Highlighted by former Avalanche defenseman Ken Klee, St. Louis Blues forward Derek Armstrong and the honorable NHL Hall of Famer Michel Goulet acting as the celebrity coach, The Hockey Guild’s third-annual celebrity charity game ended in a 13-12 victory for Team White.

There were a multitude of memorable moments during this game, all of which were perfectly captured by Janet Smith from Charlie’s Caps. Be sure to check out the game’s official photo gallery by clicking here!

For those of you interested in a DVD copy of the game, be sure to visit 5280 Sports and their video partner, Goalmaster28 Productions. They did an amazing job of capturing the excitement of the Championship Games earlier in the day and the entire Skate with the Stars experience as well.

Overall, the game was a wonderful way to cap off the third-annual Quest charity hockey festival and we appreciate everyone who helped make this possible, especially Ice Monkeys captain Bea Schneider, who personally hand-stitched almost every jersey used in this year’s game…during the tournament!

We also want to thank Reebok Hockey rep Geoff Dell for once again providing us with the awesome Reebok Edge jerseys and Outback Steakhouse for another succulent post-game celebrity meal!

Because that’s the source of the struggle. The lack of consistent defensive effort is the biggest reason why they have continued to slide down a slippery rope and almost lose their grip on a Western Conference playoff spot.

Many fans, friends and scouting cohorts have been asking me if the main reason for the 6-8-1 record in March was due to Craig Anderson being tired. They ask me if the reason the Avs are giving up more goals than usual is because he’s simply wearing down, like it was something we all expected to happen, like it was bound to come.

Well, if you take a closer look at the defensive pairings in March, you’ll find that there’s much more to this freefall than meets the eye. Goaltending has been weakening, but as I’ll explain, that’s not the source of the issue. Below you will find the defensive lineup for every game in March, including scratched players.

As you can see, only four times in 15 games did the same set of six defensemen skate together. This is not only an issue, it’s a perfect storm just waiting to destroy this team’s playoff hopes. Here are a few stats that come out of the lineups you see above. I’m not a big stats guy, but it’s important evidence that proves something needs to be done about the constantly-changing defensive pairings.

:: BRETT CLARK :: 
When he was in the lineup, the Avs were 5-3-1 and allowed 29 goals against.
When Clark was a scratch, the Avs were 1-5-0 and allowed 25 goals against.

:: RUSLAN SALEI ::
When he was in the lineup, the Avs were 3-6-1 in March.
When he was a scratch, the Avs were 3-2-0 in March.

:: RYAN WILSON ::
When he was in the lineup, the Avs were 3-4-0 in March.
When he was injured or scratched, the Avs were 3-4-1 in March. 

First and foremost, the importance of Brett Clark being in the lineup is irrefutable. You should think of him as “Ol’ Reliable” back there. He’s not the fastest skater, but he brings a clearly visible sense of confidence and composure and it spreads throughout the other five defensemen. He is the glue that holds the blueline together. He’s not flashy, but he gets the job done and he skates with an extremely calming influence.

The other thing Clark brings to the table, which is absolutely necessary in today’s game, is his shot-blocking ability. That alone should force him from ever being scratched, but that reasoning has clearly been ignored. Anderson already faces the most shots in the league on average - you don’t think he appreciates and wants Clark blocking another 6-8 shots a game? It adds up, it makes a difference, it’s something every NHL team would die to have on a consistent basis.

Looking at all eight defensemen that skated in March, the biggest correlation to winning and losing with any one defenseman is by far and away Clark. It just goes to show that you need your workhorses on the ice, regardless of whether or not they make a couple of bad mistakes.

Every defenseman is going to be hung out to dry sooner or later, it’s a matter of doing whatever is possible to keep things positive in the locker room. There’s a very fine line between a defenseman playing bad enough to be scratched and a defenseman looking bad because he’s trying to be responsible on the ice by covering someone else’s man.

Regardless of who is in or out, there’s a collective sense of hesitation and uneasiness when the puck is in Colorado’s zone. There’s very little communication, paths are being double-crossed, there’s too much confusion, too many turnovers, too many missed assignments in the slot and too much looking around. There’s not enough composure and now there’s problems with the penalty killing. To be honest, it’s a big, sloppy mess. But can you blame them? I’d have trouble making clean passes and transitioning with ease if I was rarely passing to the same guy twice.

