The Avs Hockey Podcast

Two Fan's Perspectives on Colorado Avalanche Hockey...and jerseys too.

The AHP’s 2011-2012 Avalanche Goals of the Year

by

Quick question: Do you instinctively want to get up and cheer when you hear the audio in the video below?  (I know I do.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy_TOA86aX8[/youtube]

If you feel like I do about the audio above, you’re going to like this post.  I guarantee it.

Let’s clarify just a bit before we get to the good stuff though.  All goals in hockey are not created equally.  Sure they all add one to the team’s goal total for the game and the season, but some goals are simply better than others.  These special goals fall into two categories.  One, they are timely.  Feel free to substitue “clutch” for “timely.”  That is acceptable.   These goals are scored when the team needs a goal the most.  The second category of goal has to do with skill.  Awesome skill.  These are the types of goals that make fans stand up and cheer.  These are the goals that influence fans to put their hands on their head and say, “Holy cow…what a goal” to themselves.  Keep these categories in mind as you watch the highlights below.

Ladies and gentleman, out of the 208 goals the team scored this past campaign, I bring you my top 12 Avalanche goals from the 2011-2012 season.  (Brought to you in chronological order because that’s a fair way to present them.)

 

The Scene: Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Monday, October 17, 2011.

The Scorer: David Jones at 1:11 of the overtime period.

The Victim: Leafs goaltender James Reimer.

With this goal the Avs finished a five-game road trip with a perfect 5-0 record.  This was the first time that had been done in franchise history.  Finish Jonesy!

Radio Highlight (courtesy of Marc Moser and Peter McNab (screaming) from Altitude Sports and Entertainment): David Jones cleans up on the doorstep.

 

The Scene: United Center, Chicago, Illinois.  Saturday, October 22, 2011.

The Scorer: Gabriel Landeskog at 18:12 of the third period.  This was his second goal of the game.

The Victim: Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford.

Avs super-rookie Gabriel Landeskog ties the game at four with just under two minutes remaining in regulation.  Avalanche faithful hoped this would be the start of something very good.  They were correct.  The Avalanche eventually won this game on the lone goal in the shootout scored by Joakim Lindstrom.  Remember that guy?

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): GABRIEL LANDESKOG TIES THE GAME AT FOUR!

And the game winner, just for kicks.  Does this goal remind anyone else of Wojtek Wolski?

Radio Highlight: Joakim Lindstrom wins it in a shootout for the Avalanche.

 

The Scene: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas.  Friday, November 4, 2011.

The Scorer: Matt Duchene, a power play goal, at 8:32 of the third period.  This was his third goal of the game.

The Victim: Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

Matt Duchene completes his first career and the only Avs hat trick from the 2011-2012 season with this power play goal in the third period.  It all begins with a sprint from the Avalanche blue line and ends with a great toe drag leading to the goal.  This was a wild back-and-forth game.  The Stars defeated the Avalanche 7-6 in overtime.

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Matty with the Hatty.

 

The Scene: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Tuesday, November 15, 2011.

The Scorer: Matt Duchene at 17:24 of the first period.

The Victim: Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Most of Paul Stastny’s passes are pretty good.  The primary assist on the goal was not a good pass.  Matt Duchene has hands that can solve a little issue like a bad pass.  This is up there with the NHL goal of the year, let alone Avalanche goal of the year.  Ladies and gentleman, I bring you Matt Duchene and some serious stick work.

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser and Peter McNab, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): An absolutely sick move by Matt Duchene.  Holy cow!

 

The Scene: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado.  Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

The Scorer: Milan Hejduk at 7:37 of the first period.

The Victim: Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.

This goal began the scoring spree.  It was the first of three first period goals that paced the Avs to a 6-1 victory against the Devils.  There is nothing too special or significant about the goal, it’s just vintage Hejduk.  Vintage Hejduk never gets old.  Great work by Ryan O’Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog to create the scoring chance as well.

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Milan Hejduk rifles one home.

 

The Scene: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado.  Wednesday, January 18, 2012.

The Scorer: Peter Mueller at 6:50 of the second period.  This was his first of two goals on the night.

The Victim: Panthers goaltender Jose Theodore.

This may have been the feel-good goal of the year.  After missing significant time with concussion issues, Peter Mueller was able to return and be a contributor.  This was his first goal of the season.  (On a snarky side note, Jose Theodore gets beaten five-hole?  I’ve never seen that before.)

