GDT: Game 79: Avs @ Ducks | Sunday, April 1st, 7pm MT | Of Course

[avsfan09]

I was busy biting my nails and face palming.

Lol I normally just try to put it in perspective. No matter how spectacularly the Avs fail, they still don't match the level of spectacular failure that is my life.

 

[UncleRisto]

I'm confused. Is this you taking full responsibility for the loss? Or are we both innocents?

I fell asleep on the job, and Ryan Kesler came in and robbed me of my childlike trust.

 

[Jarey Curry]

It was 3-1 when I fell asleep, and when I woke up, overtime was starting.

It was 3-1 when I fell asleep, and now that im awake I go scratching my head why is Ducks leading the 4 team race w 95p even though we won yesterday... then I check livescore.com and BOOM I feel sick

 

[Arcade Fire]

We choked. Of course we did.

 

[Bender]

If the Avs win the rest of their remaining games there is a chance that it won't get them in to the playoffs. They have to win all the games in regulation to get in to the playoffs.

That's not accurate. I posted it in the other thread :

If we win tonight in LA (or in SJ later this week) and St-Louis loses against the Capitals, then the Avs are in charge of their own destiny with the final game of the season regardless if the Blues beat Chicago back-to-back.

Well, it's simple; playoff teams don't blow 3-1 third period leads in crucial regular season games like this.

Do you know what playoff teams do? They rally back from being down by 2 heading into the third and win it in OT.

As much as people don't want to hear this, the past week or so has proven to us that this team just isn't ready to make the next step.

Maybe next year if they address the secondary scoring issue and add some more blueline depth to prevent the train wreck that is Dwarfsofty and his ilk from ever seeing NHL ice, they squeak in.

They need to find a way to win important games and I'm not convinced that Jared can ever be the coach for that.

At least we aren't the laughing stock of the league anymore, I'm happy with that.

This is a weird take. It's actually not as simple as you seem to point out. This is making a blanket statement about the outcome of a game rather than taking into consideration everything that's been going on with this team all season long.

Just as easily as you say that, I guess I could say "playoff teams don't lose 6-0 to the Arizona Coyotes" which would render the Blues a non-playoff team as well. Who then, makes the playoffs?

I guess I just don't understand the fan who watches the Avs and takes this stance. I guess you could say "playoffs teams don't blow 3-1 leads in the 3rd period..." or you could say "this team has had every chance to QUIT because key players have gone down for extended periods of time several times this season but they still manage to stay in games and get points. We have 3 games left and are STILL in a position to make the playoffs...something 95%+ of all Avs fans would have considered unfathomable 6 months ago".

It's easy to say that the Avs should be winning important games but remember ALL of the other teams we are racing against to make the playoffs are veteran-laden teams with high expectations and they are playing hard as well. Just the mere fact that we are right there, IN A PLAYOFF SPOT with 3 games to go is truly remarkable.

Last night's loss was frustrating but I guess I just don't understand how anyone couldn't take a step back and see things as they are.

 

[BaconNater]

Really frustrating night, 20 minutes away from a good night which stings.

Would have been nice to win so it could be more fun laughing at that idiot Ryan Kesler for injuring his own goalie being a fake tough guy.

 

[ABasin]

If you can't see how troubling things are looking right now, then I've got nothing for you.

Yes, it’s going to go down to the wire, but this isn’t over just yet. I believe if they manage two points against LA/SJ, they’ll be playing StL for that final spot on that final day.

Which would be a hell of a lot of fun.

 

[Avs71]

When you get so close to something, of course it is incredibly frustrating to just miss out. What if the NHL didn't call back that goal against St. Louis and the Avs ended up winning that game? What if they didn't blow a 3-1 lead last night? What if they didn't blow a 2-0 lead to the Oilers and lose in OT? There are probably tons of examples where the puck just bouncing an inch the other way and the Avs win the game.