I’m not going to sit here and question Sacco’s decision-making. That’s not my job, nor is it something I care to try and figure out. He puts the best defensemen out there and he knows the team inside and out. Rather, I’d like Avalanche fans to know why the constantly shifting lines negatively impacts a team’s ability to play with any sense of familiarity.

As a goaltender, I can tell you that communication, cohesion and “being on the same page” is about the most important thing when it comes to playing as a group of three different defensive pairings. There’s a working relationship, an understanding so to speak, that must be created and strengthened between defensive partners over the course of the season.

Think back to the beginning of the season. What were the pairings? Were they consistent? Not really. I can remember Adam Foote skating a lot with Kyle Cumiskey in the first half of the season and I remember John-Michael Liles being paired with Kyle Quincey as well. Then it was Scott Hannan with Quincey for a little while … and it’s about that time I start to lose track … mainly because the pairings were always different.

So as I’ve been saying all throughout March, as long as the three defensive pairings are different, even just by one player, it’s going to make bringing a complete defensive effort that much harder.

Anderson isn’t physically tired. Any goalie in decent shape can play 70+ hockey games in a season. But goaltending is 90% mental, and when you have to play at your best and display more focus than you have at any given point in the season, it’s much, much tougher in March and April to play with that same level of energy and intensity.

Playing 70+ games is no big deal, but having to win massive games late in the season when you’ve already faced more shots than any other goalie and played more games than Patrick Roy ever did in an Avalanche uniform, you’re going to hit a roadblock sooner or later.

Anderson has hit that mental roadblock. He’s cutting corners with the effort, he’s getting more and more visibly frustrated by the weak and collapsing defense in front of him. He’s getting rattled easily and he’s not displaying that same cold death stare we’ve been so used to seeing.

But the reasons for this are not his alone. It comes from the unraveled, unsettled defensive play in front of him. The Avalanche are caving in on their defensive leader and they are allowing bodies to get in his face, distract and screen him. And when more bodies are crashing and flying right in front of Anderson, he’s losing sight of the puck. And when a goalie loses sight of the puck, even if for a nanosecond, he’ll start to give up rebounds, which leads to more issues.

Whether through statistics like the ones I posted above or just by watching the cohesion in the defensive zone, you can see how things have gone from bad to worse for the Avalanche in just a few weeks.

For this particular piece of Guild literature, I acted as the voice of Avalanche fans everywhere. Although it is a special feeling to be chosen for this quest, there is real pressure to represent this community in a manner befitting the history and prestige of an organization that is endeared to all of our hearts. But with this pressure came a quality opportunity to write beyond expectations.

Avalanche fans may seem somewhat buried in the Rockies compared to other NHL teams, especially those to the North. Our voice may not be loud, but we are still very proud. Sure, we may not scream out to the masses as often (or with as many numbers) as other teams, and we may not have the sellouts we once had in the glory years of the late-90’s, but we have always displayed an intense fortitude, a firm understanding of the pangs of progress and the noble reverence of former Avs players.

So in order to shed a light inside the world of Avalanche fandom, I present you with five illuminated paths to the ultimate Avalanche experience. I can only hope that you all gain a new understanding of just how fun it is to be an Avalanche fan.

1. THE TEAM

From cellar-dwellers to a Western Conference powerhouse in only 20 games, this team has been reborn. With the aid of the organization’s wise sage Pierre Lacroix, management successfully breathed new life into the team in just three short summer months. They constructed a winning team by making the best decisions possible in a manner that created instantaneous results.

To start, they bid farewell to last year’s coaching staff and upper management. Greg Sherman, a man on a mission to prove his worth to the organization that had been honing him for many years, stepped in as the new GM with confidence. He mended the wounds from a last-place finish by hiring a brilliant head coach in Joe Sacco, a former NHL player known for his fiery passion and for pushing younger players to be their best every single shift. Alongside Sacco, three former Avalanche players – Sylvain Lefebvre, Steve Konowalchuk and Adam Deadmarsh – completed a young, energetic and motivated coaching staff.

Those moves alone spawned the dawn of a new age of Avalanche hockey. Unlike last season’s team, this year’s ice army was destined to succeed thanks to an identity forged by hard work, consistent energy and solid defensive effort from every player.

