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

Avalanche v. Blues - Scoring Chances #32

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
COL	1	17:59		15	16	22	27	31	55	18	20	28	43	50	57	5v5
STL	1	16:31		8	25	26	31	44	52	5	9	42	46	50	74	5v5
STL	1	16:27		4	5	9	23	31	39	10	15	22	28	43	50	5v5
COL	1	16:12		4	5	9	23	31	39	10	15	22	28	43	50	5v5
COL	1	14:32		8	25	26	31	44	52	5	18	20	26	46	50	5v5
COL	1	14:31		8	25	26	31	44	52	5	18	20	26	46	50	5v5
STL	1	13:49		4	9	23	27	31	39	6	15	22	42	44	50	5v5
STL	1	13:15		16	22	27	31	37	55	10	15	22	43	44	50	5v5
STL	1	10:52		9	23	31	39	44	52	9	28	42	43	50	74	5v5
STL	1	6:40		16	22	27	31	37	55	5	10	15	22	46	50	5v5
STL	1	6:25		4	5	8	25	26	31	5	18	20	26	46	50	5v5
STL	1	2:09		9	22	23	27	31	55	5	10	15	22	46	50	5v5
COL	1	1:53		4	5	8	25	26	31	5	10	15	46	50	57	5v5
COL	1	0:17		4	5	9	16	31	40	18	26	43	44	50		5v4
COL	1	0:12		4	23	25	26	27	31	10	42	43	46	50		5v4
STL	2	17:05		8	16	22	26	27	31	5	6	9	42	50	74	5v5
STL	2	14:04		8	22	25	26	27	31	5	9	42	46	50	57	5v5
COL	2	13:54		8	22	25	26	27	31	5	7	42	46	50	57	5v5
COL	2	13:53	Goal	8	22	25	26	27	31	5	7	42	46	50	57	5v5
STL	2	13:35		9	23	31	39	44	52	6	7	21	44	50	57	5v5
STL	2	13:05		23	31	37	39	44	52	6	10	15	44	50	57	5v5
STL	2	10:53		4	5	8	25	26	31	5	9	42	46	50	74	5v5
COL	2	9:07		16	22	27	31	37	55	6	10	15	22	44	50	5v5
STL	2	7:14		15	22	26	27	31	40	6	7	21	28	50	74	5v5
COL	2	6:22		4	5	8	25	26	31	5	10	15	22	46	50	5v5
COL	2	6:08	Goal	4	5	8	25	26	31	5	18	20	26	46	50	5v5
COL	2	4:12		4	5	8	25	26	31	9	28	42	43	50	74	5v5
COL	2	4:09		4	5	8	25	26	31	9	28	42	43	50	74	5v5
STL	2	3:02		9	23	31	39	44	52	5	6	10	15	22	50	5v5
STL	2	2:28		16	22	27	31	37	55	6	18	20	26	28	50	5v5
STL	3	18:43		9	23	31	39	44	52	6	10	15	22	44	50	5v5
STL	3	14:08		4	16	31	37	44	55	9	10	22	28	43	50	5v5
COL	3	11:55		9	15	22	23	27	31	5	21	46	50	57	74	5v5
STL	3	9:38		9	23	31	39	44	52	21	28	43	50	57	74	5v5
STL	3	7:51		4	5	8	25	31	55	6	7	20	42	44	50	5v5
COL	3	7:18	Goal	4	5	8	9	25	31	20	28	42	43	50	57	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	18:46	7	6	0:40	2	0	0:00	0	0
5	B. CLARK	16:00	7	4	0:35	1	0	0:00	0	0
8	W. WOLSKI	19:36	10	6	1:01	0	0	0:24	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	15:47	3	8	0:35	1	0	0:00	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	9:02	2	1	0:00	0	0	0:44	0	0
16	D. TUCKER	15:27	2	5	0:35	1	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	20:38	5	7	0:00	0	0	1:16	0	0
23	M. HEJDUK	16:13	2	9	1:06	1	0	0:00	0	0
25	C. STEWART	16:57	10	5	1:06	1	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	18:26	9	6	1:06	1	0	0:37	0	0
27	K. QUINCEY	22:02	5	8	1:06	1	0	1:16	0	0
28	D. KOCI	2:35	0	0	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
31	P. BUDAJ	56:19	14	20	1:41	2	0	2:00	0	0
37	R. O'REILLY	15:27	1	5	0:00	0	0	0:52	0	0
39	T. GALIARDI	17:03	1	8	0:00	0	0	0:39	0	0
40	M. SVATOS	7:32	0	1	0:35	1	0	0:00	0	0
44	R. WILSON	17:41	2	8	0:00	0	0	0:44	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	18:28	2	7	0:00	0	0	0:44	0	0
55	C. MCLEOD	13:55	2	6	0:00	0	0	0:44	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	7	8	5	8	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	7	8	7	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	2	4	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	16	20	14	20	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The Avalanche were again outchanced in this one despite the 4-0 victory. Peter Budaj played very well to earn the shut-out in his third consecutive start since the injury to Craig Anderson. Budaj didn't have a strong season last year, got H1N1 this season and didn't start a game this season until November 4th. At some point you start to wonder if a guy's career is in doubt and with Budaj coming up for unrestricted free agency this summer his little run of strong play could not have come at a better time. When Anderson gets back it's likely that Budaj won't get many starts so it's pretty important he puts up good numbers when he gets the chance.

