Showing posts with label Colorado Avalanche. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado Avalanche. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Similarities in Playoff Series for Wild

Last season marked the first time the Minnesota Wild had made the playoffs since winning the Northwest Division in 2008, but would be matched up with the Stanley Cup favorite, Chicago Blackhawks.

This season, just squeaking in again, Minnesota is in a battle with longtime rival, Colorado, after the Avalanche won the division for the first time since 2003. I wonder how that season ended up for them.

Looking back to the first three games of last seasons playoffs for Minnesota and comparing them to this years, I see a lot of things similar in the ways the games have been played.

Starting with both game one's, an overtime post would cost Minnesota that important game one victory to gain momentum in the series. Last year it was Jason Zucker hitting the crossbar, and this year was Jason Pominville ringing one off of the far post. One big difference in each series first games is that Minnesota would dominate the first two periods and much more scoring in the game because of it.

In game two, the Wild looked like they were in awe of the young and speedy Avalanche. Seeming to not get anything together, even after scoring the first goal, Colorado would score three unanswered to skate to a game two victory and take a 2-0 series lead going into game three at Xcel Energy Center, just like the Blackhawks would last year.

Although game three between Chicago and Minnesota was played pretty even and Minnesota would dominate the Avs last night, the result was still the same between the two games, young guns scoring in dramatic fashion in overtime. Last year was Jason Zucker who fired a rocket from near the goal line and would beat Corey Crawford for the victory. This year, it was Granny's turn. In a play that was dominated by him, Granlund would fight off a check, take the puck to the slot, and score laying flat on the ice with the Avalanche goaltender having no chance at making the save, giving the Wild a game three victory once again.

Compared to last season, this Wild team is much stronger, much more skilled, and have much more chemistry then they did at this time last season. I would expect another strong showing for Minnesota Thursday night and for the rest of the series. If they play like they did last night for the rest of the series, Colorado will be going home early this playoff season.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Minnesota Wild: Matt Cooke to have a in-person hearing for his hit on Tyson Barrie.


This is not going to end well for Wild forward Matt Cooke, he's going to get at least a 5-game suspension, and probably more.
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(video) Matt Cooke Knees Tyson Barrie

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This hit by Matt Cooke has cause a stir tonight with his leg check on Tyson Barrie. First, it's not a good hit, and I think Cooke is going to end up getting suspended for this hit. I think that league has to suspend him based on his history. But I guess we will have to wait and see.

Let's be clear, I also don't approve of this hit, but Cooke has cleaned his act up and this is one of his first questionable hits of the season for the Wild agitator.
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Sunday, April 20, 2014

(Video) Avalanche goal by Nate MacKinnon



What a goal by Avalanche forward Nate MacKinnon. He kind of made the Wild defense look sick. Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is stil trying to find his cup.
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Friday, April 18, 2014

Erik Johnson saves an empty net goal (Video)



Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson saves the game clinching empty net goal. I want to know why this wasn’t a penalty? Delay of game, I would say. Maybe not.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Minnesota vs. Colorado: What We Should Expect

Minnesota and Colorado have been division rivals since Minnesota has come into the league in 2000, so I guess you could say that these two teams are familiar with each other.

Up until the last couple of seasons, Minnesota has never really had any superstars on their roster, unlike the usual star studded Avalanche of the late 90's and early 2000's. However, the Avalanche recently have been struggling to find success and even had finished 29th in the league out of 30 teams last season.

This year looked as if it was going to be a rebuilding season for Colorado after the firing of head coach Joe Sacco. Before the draft last year, the Avalanche would announce that Patrick Roy would be named their head coach, leaving many scratching their heads wondering how the Avs would fare in this situation. Lets just say a worst to first turn around leaves Roy as a front runner for this year's Jack Adams trophy.

As for the Minnesota Wild, Mike Yeo has this team in a position for a possible playoff run. The main question mark will be in goal. Can Ilya Bryzgalov play like the goalie of 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks? Or will the Bryz, who struggled in the playoffs with the Flyers, show up. If the ladder of the two is to happen, Minnesota's playoff life will be ending earlier then the fans, and the team would like.

