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. Canucks - Psalm 27:1-3

Yahweh is our salvation -
so why should we fear superior goal differential?
Yahweh is our light -
so why should we be afraid of the league's leading scorer?

Oilers v. Canucks - Matthew 12:15-21

Aware of their desire to destroy him, Quinn no longer spoke to members of the Vancouver organization. It turns out that it wasn't only Penner that was inspired by him. Many others were pleased with Quinn, especially his willingness to speak about the things the team was lacking. Unlike others in the organization, it seemed to them that Quinn was willing to tell the truth.

See Also:
Oilers v. Canucks - Matthew 12:1-8
Oilers v. Canucks - Matthew 12:9-14
Oilers v. Canucks - Matthew 12:22-32

Avalanche v. Canucks - Scoring Chances #23

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
COL	1	19:08		5	8	10	26	41	54	1	3	8	21	26	42	5v5
COL	1	15:56	Goal	4	8	9	26	41	54	1	6	17	21	23		5v4
VAN	1	14:47		5	10	16	37	41	55	1	3	8	13	18	37	5v5
COL	1	13:20		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	5	17	21	27	33	5v5
COL	1	12:16		5	16	23	27	40	41	1	3	8	10	13		5v4
COL	1	11:24		4	8	9	26	41	54	1	5	6	14	17		5v4
COL	1	11:23	Goal	4	8	9	26	41	54	1	5	6	14	17		5v4
COL	1	6:26		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	3	8	17	21	33	5v5
VAN	1	5:40		8	16	22	27	39	41	1	6	15	23	33	36	5v5
COL	1	0:57		5	8	10	26	41	54	1	3	8	17	21	42	5v5
VAN	2	16:09		4	28	39	41	44	54	1	6	13	23	33	36	5v5
VAN	2	16:00		4	28	39	41	44	54	1	6	13	23	33	36	5v5
VAN	2	15:39	Goal	22	27	37	39	41		1	5	18	23	26	42	4v5
COL	2	15:01		5	9	10	23	40	41	1	3	8	10	15	18	5v5
VAN	2	12:45		5	9	10	25	37	41	1	5	13	27	33	36	5v5
COL	2	10:28		4	8	9	26	41	54	1	6	17	21	27		5v4
COL	2	9:40		5	16	23	27	40	41	1	3	5	10	14		5v4
COL	2	9:16		5	16	23	27	40	41	1	3	5	13	14		5v4
COL	2	7:30		10	22	25	39	41	55	1	8	26	27	33	36	5v5
COL	2	3:29		5	10	25	26	39	41	1	3	8	17	18	21	5v5
COL	2	3:24		5	10	25	26	39	41	1	3	8	17	18	21	5v5
VAN	2	2:02		9	22	23	27	40	41	1	5	14	23	26	33	5v5
COL	2	0:21		4	8	26	41	44	54	1	3	8	10	18	21	5v5
COL	3	19:23		4	8	9	26	41	54	1	6	10	13	23		5v4
COL	3	16:49		4	8	26	41	44	54	1	3	8	14	33	36	5v5
VAN	3	16:34		4	8	26	41	44	54	1	3	8	14	33	36	5v5
VAN	3	16:32		4	8	26	41	44	54	1	5	8	14	33	36	5v5
VAN	3	14:50		9	10	16	39	41	44	1	5	17	21	26	27	5v5
VAN	3	14:34		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	3	8	14	33	36	5v5
VAN	3	14:32		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	3	8	14	33	36	5v5
COL	3	13:23		5	9	10	23	40	41	1	5	10	13	18	23	5v5
COL	3	13:20		5	9	10	23	40	41	1	5	10	13	18	23	5v5
VAN	3	11:36		5	8	22	26	41	54	1	3	8	15	18	42	5v5
VAN	3	11:14	Goal	5	9	10	23	40	41	1	5	14	23	33	36	5v5
VAN	3	10:21		5	10	26	37	41		1	5	18	23	26	42	4v5
VAN	3	10:11		5	10	26	37	41		1	5	18	23	26	42	4v5
VAN	3	8:29		4	5	26	41			1	5	18	23	26	42	3v5
VAN	3	8:23	Goal	4	5	23	26	41		1	5	18	23	26	42	4v5
COL	3	7:27		5	10	16	25	39	41	1	6	8	10	15	18	5v5
VAN	3	6:27	Goal	4	16	25	26	41	44	1	3	17	21	26	27	5v5
VAN	3	4:48		5	10	23	37	41	55	1	5	18	27	36	42	5v5
VAN	3	2:06		4	23	37	41	44	55	1	5	14	23	33	36	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
4	J. LILES	12:39	2	6	3:27	5	0	0:28	0	1
5	B. CLARK	17:23	8	5	2:13	3	0	1:16	0	3
8	W. WOLSKI	16:08	6	6	3:27	5	0	1:42	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	13:33	3	4	3:27	5	0	0:00	0	0
10	K. CUMISKEY	18:54	9	5	0:00	0	0	0:38	0	2
16	D. TUCKER	10:20	1	4	2:00	3	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	20:47	3	5	0:00	0	0	2:16	0	1
23	M. HEJDUK	17:03	3	4	2:13	3	0	0:04	0	1
25	C. STEWART	9:58	4	2	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	15:57	8	6	3:27	5	0	0:24	0	3
27	K. QUINCEY	17:27	2	4	2:13	3	0	2:16	0	1
28	D. KOCI	3:18	0	2	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
37	R. O'REILLY	9:37	0	4	0:00	0	0	2:22	0	3
39	T. GALIARDI	13:25	4	4	0:13	0	0	1:50	0	1
40	M. SVATOS	12:44	3	2	2:20	3	0	0:00	0	0
41	C. ANDERSON	50:16	13	16	5:40	8	0	3:56	0	4
44	R. WILSON	13:22	2	7	0:00	0	0	0:58	0	0
54	D. JONES	16:02	6	7	3:07	5	0	0:55	0	0
55	C. MCLEOD	12:43	1	3	0:13	0	0	0:35	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	8	2	4	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	8	5	5	4	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
3	5	14	4	10	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	1
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	21	21	13	16	8	0	0	0	0	4	0	1