It sucks, but there is no point getting extremely worked up over it, or saying things like throw in the towel, season over, etc. Throwing in the towel on the season last night isn't going to make a loss to L.A hurt any less tonight.

When you step back and look at the season, of course we know the team isn't ready to be a true playoff contender. Looking at the roster last night:

-A Mark Alt-David Warsofsky pairing. No NHL team clinching a playoff spot has either one of these defencemen in the lineup, let alone as a pairing.
-A 19 year old defenceman, who weighs 165 lbs having to shoulder a huge work load against the California teams to try and get the team into the playoffs.
-The backup is an AHL goalie who has a .900 SV% and 3.35 GAA in the AHL.
-A 2nd line where the oldest guy is 23, and the most experienced guy has played 149 NHL games.

There isn't a need to dissect the team after any losses coming up this week. We know what is wrong with the team. We are potentially 5 days away from not watching Avalanche hockey for another ~6 months. The big names on the roster have done everything they possibly can to keep the team in the hunt. You really can't ask for much more. Just believe in the team for 5 more days, and take the pain of the losses. It will be a lot more fun than going into each game believing they have already lost. And who knows, they just might surprise us.

 

[RockLobster]

I'm not a huge fan of Duncan Siemens nor David Warsofsky--both are just...well they're more AHL caliber than NHL caliber in my opinion.

That said, there was no reason to dress Warsofsky last night. Not saying he's the reason they lost, as they collectively blew that lead, but Siemens should have been in there.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

I know he's the guy that got danced around on the game winner, but Girard is still the defenseman I want on the ice the most during OT. He seems to be the only one that understands possession. Zadorov is probably my other choice.

Barrie throwing a dribbler towards the net was the dumbest of about 37 dump decisions he made last night. You have the puck, you have all the space in the world. Why are you taking a risk like that? Hold onto the puck until you create a high percentage chance. Yes, Girard got walked, but somebody's almost always going to get scored on in OT. I think Girard gives us the highest chance of producing a goal and for that reason I want him out there. If Girard is out there with Mackinnon and Sven to start we may end that game in the first 30 seconds. Nate even won himself a faceoff.

The shot stats don't favor them much, but I thought both Girard and Nemeth were awesome last night.

 

[RockLobster]

Just to add my thoughts on last night, as it was one of the only games I've been able to sort of watch this season (well, I was doing home work and actual work, so I had it streaming, and looked up every now and again, but my focus was split 3 ways last night).

-From *what I did see*, I thought Zadorov looked a little too passive at times. The team just lost their other big physical presence on the blueline for the rest of the year, and it just looked like he lacked some hustle out there when I was able to look up and watch for a few minutes

-The top line is in a funk, no doubt. Too many cutesy pass attempts (not just Landeskog's in the 1st, but I saw MacKinnon make at least one later in the game). It's inevitable that a top-line will have run though some cold streaks, it's just unfortunate that it's happening now. It's a cliche for a reason, but it's true that your best players have to be your best players to have the best chance at winning, and last night the top-line were not the Avs' best players.

-I liked that Landeskog got in the heads of several Ducks players, but the PP once again failed to help the Avs out. Imagine if they come out for the 3rd period and actually do something on that PP? That's not on any one player, that's a collective failure of the PP units and coaching staff.

-I love what Girard brings to the team, but I'm not sure I like him in 3-on-3 OT right now. With EJ out, they should be rolling with Barrie first, then Zadorov, and then Barrie again, with Girard a complete last in the rotation, for the time being.

-While it was nice to get a point, the Avs really needed two. They still have some control over their playoff fates, but it will also require some assistance. Here's hoping the Blues stumble again, and that Anaheim gets pounded whoever they play next...f***ing Kings of the 3-Point games those guys.

 

[AvsCOL]

Rantanen needs to start playing like the first line player he is. Say what you want about Landeskog, but he's grinding out there and getting things done. Mac isn't scoring, but he's creating a lot of chances. Rantanen isn't doing much.

