GDT: WCQF: Game 2 - Avs @ Stars, 7:30 MT - "I've Heard It Both Ways" Edition

[Ararana]

So we were obviously preoccupied but apparently during the intermission of Kings/Oilers, Friedman said the reason Evander Kane wasn't playing game 1 is because the league is attempting to crack down on LTIR.

If that's true:

1) It could explain Landeskog not playing
2) Hilariously inept league after Vegas abused this for YEARS without consequence but now the league wants to crack down despite having the same CBA

Friedman said on his podcast last week that the league made in known around the teams that Landeskog was an exception to their crack down given his circumstances. They're not checking in with the Avs regarding Landeskog at all.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Remember when he teared it up with Neacs then Bednar decided to separate them for no reason?

Bedsy coaching. All lines worked after the deadline he said f*** it and never returned to that lineup. Galaxy brain logic.

 

[nammerus]

Dominated? We didn't "dominate" shit. The stats were almost identical until Dallas took over in the 2nd half of the game. There's only one team that dominated in this game and it wasn't us.

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It wasn’t remotely close after the halfway point of the 2nd period. Not sure what game the homers were watching.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

If they can't beat a Dallas team missing Robo and Heiskanen they are just frauds anyway.

 

[dahrougem2]

Avs have to bury their glorious chances early on to put Dallas in a hole. Drury in the 1st, Nelson in the 2nd. Both guys should have scored being point blank opportunities. Credit to Oettinger but the Avs need those to go in at home.

 

[flyfysher]

If they can't beat a Dallas team missing Robo and Heiskanen they are just frauds anyway.

Well if you have a HC that’s screwing your second line then it’s unsurprising.

 

[The Pwnerer]

If they can't beat a Dallas team missing Robo and Heiskanen they are just frauds anyway.

Would be devastating to this team with all the story lines in play. We need this core to win this. I don't want to see major sweeping changes in the offseason (front office, Bednar) which I can see happening after a series like this.

 

[Balthazar]

Through two games Nelson is no different than Mittelstadt, Johansen, Newhook, Compher, Jost, Soderberg, etc. He might as well be 5'4" rather than 6'4" with how little he actually uses his size.

He has to play better. Not his wingers, not Bednar. HIM.

Bednar started having success in the NHL by stacking his first line with Mack, Landy and Rants. Since then he has neglected the 2nd line.

Kadri had success here during his last year because he was a one line guy and wasn't using his linemates. So it was Kadri who was good, not the 2nd line.

 

[nammerus]

If they can't beat a Dallas team missing Robo and Heiskanen they are just frauds anyway.

It’s actually f***ing embarrassing to get dominated by a team running major minutes for Cody Ceci, I. Lyubushkin and A. Pertovic. Pathetic display.

 

[Balthazar]

It’s actually f***ing embarrassing to get dominated by a team running major minutes for Cody Ceci, I. Lyubushkin and A. Pertovic. Pathetic display.

With a good gameplan it doesn't matter all that much who's playing.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

There were two lineup changes made for this game.

The Stars dressed Blackwell.

The Avs dressed Wood.

Blackwell scored the overtime winner.

Wood turned the puck over for the winning goal and was -3 on the night.

Just another DeBoer masterclass over Bednar.

 

[AslanRH]

Still waiting to see how Mr. Vanilla, an uncreative, uninspired, going through the motions 2C is perfect for the team. Frustrating, but at least hes winning faceoffs so I'll give the HFScouts the benefit of the doubt.

 

[The Moops]

The only time I lost sleep over a game was game 5 against St Louis in 2022. That game haunted me.

Still have nightmares about that game. Legit thought we were going to lose the series after that. We'll be fine. Hopefully the 2nd line and Bednar get their heads out of their asses and we'll be okay

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Through two games Nelson is no different than Mittelstadt, Johansen, Newhook, Compher, Jost, Soderberg, etc. He might as well be 5'4" rather than 6'4" with how little he actually uses his size.