Maybe it was because they were playing their third game in four nights but this was really the tale of two games. Through the first two periods the Avalanche were clearly the better team, especially in the first. Although I noted two chances for the Canucks they were both of the marginal variety as the Avalanche did a great job protecting the middle of the ice in their own end. The second period was a little tougher but the Avs still carried the play and then in the third... the wheels came off. They just got completely shelled. Henrik Sedin, who had been invisible in the first, was suddenly getting chances and the Avalanche were constantly on their heels. The result was a blown lead in the third period for the second game in a row.

As I said above, the Avs really carried the play in both of the first two periods. One exception to this was in the second period when the Canucks managed to get Henrik Sedin out against David Koci. This resulted in Koci taking a penalty and the Canucks scoring on the subsequent power play. Even if the Avalanche go on to win the division I must urge anyone voting for coach of the year to not vote for Joe Sacco. He may do some things well but his decision to dress David Koci for almost every game this season should be enough to disqualify him from consideration.

This game also marked the return of John-Michael Liles who had a very John-Michael Liles game. The Avalanche had been struggling big-time on the power play and with Liles back in the lineup (and back on the point) they scored on their first two power play chances. He also went +2 -6 for chances at EV. Very Liles. Over at Mile High Hockey I was having a conversation with BeachNSnowGirl about the value Liles brings to the team. We were having this conversation after this game had taken place but I had not yet watched it. After watching that PP struggle for so long only to see it click when Liles came back to the lineup, well, I can better understand why she was so vociferous in her support. I still think the EV hole is too much for Liles to climb out of to provide value but the Avs power play was ceratinly improved with him on the ice.

Avalanche v. Canucks - Scoring Chances #20

Tm	P	Time	Note	COL						Opponent
VAN	1	18:06		5	20	37	40	41	55	1	5	17	21	27	33	5v5
VAN	1	18:04	Goal	5	20	37	40	41	55	1	5	8	17	21	33	5v5
COL	1	13:02		8	16	27	37	40	41	1	6	10	13	23		5v4
VAN	1	12:53	Goal	8	16	27	37	40	41	1	6	10	13	21	23	5v5
VAN	1	11:55		10	15	25	28	41	52	1	5	14	26	27	42	5v5
VAN	1	9:02	Goal	8	10	26	41	52	54	1	6	10	15	23	36	5v5
VAN	1	8:05		9	16	22	23	27	41	1	3	8	17	21	33	5v5
COL	1	2:22		5	9	16	20	40	41	1	3	5	13	14	33	5v5
VAN	1	0:54		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	3	8	10	18	36	5v5
COL	2	19:47		8	22	26	27	41	54	1	3	8	17	21	33	5v5
COL	2	15:49		5	8	16	25	37	41	1	3	8	14	18		5v4
COL	2	14:59		9	20	23	26	27	41	1	6	10	21	23		5v4
VAN	2	13:17		16	22	25	26	27	41	1	3	8	17	21	33	5v5
VAN	2	11:40	Goal	15	22	27	28	40	41	1	5	14	26	27	42	5v5
COL	2	11:05		5	8	9	20	23	41	1	6	13	18	23	37	5v5
VAN	2	8:02		22	41	52	54			1	6	17	18	27	33	3v5
VAN	2	6:37		5	10	15	26	41	55	1	5	14	23	26	42	5v5
VAN	2	3:46		9	10	16	23	41	52	1	6	10	15	23	36	5v5
COL	2	0:10		5	8	16	20	41	55	1	6	17	21	23		5v4
COL	3	15:20		5	9	20	23	26	31	1	5	8	10	13		5v4
COL	3	15:05		5	8	16	20	31	40	1	6	14	17	23		5v4
COL	3	14:28		8	10	16	27	31	40	1	3	8	10	36		5v4
COL	3	14:10	Goal	8	10	16	27	31	40	1	3	8	10	36		5v4
COL	3	13:43		22	23	26	31	52	55	1	5	17	21	23	33	5v5
COL	3	13:42		22	23	26	31	52	55	1	5	17	21	23	33	5v5
VAN	3	12:15		8	9	10	16	31	52	1	3	14	26	27	42	5v5
COL	3	11:18		22	23	26	27	31	40	1	5	17	21	23	33	5v5
COL	3	9:12		10	15	31	37	52	54	1	3	8	14	26	42	5v5
COL	3	9:10	Goal	10	15	31	37	52	54	1	3	8	14	26	42	5v5
VAN	3	8:45	Goal	5	15	20	31	37	54	1	5	10	18	23	36	5v5
VAN	3	7:09	Goal	22	23	26	27	31		1	5	17	21	23	33	4v5
VAN	3	2:26	Goal	5	15	27	31	37	52	1	3	8	13	18	37	5v5
VAN	3	0:17	Goal	5	8	20	31	37	40	1	3	10	15	27	36	5v5

