Let me start out by saying that I do not care to do game recaps after every game. I tried it at the beginning of the season, and it sucked the life out of me. But, since the Avs are in the playoff hunt (for some unknown reason), I feel I should say a few things about the games. And since there were two against the Oilers, what a better way to kill two birds with one and a half stones.
Well, the first game went pretty well.
Ian Laperriere got two goals (first time this season), kissed Tyler Arnason on the neck (perhaps the first time this season), made Arnason smile (definitely the first time this season), got in a ‘roughing’ that should have been a fight, and got the first star of the night. Has he ever gotten the first star of the game? Ever? EVER? Crazy night.
Tyler Arnason had a good game. 3 assists. Nuff said.
No one for the Oilers had a good game. No one. I guess they were saving up for Saturday.
The Oilers came out of the gate with some jump, and held that jump through the entire game, even after they were down two goals. The Avs, on the other hand, lost all fight in the second period. Even while having a respectable shot total, they just seemed to dial down the intensity they had in the first period. Did they underestimate the Oilers? They shouldn’t have, as they were proved in the first that the Oilers were not going to lay down and die.
Paul Stastny had seven shots on goal, many of them quality ones, but Roloson was showing his A game tonight, and shut him down. Unlike some, Stastny did not (nor have I ever seen him) get flustered. He still had a fast and intense game, when others did not.
Jeff Finger took a beating tonight, getting slammed around pretty hard.
Brett McLean was in the shootout tonight, while Stastny was not. I don’t get that one. McLean was 1 for 1 in shootouts (now 1 for 2), but that first 1 isn’t the one that I wonder about, it’s the second one. Isn’t there a reason that he has only been in one shootout this season? Oh, yeah. Because he is no Paul Stastny. Huh.
One point is better than none, but for the whole game, I was on the edge of my seat, and swearing a lot. I would repeat some of it, but there could be children near by.
Three out of four points on the road is what I am happy about, but it’s hard to look at it that way when you lose a game you could have won, like so many this season. Still, it’s a playoff push, not a slight nudging.
So here is what I have to look forward to on Sunday:
Well, won’t that be special. As though the Blackhawks will be our helping hand when the Preds were not. The Hawks, who got one lousy goal tonight against the Kings. Thanks guys.
Then there’s the late game:
This is going to be a very stressful game for me. I think I will need to be at the Czech hockey bar for this one. Drinking Czech beer. And eating Czech garlic dip. Makes any game go down better.
PS: Anyone see the Buffalo game tonight? Where the puck hit the ref and got a funky bounce to drop in the right place for Toronto, and the wrong place for Ryan Miller? I hope it’s on youtube soon. What a moment. Ouch.