He has to play better. Not his wingers, not Bednar. HIM.

Jeez some PTSD with Soda lol.

He does need to be better but at his best for the avs (from what little I watched) he was tied to Necas. For the life of me I don't get why Bednar split them up.

 

[Pokecheque]

Wood had to jump over EJ which created the opening. WTF was EJ trying to do there? He goes down way too late to stop the shot.

Wood shouldn't take the blame for this shit.

He still made the initial turnover started the break the other way in the first place. And whatever it was he did, that wasn’t great backchecking.

Anyway, what’s done is done. Wood has looked like a guy who desperately wants out of Colorado ever since he returned from injury, hopefully for everyone’s sake, including his, it happens this summer.

 

[The Abusement Park]

Thank god most everyone here are posters and not players for the Avs. With the mindset of the posters here this series would be over in 5 games lmao.

 

[Balthazar]

He still made the initial turnover started the break the other way in the first place. And whatever it was he did, that wasn’t great backchecking.

Anyway, what’s done is done. Wood has looked like a guy who desperately wants out of Colorado ever since he returned from injury, hopefully for everyone’s sake, including his, it happens this summer.

Seems like you're doing your best to dance around EJ's performance. Yesterday you singled out Manson, then Girard. Now Wood.

There's no Avs player that is nearly as bad as EJ. It's not his fault but he is in his own tier now. Like a league or two below the NHL.

 

[AvsGuy]

I think at this point you try Charlie Coyle on the 2nd line and Brock Nelson on the 3rd. Nelson has no chemistry with Nichushkin or Drouin and that 2nd line was a puck bumbling mess all night. Coyle is playing with the required effort and Nelson is not, they need to make a change there.

And yes, scratch EJ - you acquired him for the locker room presence, not to be shooting it into ankles in key playoff matchups. Malinski will do better.

 

[VikingAv]

Seems like you're doing your best to dance around EJ's performance. Yesterday you singled out Manson, then Girard. Now Wood.

There's no Avs player that is nearly as bad as EJ. It's not his fault but he is in his own tier now. Like a league or two below the NHL.

Sadly, this is very true regarding EJ.
Love that warrior, but he was a bottom pairing D 3 years ago and shouldn't be on the ice at all now in the playoffs for a contender.
I really want them to try Malinski next game. The better puck movement will outweigh the lack of size and strength, imo.

 

[flyfysher]

Seems like you're doing your best to dance around EJ's performance. Yesterday you singled out Manson, then Girard. Now Wood.

There's no Avs player that is nearly as bad as EJ. It's not his fault but he is in his own tier now. Like a league or two below the NHL.

Who decided to play EJ?

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Who decided to play EJ?

 

[Grigowski]

Thank god most everyone here are posters and not players for the Avs. With the mindset of the posters here this series would be over in 5 games lmao.

Ehm, you are right because i voted Avs in 5....

 

[Avs_19]

Ehm, you are right because i voted Avs in 5....

Yup. Avs are gentlemen.

 

[Avsfan1921]

Three lines are playing well. I get the desire to kickstart the second but we’re 2 games in and 3/4 of the forwards are clicking.

It’s special teams, defense that have been the major issue, not the second line. And for as much crap as Nelson is getting, Drouin has been worse imo.

 

[missionAvs]

I think at this point you try Charlie Coyle on the 2nd line and Brock Nelson on the 3rd. Nelson has no chemistry with Nichushkin or Drouin and that 2nd line was a puck bumbling mess all night. Coyle is playing with the required effort and Nelson is not, they need to make a change there.

And yes, scratch EJ - you acquired him for the locker room presence, not to be shooting it into ankles in key playoff matchups. Malinski will do better.

YES. I was going to type something similar to this. Swap Coyle and Nelson around. If Nelson wants to suck, have him suck less ice time. Coyle's battling out there and might just be a better fit.