Colorado would go 4-0-1 against Minnesota this season, and shocked the league on their extreme turn around with the big youth movement in Colorado. However, a big part of this would be the outstanding play of goalie Semyon Varlamov, who would break Patrick Roy's franchise wins record with 41 wins this season. Also another big weapon for the Avs, besides Duchene, Landeskog, and Stastny, you have to watch out for likely Calder winner Nathan MacKinnon. With his speed, he likes to lead the rush to the outside and also has a very potent snap shot, much like UND fans saw in Danny Kristo's four years at UND. Colorado has three solid lines of scoring who can burn you at anytime you make a mistake. It is no fluke that this team won the Central Division.

Looking back at the two teams head to head playoff history, the teams have met twice in the playoffs. the first time was in the 2002-2003 season, also happens to be the last time that Colorado won their division and Minnesota winning a playoff series, and the second was in the 2007-2008 season when Minnesota would win their first and only division crown.

The most recent series in 2007-2008, the two teams would battle hard in a very tough six game series where Colorado would come out on top, but later lose out of the playoffs. This would be the first season that Minnesota would reach the playoffs in consecutive years, having reached the previous season, but losing to the eventual cup champion Anaheim Ducks in five games.

Now the most memorable series in 2003. Minnesota, just in their third season in franchise history, would make their first ever playoffs, and would be slated a huge underdog against the star studded Avalanche lead by the likes of Sakic, Forsberg, and Roy. Minnesota came out in game one on a mission, making a statement by winning game one. The Avs would have none of it and would rattle off three straight wins to put the Wild on the verge of elimination. Going into game five, nobody counted the Wild as a threat to Colorado anymore and was already preparing for the Avs to move on to round number two. However, Minnesota would be victorious in game five and have one more chance at home to keep their playoff series alive.

The next two games will probably be the most historic games in Minnesota Wild history. On the verge of elimination, the two teams would experience overtime in game six. The Xcel Energy Center was loud, and the fans were on the edge of their seats wondering who was going to play hero. Richard Park would gain the puck at the offensive blue line skate up the right wing and fire, what looked to be a harmless snap shot, at Roy and would beat him to send the Wild back to Colorado for game seven. This would be the first home NHL playoff win in Minnesota since the North Stars did in the early 90's.

Now on to game seven. Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy was virtually unbeatable in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when it came to game sevens, and was unbeaten when it game to game sevens that went into overtime. This game would again end up in overtime, making everyone think that this game was in the bag for Colorado because of Roy in net. This, however, was not the case. Andrew Brunette would get a pass from a teammate, take the puck into the offensive zone, have the presence of mind to go to his backhand and bury the puck in the back of the net, ending the career of Patrick Roy, in his first ever game seven overtime loss.

As for this series, will we see a series like this, or will we see one like in 2008? Honestly I think it will be a high flying series where if the games become more about offense, Minnesota has no chance to advance to the second round. However, if we have one goal, low scoring contests, this could very well go seven games.

Monday, April 14, 2014

2014 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

EAST:
Round 1:
Boston over Detroit
Montreal over Tampa
Philly over NYR
Pittsburgh over Columbus

Round 2:
Philly over Pittsburgh
Boston over Montreal

Round 3:
Philly over Boston

WEST:
Round 1:
Anaheim over Dallas
LA over San Jose
Colorado over Minnesota
Chicago over St. Louis

Round 2:
Anaheim over LA
Colorado over Chicago

Round 3:
Colorado over Anaheim

STANLEY CUP FINALS:
Colorado over Philly

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

(Video) Brad Malone vs Derek MacKenzie Fight



s/t to The Whistler who sent me this video in an email today. Brad Malone absolutely works Derek MacKenzie. Not even a close fight; Malone also scored a goal as well.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Erik Johnson suspended two games by the NHL



Former Gopher and current Colorado Avalanche Eric Johnson has been suspended two games by the NHL for his dirty slash on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen. Personally, I think it should be longer.