When it came time to shape the legions that would lead this team to victory, they drafted and then signed two dynamic 18-year-old stars in Matt Duchene (third overall draft pick) and Ryan “Radar” O’Reilly (33rd overall pick), a pair of youngsters that instantly improved the redefined dynamic run-and-gun style. These two were the new shape-shifters, a pair of centers that play beyond their years and bring tons of excitement thanks to an ability to play different styles in all three zones. 

The team’s speed, skill and skating finesse was balanced with power, grit and toughness thanks to the likes of David Koci, Chris Durno, David Jones, Cody McLeod and Chris Stewart. To polish it off, the organization named their most veteran defenseman, the grizzled and stalwart Adam Foote, as team captain. This took the pressure off young superstar Paul Stastny, a wizard in all three zones, which allowed him to develop naturally and without distraction from the pangs of traditional media.

Simply put, the results of these moves have reflected in the quality of hockey displayed on the ice. Colorado is one of the top teams in the league and they are finding ways to win a lot of close games. They sit atop the Northwest Division with the likes of the Calgary Flames and they had one of the best (and longest) road trips in club history in October. They have now exceeded the expectations from fans and foes alike, and they have been doing it on a fairly consistent basis.

But if there’s one hidden quality this Avalanche team has right now, it is depth and balance. They have four lines that can skate, hit and score. They have a goaltender that has the best combined save percentage over the last two years and veterans that have been feeding off the energy of the rookies. When it comes right down to it, this year’s Avalanche team is one of the most dynamic and exciting offensive teams to watch.

The most important on-ice component of the Avalanche turnaround, however, was the signing of a fierce, promising, gigantic free-agent goaltender by the name of Craig Anderson. Without having to say a single word, he arrived in Colorado and claimed what was rightfully his – the title of Avalanche Starting Goaltender.

2. THE GOALTENDER

When a natural born leader is finally handed the Staff of Power, he will almost always win the battles set before him. For Anderson, this has truly been the case through the first six weeks of the season. A former backup with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers, Anderson has always been capable of leading a team deep into the playoffs. He has started all but two games so far this season and has compiled amazing stats for a team that was expected to be dead last in their conference.

But one of the most difficult aspects of being an NHL goaltender is displaying patience and focus for an extended period of time. Many moments in Anderson’s career could have resulted in him running for the hills, giving up hope or dropping his guard, and ultimately losing his job. But perseverance led to increased potential, which finally led to a quality opportunity. When Florida let him walk on July 1^st, it only took minutes for the Avalanche to sign him to a two-year deal at a fair and affordable price.

On the first day of training camp, Anderson’s confidence was all the proof the fans needed – his time had come and he was going to make waves. When the regular season started, it was crystal clear that he was going to get a heavy workload. When October was over, Anderson had shocked the hockey world by being named the NHL Player of the Month. He was the league’s best, a title that no fan for any team would refute. He had a league-high save percentage and more wins than any other goalie.

Every fan knows that an NHL team cannot obtain playoff success without an elite goaltender. Like the final piece of the puzzle, Anderson was a perfect fit at the center of this hockey club. He’s the leader, the inspiring warrior, the one who screams the team’s battle cry as they trample the opposition. But every team has a quality starter, so what makes Anderson so special?

Anderson’s unique play is revealed in his ferocious play and mannerisms. He doesn’t allow anyone to push him around or get in his way. He battles hard and he never gives up on a puck. When it comes to the most entertaining goalies to watch, Anderson is at the top of the mountain. He hates to lose, he hates to be scored on and he’s not afraid to make that obvious. His size, his quickness, his agility, positive attitude and ferocity combine together to make him the perfect winning goaltender.

3. THE FAN EXPERIENCE

The most frustrating aspect of being an Avalanche fan would be the non-believers that feel the organization does not care about their fans. High ticket prices might be a major source for this negativity, but that could not be further from the truth. In fact, The Avalanche Guild is walking proof that these ticket prices are merely a stigma perpetuated by the uninformed. So in order to give you a real glimpse of what makes the Avalanche fan experience so special, we’ll quickly weave you our own personal tale.

From March 2003 to April 2007, we edited and designed a free monthly hockey publication called Colorado Hockey Insider. We provided extensive coverage of local pro and youth hockey for fans throughout Colorado. Although we had no real relationship with the Avalanche organization, they always showed their appreciation for our coverage, especially during the NHL Lockout.

