GDT: Avalanche vs Flames Monday 03/31/25 @6:30PM MNT (Emergency GDT) Ring of fire?

Who do you want in round 1?

  • Dallas

    Votes: 17 60.7%
  • Winnipeg

    Votes: 7 25.0%
  • Las Vegas

    Votes: 4 14.3%

  • Total voters
    28
But somebody said before the game that Bednar needs to try something else and not the winning lines :popcorn:
The "big guy line" has looked awful and 1st is missing Val big time.

Bednar is just probably playing 4d chess to get back to 1st wildcard spot to face the Pacific teams keeping these lines together.
Ya know, when you are as good as the Avs are and are stuck in 3rd place without home ice, you might gain an advantage by being a wild card and cross over to face a Pacific Division opponent.
 
They are playing with fire if you ask me. Trying to be ready to flip a switch come playoff time is a disaster waiting to happen. You have other teams like DAL are locked in and feels like they may very well win out and ready to boat race whoever their RD1 opponent is
 
Really? I don’t see that. I always thought he was better on the left side…though he has proven he can play on the right pretty well, especially if there’s a really strong winger on the other side.

But yes. The tweaks to the lineup aren’t working. Go back to the way it was and try tweaking again maybe later. Or maybe not.
Oh no Nichushkin is a RW through and through. It's where he's at his best.
 
They are playing with fire if you ask me. Trying to be ready to flip a switch come playoff time is a disaster waiting to happen. You have other teams like DAL are locked in and feels like they may very well win out and ready to boat race whoever their RD1 opponent is
Flipping the switch is very common and expected for contenders. Why the hell would you go all out when it doesn't mean anything?

The 2022 cup winning team were coasting at the end of the regular season just waiting for the real games to begin.
 
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They are playing with fire if you ask me. Trying to be ready to flip a switch come playoff time is a disaster waiting to happen. You have other teams like DAL are locked in and feels like they may very well win out and ready to boat race whoever their RD1 opponent is

It's 2022 all over again when they lost 6 of their last 7 because they didn't care and people were worried. Worked out pretty well in the end.
 
Bednar used the term "practice' about 5 times in the post-game presser last night. As in "its good practice to play desperate teams like St. Louis and Calgary before the playoffs" yadda, yadda. Told me everything I need to know. The goal over the next couple of weeks is to not get hurt and experiment with some combinations. Like, say, using Ross Colton in a shoot out. The Avs went on a very impressive 10 game run in March to solidify their standing in the Central, and they beat the hell out of some very good teams. That's the team we'll see in the playoffs.

And yeah, the Avs completely tanked the last couple of weeks in '22 and it worked out just fine. Not saying this team is 2022 level, but these guys have played a lot of playoff hockey over the last 5 years. They know where to find the switch.
 
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They are playing with fire if you ask me. Trying to be ready to flip a switch come playoff time is a disaster waiting to happen. You have other teams like DAL are locked in and feels like they may very well win out and ready to boat race whoever their RD1 opponent is

IMO, Dallas's recent record is deceiving. I still have no idea how they won the Edmonton game (outshot 44-24) or the Calgary game (outshot 48-19). This board would be crapping their collective pants if the Avs were winning games while being outplayed that decisively.

I haven't loved every game, but the last time the Avalanche allowed 30 shots was 13 games ago. That was also the last time they were outshot (32-34), against the Sharks of all teams, in a game they won 7-3. Speed bumps aside, Colorado is rolling.

Since 2/26, Colorado and Dallas are both 12-2-2. St. Louis is 13-2-1. I think Dallas's record is a significant overperformance, but you be the judge:

GF/GPGA/GPxGF%SF/gpSA/gpSCF%Shooting%
COL3.88 (2nd)1.88 (1st)54.4 (3rd)30.8 (5th)24.4 (3rd)55.1 (3rd)12.6 (9th)
DAL3.75 (4th)2.38 (7th)47.2 (24th)24.3 (30th)32.4 (32nd)47.6 (24th)15.4 (1st)
STL3.81 (3rd)2.13 (2nd)54.1 (5th)27.1 (19th)23.2 (1st)52.2 (8th)14.1 (2nd)
 
Team has way too much talent to bring that kind of effort/performance two games in a row.

It’s expected after a long hot streak, but it’s time to get back on track and get hot again before playoffs. No excuses.
 
Ok, so let me get this straight.

I'm supposed to be okay with blowing leads, losing games, experimenting stupid scenarios and lines... so long as we don't get any injuries.

I'm also supposed to believe we will magically flip a switch and be playing at our best when the puck drops in the playoffs.

I have to feel like this for the next 3 weeks.

Is that correct?
 
Ok, so let me get this straight.

I'm supposed to be okay with blowing leads, losing games, experimenting stupid scenarios and lines... so long as we don't get any injuries.

I'm also supposed to believe we will magically flip a switch and be playing at our best when the puck drops in the playoffs.

I have to feel like this for the next 3 weeks.

Is that correct?
2 weeks.

And you are very correct.
 
The result was fully deserved after the crowd started doing a Mexican Wave. Far more distressing than MacKinnon being too embarrassed to win the Art Ross and giving up with ten games to go.
 
I would think you'd want to practice the pairings and develop chemistry with lines that you'll use in the playoffs, but that's just me.
 
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I don't think Mack his hurt. I may be wrong but I feel like he always slows down towards the end of the year. Maybe someone can look into the stats. I know it happened last year. Whether it's intentional or not I don't know.
Definitely the case. It happens all the time. Happened that same year he got 99pts and barely missed out on 100.
 
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Avs are biggest pushovers in the league. Dunno is this Bednard fault but it sends wrong message to both our and opposition players. Game after game guys are getting smoked and if guy cant fight no one will step up to send a message, even for biggest stars in team. When Middleton step up against Xhekaj that meant something and Brock gave him that big hat for that move and team loved it. That passion and bond is something to build on before playoffs and hopefully Lando can bring that if he comes back for playoffs.
Back when Landy Kadri EJ and JJ and Manson were regularly on the ice the Avs stuck up for themselves a lot more.
 
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Definitely the case. It happens all the time. Happened that same year he got 99pts and barely missed out on 100.
Lol guy scored like 140 last year and was consistent throughout the year.

29 is banged up and probably exhausted from having to carry the team 2/3rds of the season before CMac finally got him some help. When you are getting double and triple teamed every night because there was no fear of any other forward, it takes a toll.

Not to mention he now has to deal with revolving door linemates who basically never finish any of his setups now. He had a constant linemate for years who was a shooter, now he doesn't. It's problem that the Avs will have to address at some point.
 

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