NEW YORK - Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has been suspended for two games, without pay, for slashing New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen during NHL Game No. 878 in New York on Saturday, Feb. 8, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The incident occurred at 12:09 of the third period. Johnson was assessed a minor penalty for slashing. Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and based on his average annual salary, Johnson will forfeit $38,461.54. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
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(Video) Former Gopher defenseman Erik Johnson looking at a Shanaban



Former Golden Gophers and current Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is facing supplemental discipline for this dirty/brutal slash on Islander New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen. It will be interesting to see what kind of punishment is given to Johnson. (Shanaban)
NHL.COM --- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will have a phone hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a third-period slash on New York Islanders forward Frans Nielsen on Saturday night.

Nielsen was skating for a loose puck in the Avalanche's zone when Johnson slashed him on the wrists with 7:54 left in the third period. Johnson was given a two-minute penalty on the play.

The following grounds for the proposed supplemental discipline are being considered: slashing. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to these infractions accordingly upon further review
Thoughts on the slash? How many games will he be facing?
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Monday, December 30, 2013

Colorado Avalanche: Don't go in Semyon Varlamov crease



We had an old saying in football, don't go in the kitchen, if you don't want to get hit. Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov was none too pleased with Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien after put his glove in the face of the Av's goalie. It could get ugly next time the two teams play. The two teams play a couple more times in March.
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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Saturday Links: Game Day

Here's a few links for you to look at before you head to the game.
















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Friday, November 29, 2013

Minnesota Wild: Zach Parise tell the Injury Ninja to kiss off



Apparently, former Fighting Sioux All-American forward Zach Parise has a very high tolerance to pain and will be playing in tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche. Originally, Parise was slated to be out 2-3 weeks. This is good news for the Minnesota Wild.


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Monday, November 04, 2013

A tale of two goalies (Ben Bishop and Daren Pang)



Former Maine goalie "Big" Ben Bishop is 6'7" tall, that's a very tall goalie. Daren Pang is 5'5" tall, and he's very short goaltender. I once met Panger when I was working the check point at the GFK airport after World Juniors in 2005, he's really not a very big man.
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Friday, October 18, 2013

Cody McLeod has in person hearing for hit on Niklas Kronwall



Here's the good news, Colorado Avalanche forward Cody McLeod is set to have the book thrown at him. The Colorado Avalanche forward has in person hearing for hit with the NHL Department of Player Safety, for his dirty, bush league, unnecessary hit on Red Wings Defenseman Niklas Kronwall. Logic is, with an in person hearing, he's going to get a least a 5-game suspension. If I was McLeod, I would be a bit worried. Buffalo Sabres "Rat" Patrick Kaleta was given a 10-game suspension after an in person hearing for his dirty hit on Jack Johnson. Of course, he's going to appeal that suspension.

NHL.COM -- Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a boarding incident during Thursday's game against the Detroit Red Wings at Pepsi Center.

McLeod was offered the opportunity for an in-person hearing as required by provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for any suspension that can exceed five games.

At 2:13 of the first period, McLeod was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Detroit's Niklas Kronwall. Kronwall remained down and was taken from the ice on a stretcher. He did not return. After the game, the Red Wings announced Kronwall sustained a concussion and cuts to his right ear.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: boarding. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

Detroit won the game, 4-2.
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Thursday, October 17, 2013

Cody McLeod's inexcusable hit on Niklas Kronwall



There's no excuse for this duty, senseless, hit by the Colorado Avalanche hack Cody McLeod. This hit should garner McLeod at least five games, there is no way that you can defend this hit. If you watch the video you will see that McLeod targets the head of Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, with his elbow, knocking him out and sending him off the ice on a stretcher.
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Monday, October 14, 2013

Boston Bruins: Milan Lucic scores the 100th goal of his career



Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic scored  the 100th goal of his NHL career. Lucic has been in the NHL for six seasons and has scored (100g-144a—244pts) in a 410 games. Lucic is also having a good start to the 2013-14 season scoring (3g-2a—5pts).
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Monday, April 08, 2013