 

[cgf]

If they get a point tonight I'm buying tickets to the game in SJ & the avs haven't lost with me in attendance since the oughts

 

[Cousin Eddie]

If they get a point tonight I'm buying tickets to the game in SJ & the avs haven't lost with me in attendance since the oughts

A "REAL" fan with that kind of luck would be road trippin' to LA tonight.

 

[cgf]

A "REAL" fan with that kind of luck would be road trippin' to LA tonight.

lol, I actually thought about it, but I wouldn't be able to make it back to the bay area in time to take my sister to the doctor in the morning. And I'm only out here to help take care of her until her arm starts working again & they figure out what's wrong with her liver n kidneys.

 

[Alex Jones]

Ducks beat their rivals, then came back and won down two goals in a back to back. That's a team that deserves the playoffs.

 

[lonelybadger]

I love how much collectively as a fan base we are swinging to the negative. Sure it looks like right now the Avs won't make the playoffs, but they will most likely be the last team eliminated from contention. THE LAST TEAM! After a year where they finished dead last, not even close to the 2nd worst team, and lost the lottery for all 3 picks, and are still fighitng for playoffs going into game 80.

Mackinnon does not have a goal in something like what 7 games? They still have hope, and yeah losing that point last night sucks, but they still got a point. If the top line can get going, preferably tonight, the Avs can make it. And then we can all complain about how they could not even beat the predators in a 7 game series.

 

[Foppa Frossa]

So you're saying if we could only get MacKinnon and Rantanen off the first line, Landeskog would be good?

 

[the_fan]

The 3-1 lead may have been protected if Avs had EJ who would of played most of those 12 mins in which Avs lost the lead. I know people don't like using injuries as an excuse but the fact is the other teams in the race haven't lost their #1 d and starting goalie in this crucial time. Bernier is actually doing a good job replacing Varly, but no one can replace EJ and the 28 or so minutes which he plays every game

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Some of the guys are playing through the flu bug right now. It’s a tough time to come down with it, and tonight is even more worrisome.

I thought Bernier was fine but it really felt like Anaheim was throwing a lot of pucks from bad spots, so the shot count seemed inflated. The third goal was horrendous by him.

 

[Bender]

Just to add my thoughts on last night, as it was one of the only games I've been able to sort of watch this season (well, I was doing home work and actual work, so I had it streaming, and looked up every now and again, but my focus was split 3 ways last night).

-From *what I did see*, I thought Zadorov looked a little too passive at times. The team just lost their other big physical presence on the blueline for the rest of the year, and it just looked like he lacked some hustle out there when I was able to look up and watch for a few minutes

-The top line is in a funk, no doubt. Too many cutesy pass attempts (not just Landeskog's in the 1st, but I saw MacKinnon make at least one later in the game). It's inevitable that a top-line will have run though some cold streaks, it's just unfortunate that it's happening now. It's a cliche for a reason, but it's true that your best players have to be your best players to have the best chance at winning, and last night the top-line were not the Avs' best players.

-I liked that Landeskog got in the heads of several Ducks players, but the PP once again failed to help the Avs out. Imagine if they come out for the 3rd period and actually do something on that PP? That's not on any one player, that's a collective failure of the PP units and coaching staff.

-I love what Girard brings to the team, but I'm not sure I like him in 3-on-3 OT right now. With EJ out, they should be rolling with Barrie first, then Zadorov, and then Barrie again, with Girard a complete last in the rotation, for the time being.

-While it was nice to get a point, the Avs really needed two. They still have some control over their playoff fates, but it will also require some assistance. Here's hoping the Blues stumble again, and that Anaheim gets pounded whoever they play next...****ing Kings of the 3-Point games those guys.

MacKinnon really seems to still be playing too tight instead of loose and he's not shooting like he was last month, preferring to overpass to his teammates who could be in a better spot to shoot. When you have the lane, FIRE IT!

