MIN vs COL
Posted on April 20, 2008 09:07 AM | Permalink
Should Jose Theodore add a 3 in front of his No. 60? The man whose name was mocked, jeered and cursed for much of his first year and a half with the Colorado Avalanche continues to turn his career in a full-circle manner.
Theodore was the most valuable player in the Avs' six-game first-round series triumph over the Minnesota Wild, which ended with a 2-1 victory Saturday night at the Pepsi Center.
Theodore surrendered only 12 goals in the six games, three of which went to overtime, and stopped 35 of 36 shots in the clincher. And Captain Canada, Ryan Smyth, scored the game-winner with a second-period short-side slap shot, to help justify the massive contract he signed this summer.
"It was a team win, but Jose was the difference in the series," said Smyth, whose goal broke a 1-1 tie at 12:20 of the second, after rookie David Jones made a nice move and pass behind the Wild net.
Wild suffer from bad luck, goal drought
The Wild was supposed to be the team with the better defensive fundamentals and a harder forecheck. And for good parts of the series, they were.
But the Wild caught some bad luck right before the series when top D-man Nick Schultz needed an appendectomy, forcing washed up veteran Sean Hill into the lineup. As the series wore on, the Wild defense seemed to tire some, with Brent Burns and Kim Johnsson playing more minutes than coach Jacques Lemaire wanted.
While the Wild might have stole one in Game 2 with a lucky bounce off Ruslan Salei's skate, there is no doubt Theodore was a Class A thief in Game 5. The Wild completely dominated the first two periods of the rubber game and finished with a 40-17 shots edge. But the final score was Colorado 3, Minnesota 2 – all thanks to Theodore.
"I've just been feeling real good for a while now, and this series I just felt confident and saw the puck pretty well," Theodore said. "But the guys played great in front of me too. It was a team effort."
Avs coach Joel Quenneville frustrated the Wild's top scorer, Marian Gaborik, by sending Adam Foote and Kurt Sauer out against him almost every shift. The 36-year-old Foote showed he still has plenty left in the tank, by making smart plays with the puck and allowing little time for the Wild star to set up shop in front of the net. It seemed like Gaborik was always hearing footsteps, and rushing his play just a little more than usual.
"To lose in the first round again is very disappointing," veteran Brian Rolston said. "Theodore definitely played a role in this series. In a series like this, a hot goalie can take you out. I think that's what happened."
The Avalanche scored the first goal in all six games, preventing the Wild from getting into their preferred game plan of mucking up the neutral zone and chipping it out. That ended up being exactly what the Avs did most of Game 6, after Smyth scored.
The Avs put on a defensive clinic in the third period, smartly chipping the puck out and making good dump-ins. When the Wild did manage their way up ice, Theodore smothered all nine shots that came his way.
Gaborik disapears
For the Wild, they no doubt will wonder what happened to Gaborik, who finished with a measly assist in the series – after a brilliant regular season. But he was not alone in blame. Veteran Pavol Demitra – usually an Avs killer – didn't do a lot, and neither did Eric Belanger and Stephane Veilleux. The Wild seemed confused at times, as well, trying to decide what kind of lineup to have in the series. What's clear now is G.M. Doug Risebrough's lone trade-deadline decision of getting Chris Simon was a bust.
Simon seemed lost on a team already with tough guys such as Derek Boogaard and Todd Fedoruk.
The Avalanche, on the other hand, clearly was transformed at the trade deadline by G.M. Francois Giguere. The additions of Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote and Ruslan Salei greatly changed the makeup of the team.
Foote brought back the Stanley Cup poise that was so lacking when he left for Columbus three years ago.
The Avs still are capable of giving up big shot advantages – as Game 5 showed – but overall their blue line is a lot deeper and tougher than prior to the deadline.
But without Theodore's work, even that defensive effort probably wouldn't have been enough.
"Theo was just huge in the last two games," Forsberg said. "I'm glad he was on our team."
Comments
I don't know why the Ave's are even bothering. Your not going to win the Cup. Even if you did nobody would care. You are also a very boring team to watch. The only Avalanche will be you guys Avalanching your way out of the playoffs against a real team. You barely made the playoffs. You took out my Oilers. They would have been a team to watch, but alot of people are stuck watching your same old repetative play. It's not 1996 anymore. Sakic, How can you get Hernia playing hockey? Just goes to show you can't beat strong teams and Father time. Give it up, just throw in the towel, because all the work you think your putting in is going to get you nowhere anyway. Do you guys plan on being a Dynasty or something? Stay on top of your mile high city and never come down.
Alex Dion
Posted by: Alex Dion Hobbema | April 20, 2008 11:11 AM
Wow, someone's bitter. I on the other hand enjoyed this series!
Posted by: Carly Canada | April 20, 2008 02:49 PM
I too was watching the Avalanche play and WIN with some friends of mine; 'Fernado', 'Sheldon', 'Jarret' and others. I said "hey Hemsky" pass the nuts.
