Oilers v. Ducks - 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

O faithful Oilogosphere, the playoffs have been torn away from us for a time (at least in the present, we always have video), but I want you to know that this isn't generally because of a lack of effort from those wearing the jersey.

Oilers v. Kings - Esther 2:5-7

The Oilers, the chosen one of God, were the laughing-stock of the league. And it happened after the great sin of 2007, Oiler fans were carried off into exile from which they haven't yet returned.

Avalanche v. Senators - Scoring Chances #41

COL	1	16:32		8	10	25	26	41	52	4	10	18	24	33	71	5v5
COL	1	16:17		8	10	22	25	26	41	4	10	18	24	33	71	5v5
COL	1	16:10		8	22	25	26	27	41	4	9	12	24	25	33	5v5
OTT	1	11:29	Goal	10	23	37	39	41	52	4	24	26	27	33	43	5v5
OTT	1	10:35		5	8	25	26	41	44	26	27	33	39	43	45	5v5
COL	1	10:19		16	22	27	37	41	59	22	33	39	41	45	73	5v5
OTT	1	9:57		16	22	27	37	41	59	22	33	39	41	45	73	5v5
COL	1	7:13		8	10	25	26	41	52	9	12	14	17	25	33	5v5
COL	1	4:36		5	8	25	26	41	44	4	9	12	24	25	33	5v5
COL	1	4:34	Goal	8	22	25	26	27	41	4	9	12	24	25	33	5v5
COL	1	1:08		22	27	37	41	45	55	10	18	33	39	45	71	5v5
COL	1	1:07	Goal	22	26	27	41	45	55	10	18	33	39	45	71	5v5
OTT	2	18:50		5	9	10	23	39	41	9	12	14	17	27	33	5v5
COL	2	18:42	Goal	5	9	10	23	39	41	9	12	25	33	39	45	5v5
COL	2	16:11		5	9	23	39	41	44	12	14	17	25	26	33	5v5
COL	2	15:54		5	9	23	39	41	44	12	14	17	25	26	33	5v5
OTT	2	14:18		9	22	27	40	41	45	14	17	22	33	41	73	5v5
COL	2	12:01		8	10	23	26	41	52	4	10	18	24	33	71	5v5
COL	2	11:52		8	10	25	26	41	52	4	10	18	24	33	71	5v5
OTT	2	11:43		8	10	25	26	41	52	4	10	18	24	33	71	5v5
OTT	2	11:05		8	10	25	26	41	52	22	33	39	41	45	73	5v5
OTT	2	9:34		27	40	41	45	52	55	4	12	24	26	27	33	5v5
COL	2	0:46		9	10	23	39	41	52	9	14	17	25	33	43	5v5
OTT	2	0:02		8	10	25	26	41	52	4	9	24	25	33	43	5v5
COL	3	18:31		9	10	23	39	41	52	9	14	17	25	33	43	5v5
OTT	3	16:36		8	10	25	26	41	52	12	14	17	26	27	33	5v5
COL	3	15:35	Goal	5	16	37	41	44	59	22	33	39	41	45	73	5v5
OTT	3	14:59		22	27	37	39	41		12	17	26	27	33	41	4v5
OTT	3	14:38		5	23	26	41	44		12	17	26	27	33	41	4v5
OTT	3	12:23	Goal	9	10	23	41	52	55	22	24	33	39	71	73	5v5
COL	3	10:23		8	23	25	26	27	41	4	18	22	24	33		5v4
COL	3	7:41		8	22	25	26	27	41	4	22	24	33	41	71	5v5
OTT	3	5:52	Goal	9	10	23	39	41	52	14	17	26	27	33	43	5v5
OTT	3	4:39		8	22	25	26	27	41	9	12	14	17	33	71	5v5
COL	3	1:53		5	9	16	41	44	45	4	22	25	33	45	73	5v5
OTT	3	1:24		5	9	16	27	41	45	4	17	22	26	27	73	5v5
OTT	3	0:37		22	23	26	39	41	52	9	12	14	27	41	45	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
5	B. CLARK	16:24	6	3	0:26	0	0	0:43	0	1
8	W. WOLSKI	16:25	9	6	1:34	1	0	0:00	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	16:19	6	5	0:26	0	0	0:00	0	0
10	K. CUMISKEY	20:34	8	8	0:03	0	0	0:00	0	0
16	D. TUCKER	12:21	3	2	0:26	0	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	21:14	7	4	0:05	0	0	1:17	0	1
23	M. HEJDUK	15:19	6	5	1:39	1	0	0:43	0	1
25	C. STEWART	16:38	8	6	1:34	1	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	18:37	10	7	1:39	1	0	0:43	0	1
27	K. QUINCEY	21:36	6	5	2:02	1	0	1:17	0	1
37	R. O'REILLY	15:47	3	2	0:05	0	0	1:17	0	1
39	T. GALIARDI	15:51	5	4	0:00	0	0	1:17	0	1
40	M. SVATOS	7:35	0	2	0:26	0	0	0:00	0	0
41	C. ANDERSON	55:53	19	15	2:05	1	0	2:00	0	2
44	R. WILSON	13:29	5	1	0:00	0	0	0:43	0	1
45	C. DURNO	10:57	3	3	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	18:52	6	9	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
55	C. MCLEOD	10:07	2	2	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
59	B. YIP	11:32	2	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	9	3	9	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	6	6	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	5	8	4	6	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	20	17	19	15	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0