In May 2007, we made the tough decision to move on from the publication and take things to a new level. Although it was not easy to start again from scratch, we knew our insightful analysis was legit. But finding a supportive platform was difficult to find. So with two sheets of paper and an idea in our mind, a lucky phone call had piqued the interest of the Avalanche’s Director of Fan Development. One week later, a meeting was initiated and the opportunity of a lifetime was laid out before us.

As the meeting commenced, our nerves were high but the resolve was steadfast. Before we had even handed over our two-page proposal to launch The Avalanche Guild, we were asked to reveal our mission statement.

“To advance and enhance the Avalanche fan’s experience through a variety of on and off-ice experiences,” we said.

At that moment, the organization was instantly loyal to a cause that was created by a single passionate Avalanche fan, a voice that had the work ethic to get things done. And so two months later, a pair of fan-friendly programs was introduced and initiated.

Just by supporting this new partnership, any Avalanche fan from anywhere in the world could get discount tickets to almost every home game. All they had to do was find The Avalanche Guild, choose the game they want to attend and purchase them through the Guild website. All of a sudden, attending games was extremely affordable and easy to accomplish. No matter who you were or where you came from, experiencing an Avalanche game at a great price was easier than ever before.

But we didn’t stop there. We followed our mission statement by enhancing and advancing the fan’s experience. This is how the After-Hours program was born. The Avalanche was so supportive of this program idea, that if we sold a certain number of tickets for each game, they would bestow upon us the most holy of all opportunities – a chance to play hockey on the legendary Pepsi Center ice! The same ice that Avs players skated on was now made available to Avalanche fans to skate on after games.

Teams from all over the world, even from Australia, started coming together to embrace the essence of being an Avalanche fan. They would all celebrate the Avalanche experience by purchasing discounted tickets to a game and then skate on Pepsi Center ice afterwards. These experiences left everyone with warm and lasting memories that developed great fan camaraderie.

At the end of the season, all of those that had been a part of this program and supported our mission came together for another unique Avalanche fan experience, a shootout tournament we call Battle for the Banner. The two shootout teams that made it to the finals were bestowed (thanks to the Avalanche) the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to play for the championship banner during the intermission of an Avalanche home game in front of thousands of hockey fans!

Beyond The Avalanche Guild programs and partnerships, the Avalanche offer local hockey fans with many other unique and interactive fan experiences. There’s the Avalanche Adult Invitational Tournament, the Quebec Qualifier youth tournament, the Celebrity Golf Classic, the annual Avs Better Halves Fashion Show and much, much more.

As you can clearly see, this organization goes above and beyond the call of duty to reward their fans with opportunities to experience Avalanche hockey in a way never seen before. What makes the Avalanche fan experience truly unique, however, is that a single passionate fan’s voice can and will be heard. Although we are just one story of many, we are honored to be able to bring other passionate Avalanche the experience of skating on an NHL ice surface. Through the programs that we created, the Avalanche advance and enhance the experience in ways never before seen. No other NHL team can say this and mean it.

4. THE HISTORY

Every NHL team has a rich and illustrious history comprised of memorable players, moments and legends. This is what truly makes the NHL so special. Colorado’s history is no different, as the echoing voices of past heroes reverberate through the Pepsi Center halls, throughout the Rocky Mountains and around the world. They whisper words of gallantry, bravery and monumental valor to thousands of fans, young and old alike. They inject inspiration into our souls and leave us wanting more, more, more.

Joe Sakic, Captain Clutch, the King of Avalanche history, is a noble player and man revered by almost every hockey fan, no matter what team they follow. In fact, his #19 was raised to the rafters on Opening Night and his locker was converted into an everlasting shrine, encased by glass and proclaimed as an emblazoned statue for all current and future Avalanche players.

Patrick Roy, arguably the best goaltender to ever play the game, played a major role in leading this team to two Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001. He is regarded as the keeper of these brilliant trophies, the one that will always be revered as St. Patrick. His intensity and will to win was unmistakable and left a lasting impression on current superstar goalies like Carey Price.

Ray Bourque, who played more than 20 years in the league without winning a single championship, came to Colorado to finally hoist Lord Stanley in 2001. Peter Forsberg, the brilliant, tough and stoic Swede also called Colorado his proud home for many years. Rob Blake, Claude Lemieux, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne, the list of memorable players stretches on and on. 

And that only scratches the surface of this team’s true history, one that includes the legendary Quebec Nordiques franchise.

