDI	13:52	5	5	3:05	0	0	4:11	0	1
41	C. ANDERSON	43:16	10	18	8:41	1	3	6:48	1	1
44	R. WILSON	13:50	2	2	0:26	0	0	3:29	1	1
45	C. DURNO	6:18	0	0	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	15:37	4	3	0:21	0	0	3:29	1	1
55	C. MCLEOD	10:57	1	5	0:30	0	0	0:55	1	0
59	B. YIP	5:03	1	0	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	4	5	4	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	7	7	5	5	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	0
3	1	10	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	12	22	10	18	1	3	0	0	1	1	0	0

The first period was a little dreary but the second period was one of the most exciting I've seen all season. The final chances tally looks bad for the Avalanche but they began the third period with a three-goal lead, so a big negative number isn't all that surprising. That said, goaltending really was the difference in this one as Nicklas Backstrom allowed three goals on the first seven scoring chances against. None of the goals were really his fault but you need more saves than that if you're going to win the game.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead the Avs had what I expected to be the worst defensive breakdown of the game. The Wild rushed in 3-on-1 while short-handed and closed the gap to 3-1. BUT, right after generating a power play of their own and giving themselves a chance to really get back into the game, the Wild made the worst change I may have ever seen. The Avs dumped the puck down the ice and all of the Wild players went to the bench. The puck bounced off the end boards in the Wild zone and into the high slot which left the Avs with a 2-on-0. Short-handed. Of course they scored and the Wild were suddenly down 4-1 heading into the third.

The game was very physical the whole way through. At one point in the first period Kyle Quincey took out Antti Miettinen as he was racing toward the boards on what was a pretty brutal hit. Owen Nolan stepped in to fight Quincey who politely declined and earned the Avs a two-man advantage. The Avs didn't score on the two-man advantage (they were plain awful on the PP) but the Wild didn't forget about Quincey. With the score 4-1 in the third period Derek Boogaard boarded Quincey and in doing so grabbed the back of Quincey's head with one hand and smashed it into the glass. How he got away with a two-minute penalty and no suspension I have no idea, but it goes to show that the Code is certainly not completely dead. If you don't want to fight, some teams will really make you pay the price. At any rate, Minnesota poured on the pressure for the rest of the period but could only manage two more goals and ended up losing the game 4-3.

One last thing I wanted to relate was a great play from Backstrom killing that 5-on-3 in the first period. Backstrom caught a shot from the point with about five seconds left in the first penalty and when he realized there were no Avs in front he quickly played the puck to a defender who iced it and made sure the Wild wouldn't need to take another defensive draw with only three guys on the ice. A real heads-up play by Backstrom and a perfect indication of how out of synch the Avs were on the PP all game.