An odd thing about this game was the lack of play on special teams. The first penalty wasn't even called until about a quarter of the way through the third period. Obviously this means that the majority of the contest was played at EV. Now, against a lot of teams this would be a disadvantage for the Avalanche but they got off to a great start in this one and outplayed the Senators overall throughout the game. With six minutes to go in the third period the Avalanche had outchanced the Senators 19-10 at EV, one their more dominating performances this season. All in all, a very well-deserved win.

One thing I found very interesting in this one was Kyle Cumiskey returning from injury and J-M Liles taking his place in the press-box as a healthy scratch. The numbers don't paint a pretty picture for Liles and it looks like the coach has soured on him as a player. They're probably going to try to move him over the summer. As for Cumiskey, he's just a treat to watch. A lot of guys get labeled "one of the fastest skaters in the league" but when it's said about Cumiskey I believe it. I, for one, am very glad to see him back.

It was good to see Ryan O'Reilly finally get his fifth goal of the season. He hadn't scored for twenty-four games, so I'm sure it felt good. He's been doing a pretty good job on the scoring chances this year but offensively had hit a bit of a wall so it was good to see him break through. Another Avs rookie, T.J. Galiardi, almost killed himself trying to negate an icing call. He succeeded (hooray!) and was promptly pushed down so that he could fly torso first into the boards. Dangerous, dangerous play. The NHL should really go to the international rule on icing (no-touch icing + incomplete passes count as icing). It would make the game both better and safer.

By far the funniest play involved Jarkko Ruutu of the Senators. The Avs had given the puck away just in front of their own blue-line which had led to a clear 2-on-1 against. Ruutu responded by taking a slapshot from five or ten feet inside the blue-line. He missed the net. What a maroon! (and not the Montreal version)