Yes, the Avalanche’s history is similar to the other 29 teams, but not a day goes by when fans doesn’t reflect on a moment of glory that was created by one of these players. It is in our blood and a huge part of who we are as Avalanche followers. Whether it’s on the ice or in the community, these are the warriors you want your children and their children to treat as role models.

5. THE MILE HIGH CITY

Ask any Colorado Avalanche player – past or present – what their experience is like playing in Denver. They will all tell you it is one of the most beautiful, fun and entertaining cities to call home. There’s a little bit of everything out here. We have the pristine and mysterious foothills, the city lights, pro football, basketball and baseball. There is incredible skiing, snowboarding, friendly people, good food and everything you could possibly want if you lead an active and healthy lifestyle.

As an Avalanche fan that was born and raised in another state, we can say that Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. With a number of small mountain cities, one will find a place called Ouray, which is known as the country’s equivalent of Switzerland. Expect beautiful, clear skies close to 300 days out of the year and expect to make friends with ease.

If you are reading this and ever make plans to visit Denver, be sure to contact The Avalanche Guild. We will welcome you with open arms and will leave you with a belly full of good food and a mind full of good hockey memories. You’ll be set up with discounted Avalanche tickets and maybe even a chance to play hockey on Pepsi Center ice. You’ll experience a hidden hockey haven where there’s nothing left to say other than, “I can’t wait to do this all over again.”

On the topic of quitting Twitter, I have no comment. Dater is free to do as he wishes.

On the topic of his reporting regarding the Flames’ post-game locker room discussions, however, every writer has to know that players get yelled at all the time, especially after a tough loss. Why Dater even considered this a “story” is beyond comprehension. As a long-time goaltender and a current private coach, if I ever wandered by a locker room and heard a coach and player yelling at each other, I would never publish it in the media because it wouldn’t matter.

In fact, as a player, I would actually consider it a good thing. It leads me to believe there’s a lot of energy, enthusiasm and passion in there. I would be reminded of my old High School hockey coach that cursed all the time, even if we taped our sticks wrong. What makes “yelling” or “screaming” at each other after a tough loss a bad thing, anyways? Am I missing something? I could just as easily argue that the the Flames will come back “fired up” and ready to actually play a full 60-minute game because of this whole thing. I’m pretty sure this sort of thing is called motivating.

To be honest, the entire online hockey community is comprised of many talented and insightful writers, especially in Canada. We are fortunate to have quality analysts from NHL.com and TSN.ca tweeting about situations taking place throughout the league. But why is this growing community a perfect reflection of the phrase, “Quality over Quantity” compared to most other sports?

Because most of us are also players. Current and former coaches and scouts dominate the new-media platform of Twitter, which does more to inform me than it does to annoy me. Therefore, I use it frequently.

Onward and upward to the Twitter and new media hockey revolution, I say! If it’s raising our hockey intelligence level, bringing fans and followers closer together, raising money for foundations and good causes like Hockey Fights Cancer, then I am going to support it…regardless of twitter blunders or a journalist quitting because of drama.

On a night like this, I hope all Avalanche fans will realize that, more than fans of most teams, we need to work together to promote the team and game we love. This team doesn’t have the largest fan base in North America and they don’t have the sellout streak or the Hall of Fame players anymore, either. But this team does have incredible class, a rich past and some really amazing players on the current roster.

The actions of a traditional media journalist is all the proof we need that Avalanche fans will continue to thrive on new-age media to obtain information, discuss the team we love and enjoy the Avalanche Experience. Besides, hockey is just a game, and if we don’t get busy loving it, we get busy hating it. And that’s not on any sports fan’s agenda.

To be honest, we are blown away that there are such thankful, kind, appreciative hard-working hockey lovers on Twitter. From the consummate pro player like former NHL goalie Kevin Weekes to the fan-favorite Dani, the Hockey Mom of Twitter, these people dedicate their time to promote the game we love and they are appreciative of the opportunities they have.

When I see all of these passionate people coming together (fans and pros alike), I’m only left to wonder how can some people be so thankful for their fans, followers and supporters, while others can just give up and allow more than 1,000 fans to have a bitter taste left in their mouths.

When a candle’s flame is blown out and the wax fully dries, the next flame becomes stronger & brighter right before our eyes. That was a tweet I sent out after reading a number of posts and tweets today from Avalanche fans and bloggers, including one of our closest comrades, Grant Beery from Hockeyism.