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Welcome back 88

 

The Scene: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado.  Friday, February 10, 2012.

The Scorer: Ryan O’Reilly at 4:58 of overtime.

The Victim: Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward.

For lack of a better word, this may have been the “clutchiest” goal of the season.  The Hurricanes, especially defenseman Justin Faulk, looked like they were going to be satisfied with a shootout.  Ryan O’Reilly had different thoughts about that.  Radar, take it away (literally.)

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment) : Ryan O’Reilly, The Hero!

 

The Scene: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio.  Friday, February 24, 2012.

The Scorer: Matt Hunwick at 13:19 of the third period.  This was his first goal of the season.

The Victim: Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason.

Matt Hunwick was known as a healthy scratch for most of the early part of the 2011-2012 season.  When he got his chance later in the season I have to say he played well.  This goal was his first of the year and was the final goal in the Avalanche’s 5-0 win in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.  Hunwick ended up scoring two more goals in the next 14 games.  Not bad for a guy that couldn’t buy a place in the lineup earlier in the the season.  Well done 22.

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Hunwick makes the boos rain down in Columbus

 

The Scene: Pepsi Center, Monday, February 27, 2012.

The Scorer: Matt Duchene at 2:55 of the third period.

The Victim: Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller.

Matt Duchene scores his first goal after missing time with a sprained left knee and Paul Stastny with what I consider the setup of the year on this goal.  SAUCER!

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Matt Duchene is back!

 

The Scene: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado.  Monday, March 12, 2012.

The Scorer: Gabriel Landeskog at 1:52 of overtime.

The Victim (again): Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller.

Gabriel Landeskog missed morning skate with the flu.  He looked off all night long.  The flu is no match for the heart of this kid though.  The national television audience got a great look at the favorite for the Calder Trophy that Monday night.  92 for the win!

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser and Peter McNab (grunting), Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Landy wins it in overtime!

 

The Scene: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, New York.  Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

The Scorer: Jamie McGinn at 19:58 of the third period.  This was his second goal of the game.

The Victim: Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.

Running out of time on the game and the season, the Avalanche picked up two big points on the road against the Sabres on March 14, 2012.  With less than two seconds left in regulation Avs forward Jamie McGinn scored his second goal of the game to secure a point and force overtime.  The Avs won this game 5-4 in a shootout to give Avalanche fans a heart attack for the second straight game.  See the Landeskog goal just above here for details on the first heart attack.  McGinn…again.

Radio highlight (Marc Moser and Peter McNab (screaming, clapping, and giggling), Altitude Sports and Entertainment): THE AVS HAVE TIED THE GAME! OH MY GOODNESS!

 

The Scene: Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Friday, March 30, 2012.

The Scorer: Milan Hejduk at 8:29 of the second period.

The Victim: Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff

Milan Hejduk gave the Avalanche a 3-0 lead a with a little more than half the game remaining with this goal.  It was Hejduk’s first goal in 23 games.  It was also his 371st goal for the Avalanche and could, quite possibly, be his last with the organization, on a rare Hejduk slapshot as well.  We don’t see that very often from the Avalanche captain.  If it his his last, thanks for the memories Hedgie.  Looking forward to seeing that 23 banner hanging from the rafters of Pepsi Center someday.  I, along with many Avalanche faithful, think you deserve that honor.

Radio Highlight (Marc Moser, Altitude Sports and Entertainment): Hejduk…slapshot…Scooooooore!

 

So there you have them Avalanche fans.  The top 12 goals of the Avalanche season according to me.  Agree with my picks?  Did I forget a few?  Let me know.  I would love to hear from you.

Thanksgiving in April, Avalanche Style

by

The 2011-2012 Colorado Avalanche season is over.  We, as Avalanche fans, are in uncharted territory.  This organization, during its time in Denver, had not missed the playoffs in two straight seasons, until now.  We, as fans, aren’t happy about this, and we now have a choice to make.  I have a blog, HEAR ME ROAR!

In my humble opinion, here’s what it’s NOT time to do:

It’s not time to panic.

It’s not time to find a new team to cheer for.

It’s not time to feel sorry for ourselves. We still do have a lot to be extremely proud of, including two Stanley Cup rings to conveniently plug our ears when we need them.

(I know this video doesn’t exactly align to my point, but you see my point anyway.)

It’s definitely not time to find something or someone to blame as to why the Avs don’t get a shot to go after the Stanley Cup this season.  That’s wasted energy and blame gets people nowhere.