Avalanche v. Stars - Scoring Chances #40

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
DAL	1	15:54		4	8	25	26	31	52	2	3	18	21	31	91	5v5
COL	1	15:36		5	8	9	25	31	44	2	3	14	26	31	91	5v5
COL	1	13:57	Goal	4	15	31	45	52	55	18	21	31	38	44	91	5v5
DAL	1	12:50		4	8	25	26	31	44	5	18	21	31	37	91	5v5
COL	1	10:02		5	8	25	26	31	44	9	29	31	38	44	63	5v5
COL	1	9:45		5	8	25	26	31	44	2	3	18	21	31	91	5v5
COL	1	6:27		4	8	25	26	31	52	2	3	18	21	31	91	5v5
DAL	1	2:58		16	22	31	37	52	59	5	9	14	23	31	37	5v5
DAL	1	1:21		5	8	25	26	27	31	5	18	21	31	37	91	5v5
COL	1	0:48		8	22	25	26	27	31	5	13	17	20	31	37	5v5
DAL	2	13:22		5	15	31	44	45	59	18	21	31	38	44	91	5v5
COL	2	7:29		5	26	31	44	45	55	2	3	9	13	20	31	5v5
COL	2	5:57	Goal	9	22	23	31	39	52	5	18	21	31	37	63	5v5
DAL	2	4:55		5	8	25	26	31	44	2	3	26	29	31	63	5v5
DAL	2	2:50		9	22	25	27	31	39	5	26	29	31	44	63	5v5
DAL	2	2:37		9	22	25	27	31	39	5	21	29	31	44	63	5v5
DAL	2	2:36		9	22	25	27	31	39	5	21	29	31	44	63	5v5
DAL	2	2:35		9	22	25	27	31	39	5	21	29	31	44	63	5v5
COL	2	1:29		5	15	31	44	45	55	5	9	14	23	31	44	5v5
COL	2	1:19		4	5	9	16	31	59	2	3	26	31	63		5v4
COL	3	16:32		4	8	25	26	31	52	9	14	23	31	38	44	5v5
DAL	3	16:25		4	8	25	26	31	52	9	14	23	31	38	44	5v5
DAL	3	12:26		4	16	31	37	52	59	2	5	26	29	31	63	5v5
DAL	3	12:17	Goal	4	16	31	37	52	59	2	5	26	29	31	63	5v5
COL	3	8:28		4	8	25	26	31	52	3	13	17	20	31	37	5v5
COL	3	7:23		9	22	23	27	31	39	2	5	26	29	31	63	5v5
COL	3	6:27	Goal	4	8	25	26	31	52	3	18	21	31	37	91	5v5
DAL	3	4:58		4	9	23	31	39	52	2	3	21	29	31	63	5v5
DAL	3	4:56		4	9	23	31	39	52	2	3	21	29	31	63	5v5
DAL	3	4:39		4	9	23	31	39	52	2	3	21	29	31	63	5v5
COL	3	3:45		5	8	25	26	31	44	3	13	17	20	31	44	5v5
DAL	3	2:36		4	8	25	26	31	52	5	9	14	23	31	37	5v5
DAL	3	2:34		4	8	25	26	31	52	5	9	14	23	31	37	5v5
DAL	3	2:32		4	8	25	26	31	52	5	9	14	23	31	37	5v5
COL	3	2:20		4	8	25	26	31	52	5	9	14	23	31	37	5v5
COL	3	0:59	Goal	5	25	26	31	39	52	3	5	14	18	63	91	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	17:43	6	11	2:27	1	0	0:00	0	0
5	B. CLARK	16:38	7	3	1:53	1	0	0:50	0	0
8	W. WOLSKI	18:06	10	8	2:03	0	0	0:00	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	13:22	3	7	2:06	1	0	0:00	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	8:40	2	1	0:00	0	0	0:50	0	0
16	D. TUCKER	8:08	0	3	1:41	1	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	18:04	3	5	0:02	0	0	1:30	0	0
23	M. HEJDUK	15:21	2	3	1:50	0	0	0:00	0	0
25	C. STEWART	17:49	11	12	2:03	0	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	17:50	11	8	2:37	0	0	0:01	0	0
27	K. QUINCEY	16:57	2	5	2:37	0	0	1:10	0	0
31	P. BUDAJ	52:44	16	19	4:32	1	0	2:00	0	0
37	R. O'REILLY	13:03	0	3	0:23	0	0	1:10	0	0
39	T. GALIARDI	15:40	3	7	1:05	0	0	1:09	0	0
44	R. WILSON	17:10	6	3	0:38	0	0	0:30	0	0
45	C. DURNO	9:08	3	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	19:11	8	11	0:11	0	0	0:00	0	0
55	C. MCLEOD	9:27	3	0	0:11	0	0	0:50	0	0
59	B. YIP	11:23	0	4	0:53	1	0	0:00	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	6	4	6	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	4	6	3	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	7	9	7	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	17	19	16	19	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The Avalanche opened this game with one of their best periods of the season. They controlled the majority of the play in the first period, had the majority of the scoring chances and got the first goal. It was Chris Durno's first career NHL goal which must have been pretty special for him considering he's 29 years old and probably thought he'd never get a chance at the NHL. It was also fitting that he scored it from behind the net! Once the Avs were up by two in the third period the obvious similarities were drawn between this game and the one they played against the Ducks before Christmas where the Avs blew a 2-0 lead with 8:00 to go. Amazingly, that was apparently the first time the Avs haven't gotten at least one point in that situation (2 goal lead with 8:00 or less left in the game) since the team moved to Colorado. That's just crazy. At any rate, the comparison looked even more apt once the Stars made it 2-1. But instead of folding the Avs soldiered on and got a beautiful goal from Chris Stewart - whose line was on for an insane percentage of the chances in this game - to make the score 3-1, a lead which the Avs held onto until the end.

Both teams struggled on the power play and/or played very well on the penalty kill. It's a zero-sum game so it's kind of hard to say which is which but by eye it seemed like both teams were over-handling the puck with the man advantage. Budaj had yet another strong game for the Avalanche and hasn't given Joe Sacco any reason to doubt his ability whenever Craig Anderson needs a rest (he was sick for this one).

Probably my favourite part of the game came when the commentator started talking about J-M Liles. He said: "John-Michael Liles is like the Tukey Dinner. He's just getting picked apart down low." Hilarious. I don't think it's caught on with Avs fans but "Turkey Dinner" is a pretty awesome nickname for Liles (who didn't have his best game in this one; the commentator's assessment was accurate).