From now on, if you run an Avalanche blog, enjoy covering the team and writing, you are free to post something here, on The Avalanche Guild. When it comes right down to it, that’s the true essence of a Guild. We all have a voice, we all have the passion and we all have the means.

Also, if you have a minute, please check out the website PICK MY NHL TEAM for a second. As you will see, a new-found hockey enthusiast is asking one fan from every team to convert the game’s newest follower. The Avalanche Guild has been chosen to represent Avalanche fans everywhere.

On Saturday afternoon, our post will be presented on John Meyer’s website and posted here as well. It’s a quality read we hope will motivate you to get involved and celebrate the game of hockey in the best way we know how – through the glory that is social media. Vote for the Avalanche and our post and let’s convert a new Avaholic!

DENVER – Colorado Avalanche defenseman Kyle Quincey and center Paul Stastny today unveiled the team’s new third jersey, which will debut this Saturday, Nov. 14, against the Vancouver Canucks at Pepsi Center (8:00 p.m.). The Avalanche will wear the third sweater on 12 occasions throughout the 2009-10 season.

The third jersey design is a collaboration of ideas from the Colorado Avalanche (including Kroenke Sports Enterprises Creative Imaging), the National Hockey League and Reebok. The third jersey has a predominately blue color scheme with a diagonal COLORADO type, laces at the neckline and stripes on the sleeves. Two rounds of sweater prototypes were tested and ran on ice before the final version was made.

Third jerseys will be on sale exclusively at Altitude Authentics in the Pepsi Center and through mail orders for five days starting on Nov. 14. Altitude Authentics will have the largest line of pre-made player jerseys in adult sizes, with numerous players to choose from. Three pre-made player jerseys will be available in youth sizes and jerseys may also be personalized within 3-4 weeks. Store and mail order hours will be extended over the weekend. Please call 303-405-1304 for store hours and 1-888-287-6847 for mail order hours.

:: Avalanche Third Jersey Game Schedule ::

Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Vancouver Canucks
Wednesday, Nov. 25 vs. Nashville Predators
Friday, Dec. 11 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Tuesday, Dec. 15 vs. Washington Capitals
Tuesday, Dec. 22 vs. Anaheim Ducks
Wednesday, Jan. 6 vs. New York Islanders
Saturday, Jan. 16 vs. New Jersey Devils
Sunday, Jan. 31 vs. New York Rangers
Saturday, Feb. 6 vs. Edmonton Oilers
Monday, March 1 vs. Detroit Red Wings
Wednesday, March 24 vs. Los Angeles Kings
Friday, April 9 vs. Chicago Blackhawks

CLICK TO VIEW AARON’S AVS GUILD PHOTO GALLERY

Craig Anderson was once again named the first star of the game today after making 35 saves for what was a very convincing shutout. He has now made 73 saves on 75 shots in two games to start the season.

+ Craig Anderson controlled his rebounds early in the game and cruised through the afternoon with ease. Why is early rebound control such an important factor for Anderson? Because it allows him to settle into the game quickly and with a lot of confidence. Goaltending is all about rhythm, so the more action a goalie sees early, the better his timing and rebound control will usually be through three periods.

+ Anderson’s special talent is his ability to make the desperate save. His footwork is still a little rusty, but even when he’s caught out of position after making the first save, he was able to scramble, flop or flip over in order to make the second and third save. He was great at covering the puck in and around his crease today with a lot of bodies and traffic around him. It wasn’t always pretty, but he got the job done and once again inspired his teammates and fans.

+ It’s always a great story when a hard-working goalie that has paid his dues as a backup gets rewarded with minutes. During his post-game interview with Kyle Keefe on the ice, you could see how happy Anderson was with his performance. In just two games, Anderson has proved what I already knew – he’s a full-blown NHL starter.

+ The defensive pairings consisted of Adam Foote with J-M Liles, then Brett Clark with Kyle Cumiskey and then Scott Hannan with Kyle Quincey. Ruslan Salei was the healthy scratch once again.

- Colorado struggled in their own zone throughout the entire game. Although they didn’t have any recorded giveaways in the first period, they had four in the second and five in the third (nine total). There was very little support for the puck carrier deep in their own zone, which resulted in too many turnovers along the boards or in the neutral zone. There was no physical edge to their defensive effort and they were very passive in front of Anderson, as he had to deal with tons of traffic, especially in the second period.