The game itself was really exciting, especially in the first period. The game was played largely at 5-on-5 and both teams were skating hard and creating chances - a fun game to watch. The Avalanche generally had control of the play when the Wolski-Stastny-Stewart combination was on the ice and the Blues generally had control the rest of the game. The Galiardi-Duchene-Hejduk line was really struggling to create offence. I've just expected Hejduk to turn things around this whole time but it doesn't look like it's happening. The guy still has fantastic hands (he was the team's leading goal-scorer coming into this game despite missing several) but the rest of his game seems to be falling behind.

Ryan Wilson delivered two absolutely huge hits, one in the first on Roman Polak and one in the second on T.J. Oshie. Both of the hits came at the defensive zone blueline, which is a spot that he's delivered big hits in the past. If I was an opposing coach, I'd make sure that my players knew that Wilson has a tendency to step up at the blueline, both so that my players don't get hammered, but also to potentially take advantage of an ill-advised pinch. If the player in question manages to get around Wilson in that situation he'll have a very good scoring opportunity. In terms of scoring chances, Wilson has been quite good for most of the year but has really struggled in the last three games being outchanced 20-6 in that span. I guess it's to be expected that young players will have times that they struggle but Colorado is now relying on Wilson (with Adam Foote) in a second pairing role and will need him to turn things back around.

Finally, I thought I should make some comment on the play of Chris Stewart. He made an absolutely fantastic play in this one against Barrett Jackman. He used one arm to protect the puck, controlled the puck with the other hand on his stick while doing a spin-move to make a play on the St. Louis net. Wow! He also has 13 points over his last 9 games with 9 coming at even strength and a +/- rating of +4. Yet over that same period he's been outchanced at EV 50-44 and his best AHL season does not suggest he'll be an impressive scorer in the NHL: 25-19-44 in 77 GP with a -24 (the team was -69) as a 20-year-old. Stewart is also a very big player who plays physically, consistently jumps in to defend teammates and he's a good fighter. He's also a restricted free agent at the end of this year and could be demanding some pretty big coin if he's able to roll along at his current pace. If the underlying numbers don't improve I would certainly be prepared to let another team's GM come to me with an offer. Depending on what the rest of his season looks like, there's a pretty good chance Stewart will get Lucic-esque overpay this summer and it might instead be wise to cash in the asset if you can get something really good in return.

Oilers v. Blues - Zechariah 5:1-4

I looked up toward they sky. I couldn't believe my eyes! Right in front of me was a Flying Fridge! And then an angel from heaven asked me, "What do you see?" What could I say? I told him, "I see a flying fridge, over six feet tall and almost as wide."

Oilers v. Blues - Mark 3:13-19

Quinn went up on a mountainside and called a closed-door meeting for his most important players. He appointed six - designating them as leaders - that they might be with him and that he might sometimes ask them to preach his message of commitment, heart and rolling lines, giving them authority over those demonic teams from other cities like the Blues, Wild and Canucks.

Oilers v. Blues - Jude 1-16

Ulanov, a servant of Jesus Christ and both brother and secret blood brother of Horcov, to those who have been called as members of the Oilogosphere, who are loved by God our one true father and kept by Jesus Christ: may faith, love and peace be yours in abundance as you watch God's own hockey team.

Oilers v. Blues - Jude 17-25

Do remember, Oilogosphere, the destiny of the team favoured by the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us remember that, "Toward the end of the regular season there will be scoffers who believe in their own ungodly playoff hopes." These ones are from other divisions, they sometimes pretend to be Saints but are really devoid of the Spirit. But you, Oilogosphere, must remember our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, staying in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to the playoffs and even to the Lord's Cup. Have pity on those who doubt; save the Blues from heartbreak by snatching them out of the fire of hope early so that they might be moved by your compassion for them and serve you with fear, hating every uniform that does not belong to Yahweh's chosen in the final weeks.

Now to him who is able to keep Tom from swatting at pucks flat-footed and to close Dwayne's fivehole even when he is tired and to prevent Jason from taking the ice in overtime, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and sovereign authority, which he has had since before the PCHA and which he will continue to have forever. Amen.

Oilers v. Blues, Red Wings, Wild - Exodus 23:20-33

"On this road trip, I am sending an angel to guard you along the way and to bring you victory in the cities I have prepared. Pay attention to me and listen to what I say. Do not rebel against me; I will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in you. If you listen carefully to me and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Red Wings, Blues, and Wild, and I will wipe them out. Do not be intimidated by their players or revere their skill or copy their practices. You must demolish them and reduce their fans to tears. Worship Yahweh your God, and his blessing will be on your point shots and penalty killing. I will take away injury from among you, and no one will hit iron or feel robbed. I will give you a full life span: there will be playoffs."

"I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every team you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn away from you in fear. I will send embarrassing promotions ahead of you to shame the fans of the Red Wings, Blues and Wild before you arrive. I will not reduce them to nothing for should they become too weak the Wild would bore even themselves with their defensive schemes. Little by little your skill will outpace theirs, until you are ready to take possession of the Cup."

"I will establish your borders from Detroit to the Pacific Ocean and from Edmonton to Texas. I will hand over to you the teams who play in the Western Conference and you will drive them out before you. Do not have pity on them or ask about their gods. Do not let them have even one victory in your land, or it will be a sin against me, as loathsome as the worship of their gods."