Here’s what it IS time for:

It’s time to look to the future.

It’s time to celebrate.

It’s time to say “thanks.”

And THAT’S what this post if for.  It’s my personal way of dealing with the end of yet another hockey season.

(FYI, these are in no particular order at all, except for the first guy listed.  I love 92.)

Thanks to Gabriel Landeskog for being the most complete 18-19 year old I’ve ever seen in an Avalanche jersey.  That Calder trophy will look fantastic on your mantel.  Thanks for this too, while battling the flu no less.

Thanks to Greg Sherman for creating some buzz for the organization during the trade deadline.  That’s something Avalanche fans were used to for a long time.  Nothing will ever top some of the moves that were made about a decade ago as it’s a different NHL now, but nonetheless it felt a little bit like old times, in a sense, this season.  That was fun.

Thanks to Jean-Sebastien Giguere, respectfully known as Jiggy, for the presence and the veteran leadership you provided this season.  You held things down while Varly got the chance to get his head together when he needed it.  It’s easy to see why the fans in your former cities loved you so much.  We’re grateful you’re here in The Mile High City.

Thanks to Semyon Varlamov for showing everyone that you were worth the picks the Avalanche gave up for you.  It took you a while to get going, but when you did, you got it together and it was exciting to watch.  Saves like this had us on our feet. Including the Hawks fan in the near side of the screen who went from hands in the air to hands on his head in agony. Classic.

Thanks to both goaltenders for proving to be a solid NHL tandem.  It has been a while since the Avalanche had that.  Knowing that either goaltender gave the team a chance to win on most nights is all a team and the fans need.

Thanks to the Avalanche organization for sticking with Joe Sacco.  I always think that someone else may be better for this club, but sticking with a coach for a while is a welcome change.  (I’m also thinking that the many coaching changes in the past have led to a situation where the organization doesn’t want another head coaches salary on the books, but that’s a discussion for another time.)

Thanks to Matt Duchene for playing through injuries and doing your best to help this team make the playoffs this season.  It was a gutsy effort.  It was clear that number nine was nowhere even close to 100% down the stretch.

Thanks to Jamie McGinn for being a welcome addition to this team.  Feel free to keep scoring at this pace throughout your entire career as a member of the Avalanche organization.  Thanks for this too. It was one of the highlights of the season for sure.  Less than two seconds?  No problem!

Thanks to Steve Downie for proving some people wrong, including but not limited to my podcast partner James “Tapeleg” Gralian. You score goals and you’ll take on an entire opposing team, bench and all.  Not just anyone can and is also willing to do that.

Thanks to Milan Hejduk for showing the young players on this team that losing a step doesn’t mean you lose your class or grace.  Playing on the fourth line during this point of your career could not have and should not have been easy.  We hope to see you back with the Avs next season, but we understand if this is the end of the line.  Either way, if I had a vote, your 23 will hang from the rafters at Pepsi Center someday.

Milan Hejduk’s final goal? We will see.

Magical hands? Check. Watching Hejduk during the shootout never gets old, ever.

Tic-tac-toe:

Thanks to Jay McClement for performing on the penalty kill the way you did all season.  Solid.

Thanks to Peter Mueller for showing us what perseverance looks like.  So nice to see 88 out there after all that you had been through.

Thanks to Ryan O’Reilly for never taking your roster spot in the NHL for granted.  It’s obvious that playing in the NHL is an honor by the way you play the game.  Thanks as well for this.  Think game is going to a shootout?  37 has different thoughts.

Thanks to Paul Stastny for being a solid two-way player.  You have off-the chart hockey smarts.  It’s almost like it runs in your family or something.  And thanks for what I consider one of the best assists of the season.  Saucer!

Thanks to Matt Hunwick for keeping your head up as you were a healthy scratch game after game after game, even as the young kids came up and played ahead of you.  When you got your chance you took full advantage and that was great.  Thanks for your speed as well.  It’s fun to watch you skate.

Thanks to Erik Johnson for working through your early season issues.  You quickly became another reason why this team’s future is bright.

Thanks to Shane O’Brien for not putting up with any shenanigans near the Avalanche goaltenders.  That was a welcome and much needed change that was made this season.

Thanks for Tyson Barrie and Stefan Elliott for providing hope for the Avalanche blue line for years to come.

Thanks to Mike Haynes and Peter McNab.  We kid about you guys on Twitter and in our podcast, but in the end, we all appreciate the work you do.  We couldn’t do what you do as well as you do it.  That’s all that needs to be said.