Avalanche v. Blue Jackets - Scoring Chances #37

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
COL	1	19:40	Goal	8	22	25	26	27	41	1	3	20	50	51	61	5v5
CBJ	1	19:13		23	39	41	44	52	55	1	8	22	25	26	33	5v5
COL	1	16:39	Goal	4	5	8	9	23	41	1	3	25	33	50	51	5v5
COL	1	15:48		8	23	25	26	27	41	1	36	50	51	61		5v4
COL	1	15:46	Goal	8	23	25	26	27	41	1	36	50	51	61		5v4
CBJ	1	14:06		8	22	25	26	27	41	8	17	20	22	32	61	5v5
CBJ	1	14:03		8	22	25	26	27	41	8	17	20	22	32	61	5v5
COL	1	13:18		15	41	44	45	52	59	3	10	14	17	32	40	5v5
COL	1	12:38		8	23	25	26	27	41	8	22	26	32			5v3
COL	1	12:15		8	23	25	26	27	41	8	22	26	32			5v3
COL	1	12:03		4	8	23	25	26	41	3	32	50	51			5v3
COL	1	12:00		4	8	23	25	26	41	3	32	50	51			5v3
COL	1	11:59	Goal	4	8	23	25	26	41	3	32	50	51			5v3
CBJ	1	5:16		15	41	44	45	52	59	8	16	18	22	32	93	5v5
CBJ	1	4:54		9	22	23	27	39	41	8	20	22	32	50	61	5v5
CBJ	2	18:57		8	22	25	26	41	44	20	32	36	50	51	61	5v5
CBJ	2	18:52		8	22	25	26	27	41	20	32	36	50	51	61	5v5
CBJ	2	16:32	Goal	15	22	27	41	55		18	20	32	51	61	93	4v5
CBJ	2	15:08		8	25	26	41	44	52	14	17	32	36	40	51	5v5
CBJ	2	12:04		8	22	27	37	41		10	16	18	20	32	61	4v5
CBJ	2	11:33		5	26	39	41	52		10	14	16	20	32	50	4v5
COL	2	10:25		8	23	25	26	27	41	8	22	25	26	32		5v4
CBJ	2	9:55		4	5	9	16	39	41	32	36	50	51	61		5v4
CBJ	2	6:37	Goal	37	39	41	44	52		10	16	25	32	33	50	4v5
COL	2	3:36		8	23	25	26	27	41	8	17	18	22	32		5v4
COL	2	3:35		8	23	25	26	27	41	8	17	18	22	32		5v4
COL	2	2:34		8	23	25	26	27	41	32	36	50	51	61		5v4
COL	2	2:31		8	23	25	26	27	41	32	36	50	51	61		5v4
COL	2	2:06		4	5	9	16	39	41	3	10	16	18	32	93	5v5
CBJ	3	18:20		9	23	39	41	44	52	25	26	32	33	36	51	5v5
CBJ	3	18:17		9	23	39	41	44	52	25	26	32	33	36	51	5v5
COL	3	12:47		8	25	26	41	44	52	8	20	22	32	50	61	5v5
CBJ	3	12:29		8	25	26	41	44	52	3	10	14	17	32	40	5v5
COL	3	9:38		22	23	26	27	39	41	3	10	20	32	50	61	5v5
COL	3	8:52		4	5	9	23	39	41	3	10	16	18	32	93	5v5
COL	3	8:03		8	25	26	27	41	44	8	22	25	32	50	61	5v5
CBJ	3	6:45		4	5	23	37	41	55	3	10	14	17	32	40	5v5
COL	3	3:29	Goal	4	5	23	25	39	41	3	18	22	25	32	93	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	13:48	4	1	1:33	0	1	0:00	0	0
5	B. CLARK	13:03	4	1	1:33	0	1	1:11	0	1
8	W. WOLSKI	14:17	4	6	3:13	7	0	2:00	0	1
9	M. DUCHENE	13:09	3	3	1:46	0	1	0:00	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	6:34	1	1	0:00	0	0	0:29	0	1
16	D. TUCKER	12:30	1	0	1:46	0	1	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	15:45	2	5	0:13	0	0	2:43	0	2
23	M. HEJDUK	12:59	4	5	3:13	7	0	0:00	0	0
25	C. STEWART	15:09	4	6	3:13	7	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	14:55	4	6	3:13	7	0	1:48	0	1
27	K. QUINCEY	16:55	3	4	3:13	7	0	2:43	0	2
37	R. O'REILLY	14:35	0	1	0:00	0	0	2:58	0	2
39	T. GALIARDI	14:48	4	4	1:46	0	1	2:46	0	2
41	C. ANDERSON	48:27	9	12	4:59	7	1	5:15	0	4
44	R. WILSON	18:08	3	7	0:00	0	0	1:21	0	1
45	C. DURNO	7:51	1	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	19:08	2	6	0:13	0	0	2:32	0	2
55	C. MCLEOD	12:02	0	2	0:00	0	0	0:29	0	1
59	B. YIP	6:39	1	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	10	5	3	5	2	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
2	6	8	1	3	5	1	0	0	0	4	0	0
3	5	4	5	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	21	17	9	12	7	1	5	0	0	4	0	0

For the second consecutive game the score dictated the flow of play for most of the contest. After five minutes of action the Avalanche had a 3-0 lead and were up 4-1 in scoring chances with two of those coming on the power play. After that, the Avs pretty much shut the game down for two periods, scoring once more on a 2:00 five-on-three but otherwise generating only 2 chances at EV, including one stretch of over twenty minutes after they went up 4-0 where they didn't generate a single chance, EV or otherwise. And that's to be expected to some degree. The fact that the Avs came out and played hard in the 3rd period was enough to convince me that despite the 12-9 disadvantage in chances the Avs were probably the better team at EV on this night. The 21-17 overall margin was well-earned.

The Avs were again good on the power play, generating a lot of chances and making sure to, essentially, put the game away by scoring on the five-on-three. Things could have been better on the PK what with the Jackets scoring two goals but four chances in over five minutes isn't all that awful and the second goal just found a seam through a screen. Probably the most egregious PK error came when Ryan O'Reilly and T.J. Galiardi managed to have their two-on-one come to nothing (no shot of any kind) against Jakub Voracek. Wowzers.

Stewart, Stastny and Wolski were outchanced somewhat in this one, but they were also tasked (by Hitchcock as much as Sacco) with taking on the Rick Nash line so the 4-6 split isn't as bad as it looks, especially since they were protecting the lead. The same is true of the defensive pairing of Hannan and Quincey who have been taking the tough match-ups almost all year. Foote and Wilson had a tough game against some lessers. Wilson seems to have impressed enough to earn a spot in the Avs top four D which is quite an accomplishment for a rookie. The last two games have shown pretty poor results but generally he's held his own quite well. Milan Hejduk also returned to the lineup and had a positive impact, especially on the PP with the 5-2 marker just icing on the cake. Meanwhile, the fourth line of Yip (1st NHL game!), Durno and Hendricks actually played fairly well, and certainly a lot better than David Koci who is serving a suspension for his hit on Mike Green. Hopefully that line shows some chemistry and Koci stays out of the lineup.