#	Player	EV			PP			SH
5	B. CLARK	10:57	2	6	4:55	4	0	3:53	0	0
8	W. WOLSKI	12:56	2	5	4:40	6	0	0:25	0	0
9	M. DUCHENE	12:31	2	3	4:41	2	0	0:00	0	0
10	K. CUMISKEY	13:31	2	5	2:55	2	0	2:58	0	0
15	M. HENDRICKS	7:34	2	5	0:04	0	0	3:17	0	0
16	D. TUCKER	11:51	1	5	4:45	6	0	0:00	0	0
20	T. PREISSING	10:07	2	4	3:00	4	0	0:00	0	0
22	S. HANNAN	16:42	4	4	0:19	0	0	4:33	0	1
23	M. HEJDUK	11:24	4	2	4:28	2	0	1:40	0	1
25	C. STEWART	9:02	0	2	1:05	1	0	0:00	0	0
26	P. STASTNY	11:25	4	4	5:08	2	0	2:37	0	1
27	K. QUINCEY	16:01	2	6	4:51	4	0	2:02	0	1
28	D. KOCI	2:01	0	2	0:00	0	0	0:00	0	0
31	P. BUDAJ	14:46	5	4	2:11	4	0	3:03	0	1
37	R. O'REILLY	10:12	2	6	3:05	2	0	5:02	0	0
40	M. SVATOS	9:57	2	5	3:10	4	0	0:00	0	0
41	C. ANDERSON	25:46	3	11	7:33	4	0	5:16	0	0
52	A. FOOTE	14:30	4	5	0:15	0	0	3:17	0	0
54	D. JONES	11:55	3	3	0:31	0	0	1:42	0	0
55	C. MCLEOD	10:22	2	3	0:48	1	0	1:50	0	0

Period	Totals		EV		PP		5v3 PP		SH		5v3 SH
1	2	7	1	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	5	5	2	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
3	9	5	5	4	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	16	17	8	15	8	0	0	0	0	1	0	1

Well, this was yet another slow start for the Avalanche. The Avalanche were outchanced badly at even strength in the first period and the second wasn't much better. They came out hard in the third but after narrowing at 4-0 lead to 4-2 the Canucks were able to score on the power play to make it 5-2 only 25 seconds later. The Avalanche didn't get a single scoring chance after that point. They tightened things up in the third period once the Canucks decided not to go for any offence but that shouldn't be much consolation (for more on how the Avalanche and other times have done with the score tied, check out this post by JLikens). The one bright spot may have been special teams which were good again tonight, although the PK again got burned by a pass through the seam for a one timer. They're going to need to take a look at that because one timers coming across the ice around the faceoff dot are not easy to stop.

I didn't much care for the way the Avalanche were responded to getting down early. Kyle Quincey took a bad penalty in the first with Colorado down three and then Adam Foote basically mugged a Canuck player while short-handed. I thought he was very lucky not to put his team down two guys (he definitely deserved an extra penalty). The officials actually made a couple of other odd calls. When Alex Burrows clipped Craig Anderson and Anderson went down the refs need to call a penalty. With a fall like that it's either tripping or diving but it isn't nothing (it was tripping in this case). Then, at the end of the second period Cody McLeod slewfoots his man off the faceoff and ends up with a scoring chance. That was just a terrible non-call.

Funniest moment for me was Kevin Weekes commenting on a Milan Hejduk (a nice first game back for him, not so much for Tom Preissing and Darcy Tucker continues to suck) shot from a bad angle: "Sharp-angled shots are hard for goalies to save." And that's why Kevin Weekes is a commentator instead of an NHL goalie this year. Weekes also mentioned (a few times!) that the Avalanche just needed to play with more desperation in order to be successful. Judging from how often they've won games so far this season what they really need is either better goaltending or better luck.