+ One noticeable aspect of the team’s penalty killing that I do like is the positioning of the forwards. One of them is religiously playing much higher up in the zone, which is an effective way to force the point-men to make quicker decisions with the puck. That forced a few turnovers and sloppy passes, which made the PK more effective than usual.

- Kyle Quincey struggled defensively in this game with four total giveaways and an undisciplined penalty at 5:06 of the second period. On the offensive side he did pitch in an assist, but overall he struggled in his own zone. Kyle Cumiskey made better decisions with the puck and was much more confident today, but he was still caught out of position a number of times, in particular on the penalty kill in the second period.

+ Beyond the strong performance from Colorado’s top line, I was impressed with the effort of T.J. Galiardi. His natural offensive skill is obvious, but today he had a great defensive effort by blocking a few shots, forcing a few turnovers and being in good position, especially in the neutral zone. One reason why he’s a defensive asset for this team is due to his strong skating ability, so expect his minutes to slowly rise as he continues to play responsibly.

+ Matt Duchene was sensational in this game. His confidence is rising fast and his drive, passion, vision and lethal speed is very noticeable. His tenacity on the puck was great in all three zones today, especially when he drew a penalty on Alexander Edler at 9:44 of the second period. He then promptly had a scoring chance while playing on the top PP unit with Stastny and Hejduk. Ultimately he provides a ton of energy, skill and desire…and he’s only 18.

+ Duchene had two takeaways, hit two posts and had at least two quality scoring chances in 15:29 of ice time. He was also a huge factor in killing penalties. He deflected a pass and then batted the puck out of mid-air and down the ice in the first period and in the second he had a great short-handed individual effort that energized the bench and fans.

+ Wojtek Wolski was pretty opportunistic on his game-winning goal, but I’m still impressed with his level of play in the first two games. Today he did an excellent job of reading plays and staying around the net when the puck was in the slot. He did not have many mistakes in his own zone and offensively he was a threat every single shift. 

- For the second consecutive game, the Avs were very weak in the faceoff circle. In the first period, they only won six out of 21. It may seem like a worthless statistic, but winning faceoffs leads to puck possession. Overall they were 23-28 in the faceoff circle, which is only 45% total.

- The penalty killing units need to be more physical in the slot area. They are still way too passive and need to stop watching the play and start forcing the puck-carrier to make quicker decisions. They do a good job of getting sticks in passing lanes, but there was way too much traffic in front of Anderson.

- Too many times the puck is dumped  just to relieve pressure that’s not really there. Part of this is due to a lack of outlet options or support along the boards from the forwards, but it’s also due to the fact that they just don’t have a lot of patience. All too often the defensemen are getting control of the puck and after one or two strides, either flipping the puck down the ice or straight up icing it.

- Overall it was not a very cohesive game in their own zone, but thanks to the top line and great goaltending from Anderson, the Avalanche were able to get out of this game with two points. Similar to San Jose’s effort on Thursday night, Vancouver looked considerably out of sync and rusty. Wolski’s game-winner for example was a result of a terrible shiftfrom Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond.

In their final cuts, the Avs announced the reassignment of center Chris Durno, defenseman Derek Peltier and goaltender Tyler Weiman to the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL.

These cuts confirmed what Avalanche fans have all been hoping for: to see Matt Duchene in an Avs sweater during the season opener on Thursday. Also joining Duchene will be second round draft pick (#33 overall), center Ryan O’Reilly.

While Duchene was met with much anticipation, O’Reilly was met with curiosity. Thought to go in the top-20 in the NHL Entry Draft, O’Reilly fell all the way to the second round where the Avs management practically did an Irish jig while going up to the podium to select him.

O’Reilly has been described by NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards as, “…very responsible defensively. He backchecks hard and he’s very good at identifying his check in his own end. He’s very good at the defensive end of the game.”

O’Reilly has also been noted by Denver Post writer Adrian Dater for his great stick work.

Duchene, on the other hand, is seen as the new face of the franchise alongside, and even above, Paul Stastny. Duchene has great speed, quick wrists, a hard shot and prowess in the defensive zone. Up to the draft, there was talk that the Islanders might in fact take Duchene first of all. However, after a tense couple of hours, two selections and a fist pump, Duchene was selected by the Avs.

At the time of his selection Duchene thought that he was “really close” to being NHL ready and couldn’t wait until camp to try and make the team.