Thanks to Marc Moser for being a positive ambassador of the team you cover.  You’re an Avalanche fan and you root for this team.  That fan aspect doesn’t work for everyone in the radio and television broadcast world, and you handle it very well.  Thank you also for keeping in touch with the fans via Twitter.  It means a lot to know that you care about that kind of thing.  Right on Mose.  Let’s score the golf ball soon.

Thanks to the Avalanche’s Twitter account for making some extremely positive strides this season.  We, as fans, very much appreciate that effort and are looking forward to what you’ll bring next season.

On a more personal level:

Thanks to the loyal followers and listeners of The Avs Hockey Podcast, Your Home for Almost Everything Avalanche.  James and I appreciate the downloads, comments, likes, and listens and wouldn’t be near as passionate about what we do without your support.

Thanks to my partner in the podcasting business, James “Tapeleg” Gralian.  I wouldn’t be the fan or podcaster I am without your support on so many levels.  I am a lucky guy to have you on my team.  I’m looking forward to many more years of great shows with you.  You’re the best James.

Thanks to my friends and followers on Twitter.  It’s good to know that I’m not alone when it comes to bleeding burgundy and blue.  I hope I made your follows worth it.

Thanks to my friends and fans on Facebook.  I simply strive in keeping you up to date with “almost everything Avalanche” (as well as what not to buy on eBay.)  I hope I made clicking that “like” button worth it.

When looking at the big picture it’s very difficult to complain about our favorite NHL team earning at least 20 more points than last season.  That’s definitely more than a step in a positive direction.  If anyone would have told me before the season that the Avalanche would be in the playoff hunt 81 games in, I would have taken that in a second.  The future is bright, we have a lot to be thankful for, and that’s a very good thing.

So as you figure out what to do without playoff hockey for the second straight season (besides playing golf), do yourself a favor and look towards the future of this franchise instead of dwelling for too long on the past few seasons.  You’ll feel at least a little bit better, I promise.

And to conclude, I just have three words for you and in these three words I’ll always believe, Let’s Go Avs.

The Avs Hockey Podcast, Episode #71

by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

In this podcast, James “Tapeleg” Gralian, from “The Rink Podcast” and I discuss almost everything that happened since our last show.  We break down the trades the Avs made and how they may impact this season and beyond, we discuss the team’s lack of 5-on-3 power play time this season, Paul Stastny’s improved play as of late, the new Avalanche “king” Milan Hejduk, and the Avalanche’s new super rookie, Gabriel Landeskog.  Those topics and much more Avalanche stuff in episode #71 of The Avs Hockey Podcast.  Thanks, as always, for joining us Avalanche fans!

Episode #71 is the Patrice Brisebois edition of the show.

Photo Courtesy of Life.com

Two minutes and one second of 5-on-3 the entire season so far?  Read this tweet from Marc Moser and weep.

Congratulations to Milan Hejduk who became the Avalanche’s team leader in games played on February 15.

Kyle Quincey had some interesting words about the Avalanche organization soon after his trade to the Lightning, then the Red Wings.  Read them here.

Kyle Quincey then apologized.  He’s still cool with us.

James was wrong about Steve Downie, so far, and that’s quite alright.  Check out his initial reactions on the trade here.

Is the Avalanche now functioning as a small market team?  The Denver Post’s Terry Frei seems to think so.  Read his thoughts here.

The Avs Hockey Podcast, Episode #68

by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

In this podcast my co-host, James “Tapeleg” Gralian, from “The Rink Podcast“, and I discuss Joe Sacco’s past, present, and future with the Avs organization, Paul Stastny’s move towards Avalanche/Nordique greatness, Kevin Porter’s suspension, Gabriel Landeskog’s maturity, Matt Duchene’s next steps, and a whole lot more.  Thanks for your support Avalanche fans!

Links related to our discussion in the show.

Our early favorite for Avalanche goal of the year:

More on the art of the backhand from Justin Bourne from the Backhand Shelf Blog.

Also from the Backhand Shelf Blog, Bourne talks about gap control for defensemen.

Get your Love for Lokomotiv bracelets here and support the families of those lost in the plane crash on September 7, 2011.

This podcast is brought to you by the number 68.  For example, Radim Vrbata’s 1999-2000 preseason game worn jersey.  Photo courtesy of eBay seller: flyingsquid.