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.

Oilers v. Blue Jackets - Psalm 118:26-29

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Yahweh,
and that one will be honoured in Yahweh's house next season.
Yahweh is our God
and his light will shine upon us in June.

See Also:
Oilers v. Blue Jackets - Psalm 118:1-12
Oilers v. Blue Jackets - Psalm 118:13-20
Oilers v. Blue Jackets - Psalm 118:21-25

Avalanche v. Blue Jackets - Scoring Chances #31

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
CBJ	1	12:22		25	26	28	31	44	52	1	20	22	26	51	93	5v5
COL	1	10:16		8	23	31	39	44	52	1	6	10	16	18	93	5v5
CBJ	1	8:12		9	22	25	26	27	31	1	3	8	20	50	61	5v5
CBJ	1	6:25		16	31	37	44	52	55	1	8	10	14	16	40	5v5
COL	1	6:15		4	5	8	23	31	39	1	3	16	18	51	93	5v5
CBJ	1	2:02		4	8	26	31	44	52	1	3	10	17	25	26	5v5
CBJ	1	19:46		9	22	25	26	27	31	1	3	20	50	51	61	5v5
COL	2	18:40		9	22	23	27	31	39	1	3	16	18	51	93	5v5
CBJ	2	16:28		15	22	27	31	39	40	1	6	10	20	50	61	5v5
CBJ	2	16:09		8	25	26	31	44	52	1	8	17	22	25	26	5v5
COL	2	13:15	Goal	8	22	26	27	31	40	1	8	20	22	50	61	5v5
CBJ	2	12:51		4	5	9	23	31	39	1	3	17	25	26	51	5v5
CBJ	2	11:39		22	26	27	31	37		1	6	18	20	51	61	4v5
CBJ	2	10:58		8	15	31	44	52		1	10	14	16	50	93	4v5
COL	2	9:00		4	8	26	31	40	52	1	8	17	20	22	50	5v5
COL	2	8:26		4	9	16	23	31	52	1	3	17	25	26	51	5v5
CBJ	2	6:44		8	26	31	40	44	52	1	8	20	22	50	61	5v5
COL	2	4:41	Goal	9	23	25	31	44	52	1	8	10	16	18	93	5v5
COL	2	3:17		4	5	8	16	31	39	1	3	18	25	51		5v4
COL	2	1:50		8	16	22	27	31	40	1	8	18	22	25		5v4
CBJ	3	18:01		5	26	31	39	44		1	10	18	20	51	61	4v5
COL	3	16:14		16	22	27	31	37	40	1	6	10	14	16	93	5v5
CBJ	3	15:42	Goal	8	25	26	31	44	52	1	3	16	25	51	93	5v5
COL	3	15:29		8	22	25	26	27	31	1	3	18	50	51	61	5v5
CBJ	3	15:13		8	22	25	26	27	31	1	3	18	50	51	61	5v5
COL	3	15:03	Goal	8	22	25	26	27	31	1	3	18	50	51	61	5v5
CBJ	3	13:12		8	25	26	27	31	44	1	3	16	18	51	61	5v5
CBJ	3	8:40		5	9	23	25	31	52	1	10	14	17	22	50	5v5
CBJ	3	4:29	Goal	4	5	9	23	31	39	1	10	16	22	25	93	5v5
COL	3	1:35		22	23	27	31	37	39	1	6	17	20	26	51	5v5
CBJ	3	0:15		8	23	27	31	37	52	16	22	25	50	51	61	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	10:58	3	3	2:39	1	0	0:09	0	0
5	B. CLARK	11:45	1	3	2:39	1	0	1:21	0	1
8	W. WOLSKI	17:04	6	7	2:09	2	0	2:29	0	1
9	M. DUCHENE	12:11	3	5	2:41	0	0	0:00	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	2:33	0	1	0:00	0	0	1:50	0	1
16	D. TUCKER	11:46	2	1	2:09	2	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	20:21	6	4	0:35	1	0	5:55	0	1
23	M. HEJDUK	14:22	6	4	1:36	0	0	0:00	0	0
25	C. STEWART	15:01	3	8	2:41	0	0	0:02	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	17:47	4	9	2:41	0	0	2:15	0	2
27	K. QUINCEY	19:43	6	6	2:11	1	0	4:22	0	1
28	D. KOCI	1:12	0	1	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
31	P. BUDAJ	46:20	11	15	4:50	2	0	8:50	0	3
37	R. O'REILLY	12:26	2	2	0:08	0	0	5:08	0	1
39	T. GALIARDI	13:00	4	3	1:41	1	0	3:53	0	1
40	M. SVATOS	7:28	3	2	0:20	1	0	0:00	0	0
44	R. WILSON	14:30	2	7	0:00	0	0	2:12	0	2
52	A. FOOTE	16:26	4	8	0:00	0	0	3:41	0	1
55	C. MCLEOD	11:57	0	1	0:00	0	0	2:03	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	2	5	2	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	7	6	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
3	4	7	4	6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	13	18	11	15	2	0	0	0	0	3	0	0

Depite Craig Anderson missing his second consecutive game due to injury, goaltending was the big positive difference in this game for the Avalanche. Peter Budaj put in a second consecutive good start and - as has been so often the case this year for the Blue Jackets - Steve Mason didn't have a particularly good game. The third Avalanche goal in particular is probably one that Mason would like to have back.

Despite being outchanced, the Avs actually looked pretty good in this game. Wojtek Wolski in particular created several very good chances (he and Stastny played a lot and a lot together on this fine evening with the third member of that trio being a bit of a revolving door). Even though he was outchanced on the night, before I tallied everything up I would have said he was the best player on the ice for either team. If chance "quality" were a part of this exercise the Avalanche, and Wolski in particular, would fare quite a bit better.

One area that the Avs didn't look so good was on the power play. They did manage to generate two chances on the power play but neither chance was because of astute passing or good decision-making. The first came on a brutal turnover from the Columbus defender and the second came off a lucky bounce after a blocked shot. Over their last three games the Avalanche have averaged about one scoring chance for every two and a half minutes of power play time. It's an area of the game that needs to be better.

Joe Sacco also decided to put David Koci back into the lineup after a one game hiatus against the Penguins. I thought for sure watching Eric Godard take a penalty and then watching his team score on the power play would cure Sacco of this habit. His team saw maximum benefit from the opposition playing a goon! Clarity! Unfortunately, this was not the case. Instead Koci was put back into the lineup and the vastly superior Chris Durno was relegated to the press-box.

The game's conclusion was definitely exciting. After Columbus narrowed the gap to 3-2 with about five minutes left the Avs dominated keeping the puck in the Blue Jackets zone and even generating one good scoring chance off the stick of Scott Hannan while protecting the one-goal lead. But then, the Blue Jackets got the puck deep and pulled the goalie and moved the puck toward the net. Suddenly the puck was over the line and it seemed the Jackets had made a comeback. However, the puck was put under the net into the goal instead of over the goal-line and the goal was rightly waved off. But what the refs seemed to miss was the reason for the net coming up, namely one Mr. Kyle Quincey who had backed right into the net. It probably should have been a penalty shot for the Blue Jackets. Then again, the Avs had a good goal waved off last game against the Penguins. It just goes to show... bad officiating is spread around randomly and you never quite know when your team might benefit.