Posted by: Matt Edmonton | April 20, 2008 03:48 PM
hey alex jsut a fwe things:
1: the only reason the oilers were even close was because of the "loser point" common now, when was the last time the oilers won the cup, oh yeah tahts rite the oilers got put out of the palyoffs cuz they ran out of gas the last 3 years , oh wait thye havent made it the last 2 years, and its not gunan be ne different,
2. the avalnchce have one 2 cups since the lastime edmonton won the cup.
3. the oil are by the weakest team in the nw division, there a jk, money making, but a jk and the only entertainment in watching there games is watchin roloson, and garon get scored on from the blue line nite in and nite out.
avs will go all the way this year. so ill check back with u in september.
Posted by: mark andrews | April 20, 2008 07:58 PM
If Theodore didnt play as well as he did the Avalanche would have lost in 6. Theodore stole that seris from Minesota. Avs Were completly out played. Theodore can only win them so many games
Posted by: Connor Maynard | April 20, 2008 08:45 PM
Mark I enjoyed your comments but the Ave's will not win. Roloson is a joke. He was planning to go back to Ontario as I read. I hope so. He should play for Ottawa, he will probably fit right in. State of shock. They were a mess for a while. But about the Ave's they don't deserve the cup. Too many old people. The cup should be filled with beer for younger people not coffee or tea for the old people. Anyways Pittsburg or Detroit has it. They are just too strong. See you in Sept also.
Alex
Posted by: Alex Dion hobbema | April 21, 2008 09:02 AM
Matt, I think you guys have the perfect team. You just had a bad start is all. Colorado will not win the cup with all the other comp. Souray and I are from the same place so I know he will be a force next year. I know how strong he is. Oilers are the best, and young. You guys deserve the cup more than any other team. No other team has the heart that the Oilers do. I am sick of seeing US teams buy the cup. It will come home soon. I just think that Garon would have gotten the Oil there. Rolson seemed to have lost his touch. Later
Alex Dion
Posted by: Alex Dion Wetaskiwin | April 21, 2008 09:33 AM
So... because the Avs took out "your" Oilers, that makes them boring to watch? Consistent 3-2 scores (most in overtime) usually doesn't make for boring hockey. The Wild's defensive-focused style of play doesn't help make any series overly exciting, but come on... pushing the series to 6 games, most games being 1-goal deciders (with the exception of the sole 5-1 blowout, just to mix it up) featuring the comeback of players such as Forsberg, Foote and the formerly injured Smyth... against the youth and finesse of Wild forwards... how is that not exciting? This was the series where anything could happen... and it did.
The Avs have a habit of surprising people. That usually makes for an exciting series no matter who they're up against.
Personally, I'd like to see the battle of the High Altitude - Calgary vs Colorado.
Lastly... I think it's refreshing to see a team choose to take a chance and rely on the leadership of current and former veterans. In this modern era of Sid the Kid, et al, Colorado chose to go back to old hockey roots and shape the team with a good mix of newbies and vets.
As for the Wild... they're growing as a team and I see them being big contenders next year.
The Oilers only lack in confidence. Constantly being overshadowed by equally talented Flames and vastly inferior but overly popular Leafs has taken its toll. Oilers need to believe they can it all home before they can make a difference in the playoffs.
Posted by: Tanya ontario | April 21, 2008 09:55 AM
Great Series with solid hockey! Even if my team hadn't won it would have been fun to watch. Hard driving youth against seasoned vetrans. Gritty and physical. Any team in our division deserves to be in the playoffs; toughest division in the NHL. Did the Avs win because of Jose? Of course they did! Wouldn't be the first team to win a cup on the back of a solid netminder that's for sure.
Posted by: Jon Colorado | April 21, 2008 05:58 PM
so what if theodore won them a game a game or two thats what hes payed to to win the cup, and take a look in the playoffs rite now with the exceotion on theodore and say ossgoodd from the wings theres no ebtter goalie starting rite now. and non one goalie in the league rite now sitll in the playoffs has the stats theodre does , gaa of 2.02 945 save percentage. not one team has ever won the cup on jsut midiocore goaltending every year it has to be fantastic. cam wards a perfect example. flop the last 2 years since winnig the cup.
and yeah the avs WILL win this year alex. you will see. and as far as pittsburgh and detroit, there lack of faceoffs win percentages and special teams are gunna be the ultimate demise of them when they face the rangers. and if they were a real team they would of played philly 1st round instead of flopping the last game so they wouldnt, and detroit. osgood will be himself again the next series you will see,
see ya in september . CUP IN HAND
Posted by: mark andrews | April 21, 2008 07:08 PM
This is for the Colorado fan. I know which teams will win in Hockey. I am a good predictor. Pittsburg and Detroit will be in the Finals. Pittsburg will barely pull through. As for seeing me in September I think you should focus on return to school and working on your spelling.
Alex
Posted by: Alex Dion Wetaskiwin | April 22, 2008 08:37 PM