About the PP - I still don't like the pass-back to Mack to break into the zone as I feel they are way too dependent on it. I would much prefer they fake the backpass to Mack, do a lateral pass and then catching him breaking....anything to get away from the same old stuff they've been doing. When they do end up getting possession in the offensive zone, it usually ends up on Landeskog's stick high on the half boards when the zone has been gained and Landeskog usually does a little back-pass off the boards to Barrie. We are about to get burned on that play. It almost happened last night and if they don't adjust and fake it and instead do a hard-around to Rantanen or something, Kopitar isn't going to bite, he's going to intercept it and he's going to take it the other way tonight. The Kings have had 2 days off to prepare for the Avs and a lot of what we do has become very predictable.

 

[Pokecheque]

I thought MacKinnon was actually pretty bad. The break for the game-tying goal started as a direct result of a horrid turnover from him in the neutral zone. And it wasn't just him, a bunch of Avs were just barely getting it out of the zone and then weakly dumping it right to the Anaheim blueliners. The poor performance of the power play once the team went up 3-1 was also inexcusable.

Okay, negative part over...I get this team is banged up, sick, and full of rookies who are just plain worn out (though Jost and Kerfoot are getting a second wind of sorts at a very opportune time), so while blowing a 2-goal lead in the 3rd and then losing in OT is pretty gawdawful no matter how you cut it, but the fact remains if they win out they still control their own destiny with games against the two teams they're battling with for a spot.

Bernier was more than okay. I wouldn't call the third goal "horrendous," certainly not great when you're pinging a rebound that big right up the middle but that goal wouldn't have mattered had the Avs continued to press and gotten a couple more. Instead they once again sat on a lead and paid for it.

 

[CobraAcesS]

Some of the guys are playing through the flu bug right now. It’s a tough time to come down with it, and tonight is even more worrisome.

I thought Bernier was fine but it really felt like Anaheim was throwing a lot of pucks from bad spots, so the shot count seemed inflated. The third goal was horrendous by him.

If you could somehow combine Varly's ability to make saves when he sees the puck, and Bernier's ability to find it through traffic, you'd have one hell of a goalie.

I thought Bernier stopped a lot of shots through traffic without allowing the rebounds that are usually there. I'd like Berny to have stopped one more shot in the third, but I also would have liked the Avs to have done a damn thing with their power play. Or maybe not sit back and let the Ducks run the table in the majority of the second half of the game.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I really didn’t think we would hit such a hard wall. Unbelievable collapse in the last 20 minutes.

Going to need some unlikely good hockey to make wild card weekend with STL even matter.

 

[CobraAcesS]

MacKinnon really seems to still be playing too tight instead of loose and he's not shooting like he was last month, preferring to overpass to his teammates who could be in a better spot to shoot. When you have the lane, FIRE IT!

About the PP - I still don't like the pass-back to Mack to break into the zone as I feel they are way too dependent on it. I would much prefer they fake the backpass to Mack, do a lateral pass and then catching him breaking....anything to get away from the same old stuff they've been doing. When they do end up getting possession in the offensive zone, it usually ends up on Landeskog's stick high on the half boards when the zone has been gained and Landeskog usually does a little back-pass off the boards to Barrie. We are about to get burned on that play. It almost happened last night and if they don't adjust and fake it and instead do a hard-around to Rantanen or something, Kopitar isn't going to bite, he's going to intercept it and he's going to take it the other way tonight. The Kings have had 2 days off to prepare for the Avs and a lot of what we do has become very predictable.

That thing with MacK is killing him two fold. Hes holding onto it longer before shooting resulting in a lot of deflected shots, and then forcing the pass because his shot has gone cold. Both him and Mikko are having the same problem right now, and their passes even when they do get through end up in one or the others feet. So they're not getting the shots off clean either.

That's the f***ing coaches job to get in their ear the right way and correct it. Landeskog is shooting now, but he can't finish, and does not have the skill to. Teams are letting them get it to Landeskog, and focusing on cutting off Mikko/MacK, and it's working.