GDT: Game 32: Avalanche vs Lightning | 7 PM MT | Dec 16, 2017

[UncleRisto]

Lineups unconfirmed.​

 

[AvsMakar08]

This is a must win game for Avs.

 

[Hinterland]

I don't get it. Why keep Girard around as 7th defenseman. If he's not gonna get regular minutes might as well let him go play WJC. From what I saw his game is falling apart anyway. A break might help him get some confidence. He was a different player earlier this season.

 

[ASmileyFace]

Barbs should not be playing over Girard in any circumstance. I understand limiting the 19 year olds minutes... but come on Bednar.

 

[The Kingslayer]

This should get ugly. I loaded up on Tampa players tonight for my DK so naturally we should win 2-0.

 

[Foppberg]

This should be a fun one..

 

[ASmileyFace]

I have a feeling we might get vezina Varly tonight. And that is really our only chance of winning this one.

 

[Foppa2118]

All I can san say is they better be showcasing Barberio or something because this 7D BS at the expense of Girard's ice time is driving me nuts.

Not to mention switching his partners multiple times a period, and taking him on and off the PP, is a ridiculous approach for developing a 19 year old highly talented defenseman.

 

[Congo Jack]

At this point, if they're just going to demote Girard to 7th D, they might as well send him back to juniors.

 

[agentblack]

It seems like they want to ride this Mack train for as long as he can handle it...
or until he takes a puck to the knee and is out for the year
whatever comes first

 

[dahrougem2]

I have a feeling we might get vezina Varly tonight. And that is really our only chance of winning this one.

Bernier is playing

 

[Pokecheque]

Bernier is playing

Very good chance of zero goals getting scored on Varly then...

 

[Vaslof]

I don't get the whining. Girard has gotten decent ice time and PP time despite his mistakes.

And Barberio has been overall more solid this year than Girard. Sorry that he's not the shiny new toy anymore. Hope he sticks around for years to come.

 

[Hinterland]

At this point, if they're just going to demote Girard to 7th D, they might as well send him back to juniors.

WJC would be the best choice. Lots of playing time at high lvl guaranteed. Plus tournaments like that are invaluable experiences. It's crazy dumb to keep him around just to play 10mins as the 7th defenseman when he could play 30mins with the national team. I don't get it.

 

[Foppa2118]

I don't get the whining. Girard has gotten decent ice time and PP time despite his mistakes.

And Barberio has been overall more solid this year than Girard. Sorry that he's not the shiny new toy anymore. Hope he sticks around for years to come.

No he hasn't. This is the last four games.

FLA - 11:14
WAS - 12:30
PIT - 14:16
FLA - 9:18

Barberio has made just as many, and IMO more sloppy mistakes than Girard.

 

[Freudian]

Wonder if Girard would be the scratch if they went back to six defensemen and that's the reason they persist with seven.

Easier to scratch Yakupov or Bork than Girard.

 

[sethro109]

Not playing Girard and Bernie in net makes me think Bednar is shielding their conference. We most likely won't beat TB tonight. So I can see Bednar not letting Varly and the 19 year old get destroyed. As he thinks it won't really do us much good.

I don't really agree with this type of coaching. I'd rather he take a trial by fire approach.

 

[McMetal]

This should get ugly. I loaded up on Tampa players tonight for my DK so naturally we should win 2-0.

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

 

[Foppa2118]

Not playing Girard and Bernie in net makes me think Bednar is shielding their conference. We most likely won't beat TB tonight. So I can see Bednar not letting Varly and the 19 year old get destroyed. As he thinks it won't really do us much good.

I don't really agree with this type of coaching. I'd rather he take a trial by fire approach.

Bednar may be playing it safe with Varly, but I think it's as much rewarding Bernier for an outstanding 3rd period against Pittsburgh as anything else.

Should have got the shutout if the refs called the obvious trip before the goal with a minute or so left.

 

[ASmileyFace]

Bernier is playing

Very good chance of zero goals getting scored on Varly then...

Whoooopss lol we're screwed.

 

[Hinterland]

Wonder if Girard would be the scratch if they went back to six defensemen and that's the reason they persist with seven

Of course he would. He hasn't been good lately. But no matter how you look at it, he's probably not a game changer at this point. Why not let him go play WJC and see where he's at after this? Just call somebody up, go with the usual 12/6 lineup and everybody wins. All 7 defenders including Girard would get regular icetime.

 

[Foppa2118]

The idea that Girard "hasn't been good" because of a couple rookie mistakes lately is one of the biggest exaggerations I've heard in a long time. He's been fine, and helps the team a ton when he's on the ice. They just aren't leading to points.

The amount of times that he's had the puck with a dangerous forecheck, and he gets the puck up ice, when practically every other defender on the team would have panicked and turned the puck over, is pretty high. That alone is a huge benefit. Let alone that the PP looks dangerous most times when he's on it.

The double standard for the gaffes that vets like Barberio and Barrie get away with, while a 19 year old Girard gets pulled off every third PP in favor of Andrighetto on the point, and given 9-12 minutes a game is kinda ridiculous.

 

[tigervixxxen]

The idea that Girard "hasn't been good" because of a couple rookie mistakes lately is one of the biggest exaggerations I've heard in a long time. He's been fine, and helps the team a ton when he's on the ice. They just aren't leading to points.

The amount of times that he's had the puck with a dangerous forecheck, and he gets the puck up ice, when practically every other defender on the team would have panicked and turned the puck over, is pretty high. That alone is a huge benefit. Let alone that the PP looks dangerous most times when he's on it.

The double standard for the gaffes that vets like Barberio and Barrie get away with, while a 19 year old Girard gets pulled off every third PP in favor of Andrighetto on the point, and given 9-12 minutes a game is kinda ridiculous.

So much this. Nemeth returning is why they started the 7D anyway. Other than last game Girard hasn't been lowest TOI, it's usually Lindholm. He's not perfect but in comparison to the mistakes the other D make he's hardly bad. Hopefully they figure out some consistent role for him. They still prefer him with EJ, he takes most of his shifts with EJ still, he just shares EJ with Z for the most part. And the WJC ship has sailed, they picked their team already. Maybe technically the window is open a few more days but in reality it's done.

 

[AvsCOL]

So much this. Nemeth returning is why they started the 7D anyway. Other than last game Girard hasn't been lowest TOI, it's usually Lindholm. He's not perfect but in comparison to the mistakes the other D make he's hardly bad. Hopefully they figure out some consistent role for him. They still prefer him with EJ, he takes most of his shifts with EJ still, he just shares EJ with Z for the most part. And the WJC ship has sailed, they picked their team already. Maybe technically the window is open a few more days but in reality it's done.

Lindholm has been putrid since his return. Girard has been up and down, but that's totally expected. He's making a lot of good plays, and eventually he'll cut out the bad ones.

 

[McMetal]

Girard has been worse than he was at the beginning, but I think that's because he's being told to rein in his dynamic play, which is a stupid thing to tell a 19 year old with his skating and vision. He's showing cracks in his game, but "bad" is a big overstatement.