Great, Avs battle their way so close to the playoffs, just to have AHL superstar Tomas Jurco recklessly drive the net late in a 4-0 game on a non playoff team, lose his edge, and take out our goaltender’s leg. Thanks a lot Jurcass.
Was feeling so optimistic up till that point, but that just leaves a terrible taste in the mouth. I don’t even want to talk about the potential positive implications that first period from Semyon Varlamov, or the negative ones losing him might have. Haynes was spot on. Shades of Patrick Roy in that performance bailing out his team when they needed it the most. Outstanding stuff from him.
Tyson Barrie with a whale of a game at both ends of the ice. We saw in 2013-14 that his lackadaisical demeanor can serve him well in pressure packed games, and it did again tonight. Two huge clutch saves to swipe the puck away from the net, a bomb from the point for a goal, and a picture perfect one touch pass to Jost for the nail in the coffin to the Hawks.
Great to see Jost show his high skill level, and clutch ability, and bury that goal upstairs. Perfect time to breakout of his slump.
Avs burned up all their good karma with the refs in this one. Both refs completely swallowed their whistles in the first period, and I’m glad they did. They let go five or six calls that normally are close to automatics this year. If ever they needed it, it was tonight though.
JT Compher take a bow. Finally some of that hockey spirit this team has been missing the last few years. Well done kid. Doesn’t take any crap from anyone, even when they’re 6’4” 212 lbs. Compher’s listed at 6’0” 194 lbs, but Im not buying it. I think both of those numbers are a little generous. Realizes he just dropped the gloves against a much bigger guy and still out competes him for the takedown.
Andrighetto with the biggest goal of the year for sure in the first. Avs getting totally outplayed, power play doing absolutely nothing, and he takes the puck to the net all by himself with a gorgeous move around the defenseman, and a legit hockey compete kind of finish to bury the puck upstairs, while his body was completely contorted seven ways till Sunday.
Great work by Bednar ripping into the team on the bench in the first. If he was gonna forgo his usual zen disposition, it was that moment. Didn't necessarily get them to play better, but it woke them up. I think their problem lately isn't a lack of effort, it's gripping the sticks too tight, and letting the pressure get to them. They needed to relax, and Ghetto and Barrie's goal helped them do that.
The team looked like they took an emotional hit when they realized EJ wasn’t good to go. Varly bailed them out again. I think I might have taken a loss and a healthy Varlamov, over a win and an injured one though. Come on hockey gods, don’t do us, or Varly like that. Let us have nice things for once.