(outspokinbikes)
Recap
The Avalanche took advantage of two quick goals in the first five minutes to finally defeat the Red Wings by a score of 3-2.
After 8 straight losses to the Wings, the Avs finally get that monkey off their back. And they did it right in Detroit's kitchen too.
The first goal was the result of a turnover by Johan Franzen which led to a Wojtek Wolski breakaway. And we all know what Wolski can do when he's in alone.
Arnason fed Wolski a super slow pass and Wolski used it to full effect to pull off an abbreviated Forsberg-esque move to put it past Chris Osgood.
The Avs then went on their first powerplay of the game and Paul Stastny made it count. He wheeled in down the left side and rifled a shot over Osgood's glove to make it 2-0 before the ice was even frozen.
The Avs had the obvious early jump but the Wings started picking up as the period drew on.
In the second period, it was all Red Wings.
But Andrew Raycroft was there to match them every step of the way.
Don't adjust your monitors. You read that correctly. Andrew Raycroft played very well tonight.
The third period started off with a penalty shot for the Avalanche. And since the grind line was on the ice at the time, the best option to take the shot was Jordan Leopold. And he did not disappoint.
Leopold went in, looked like he was going to shoot and then pulled it backhand and roofed it on Osgood. 3-1 and the living was easy.
At this point, my Slingbox started malfunctioning. Or my router. Either way, I was in and out of the game.
From what I saw the Avs kept up the pressure and speed, opting not to fall into a defensive shell. Which would have been obliterated by the Wings no doubt.
The Wings had their last push with Osgood out of the net but the Avalanche did not falter and walked away with the 3-2 win, silencing the 12 fans at Joe Louise arena.
Standouts
Scott Hannan played an excellent game tonight. Too often he's been utterly invisible but tonight he was making some excellent defensive plays, especially during the many fate tempting penalty kills for the Avs.
He didn't get credited with any hits but he made some effective rubouts along the boards.
David Jones looks one hundred times more stable on his skates than at the start of the season.
Early in the second Jones drove around a Wings defender, took a solid hip-check, stayed on his feet and nearly banged the puck in past Osgood.
He still isn't scoring at the pace I'd like to see but you can't fault his effort these days.
Andrew Raycroft looked like a different goaltender tonight.
He made some solid positional saves and when he was out of position he made some excellent reflex stops to cover up for it.
Raycroft certainly didn't show enough to unseat Peter Budaj as the #1 keeper but I now have more confidence in his abilities.
The quivering masses yearning to be free
The A2Y crowd will be crowing about the previous string of games where the Red Wings absolutely dominated the Avs - and probably complaining about Bettman fixing the game. But that doesn't matter today because the Avalanche beat the Wings.
I almost deleted that last paragraph because I know the perverse pleasure they get over being the "top dog". But that's ok. Because the Avalanche beat the Wings.
Lines
Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk
Wolski-Arnason-Hensick
Stewart-Laperriere-Jones
Mcleod-Dupuis-McCormick
Clark-Hannan
Salei-Foote
Liles-Leopold
Final Note
How glad is everyone to not hear Johan Franzen referred to as "the Mule" every 10 seconds? I actually don't recall anyone using his nickname. Until now. Whoops.
Related Links
NHL.com Event Summary
Happy Birthday, Bill!
Avs down Red Wings 3-2
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6 Comments:
YES!
I agree completely. MY thoughts on the game as it was unfolding was that Hannan and Jones were the Avs best players, and both had monster games.
Unfortunately, the color analyst called him 'The Mule' early in the first, but I think that was the only time I heard it, thankfully. Great game though.
Monster games? Holy crap, is McGuire bleeding into America as well? :P
Yep, I was really impressed with Hannan's PKing tonight.
adam, I guess I was lucky and missed the reference!
No i've heard "Monster Game" for as long as I can remember.
Your slingbox had an odd malfunction, only showing the three or four times the Avs had pressure in the 3rd period. They were pretty content to clog the neutral zone and lob clears back into Detroit's end, with the exception of Lappy's line and the RPM line a couple of times. They didn't take their foot off the gas, but they rarely got out of a mildly over-revved 1st gear.
Well, that score sure shut my up about my 7-2 comment. Good on ya boys!
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