While the Avs wasted little time in signing Duchene on July 16, O’Reilly had to wait a little longer to get his entry-level contract. Coming into camp, O’Reilly flew under the radar but separated himself from the rest of the pack through his play and earned his three-year entry level contract on Sept. 21. 

With the cuts, it is apparent that the Avs are at least going to test Duchene and O’Reilly, both 18 years old, in the first portion of the season. Now, the Avs get ten games to look at the future of their franchise and see exactly where it is heading.

This is a great step forward for the Avs, as they are giving their two brightest center prospects a chance to make the club for the entire season and try to make a difference that will allow this team to escape the cellar of the NHL.

Aaron Musick covers the Colorado Avalanche for HockeyBuzz and will be providing insight on The Avalanche Guild all season long!

On a day where most sports fans in Colorado are watching FOOTBALL, we’re proud to be talking HOCKEY. And thanks to the kind RoundTable leaders at Mile High Hockey, our wish to be the hosts of “goalie day” in the third-annual Blogger RoundTable has been granted.

So before we begin, we want to thank everyone over at MHH, especially David. Managing a RoundTable that has seen so much growth in just one (tough) year is not a simple task, especially combined with all of the other duties in life. But David has done an admirable job, so be sure to support his website and the rest of the RoundTable websites, for together we make a mighty solid crew of Avs informants.

But for those that know us best, you know we just simply couldn’t allow anyone else to host the juicy topic of goaltending. Just take one look at The Goalie Guild and you’ll see that…well…it’s kind of our thing. And through all these years of scouting the post-Roy era of Avs goaltending, after seeing this team play three pre-season games at Pepsi Center, there’s really a lot to be excited for when you check out the final roster in a few days.

PART 2: Should Tyler Weiman get called up AT LEAST ONCE this season, regardless of Anderson & Budaj’s play?

JUSTIN - I literally lost my voice a few times last year trying to explain my frustrations behind Tyler Weiman’s lack of opportunity in an Avalanche uniform. He has been one of the best goalies in six Avalanche Training Camps in a row and was more consistent in the last two camps than both Jose Theodore and Peter Budaj. I don’t want to be long-winded (har-har), but to give you a better idea of just how good he is on a league-wide scale, Weiman currently ranks #18 on my Top-50 Prospects list.

The biggest issue with not giving Weiman a chance is the negative impact it has on his development and the Avs’ goalie depth chart. Regardless of his age, Weiman needs to be playing at the NHL level in order to reach his highest potential. The more time Weiman spends playing in the AHL, the less chance he has at turning into a true NHL starter. He has the capability to be this team’s undisputed starter, but without giving him a chance to play some NHL games (meaningless or not), the Avs are losing traction with one of their most valuable prospects.

This also happened with Jason Bacashihua. He was an excellent goalie prospect that had legitimate NHL skills and even played 38 games over two years with the Blues a few years prior. But the Avalanche didn’t even give him a chance to play a single minute in the NHL. The result? Bacashihua was not given a qualifying offer by July 1 and just a few weeks later he was scooped up by the Capitals…with zero compensation going back to the Avs. So they basically gave away a quality goalie prospect, all because they couldn’t even give him a few games. If they did, maybe he plays well and maybe a team actually trades a draft pick for him.

Simply put, if the Avs don’t give quality goalie prospects a chance to show their stuff at the NHL level, they’ll never develop starting goalies within their own system. They’ll always be stuck trading for one or trying to draft the next Roberto Luongo.

SEAN PAYTON - No, not unconditionally. Barring injuries or trades that change Colorado’s goaltending situation, he should get called up if 1) Anderson and / or Budaj are struggling and 2) if his play in Lake Erie is strong enough that Sacco has the confidence to play him. If the goalies are white hot and Weiman has a .855 save percentage in the AHL, how can Sacco justify to the team that Weiman deserves to play?

That being said, I didn’t agree with the decision not to call up Weiman last year in garbage time in a year where Budaj and Raycroft’s play was clearly sub par. I think it’s likely that Budaj (who’s confidence comes and goes) struggles for a stretch at some point this season. As long as Weiman is solid in net for the Monsters, he should be called up.

MIKE - Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and disagree with Sean on this one. The Avalanche are rebuilding. The only way you find out what building blocks you have to build with (whether it’s trade fodder or guys you want to retain) is to get some time in the NHL. Especially at goaltending. I think he needs and deserves a hard 4-6 game look at some point this season. He’s not coming in to replace whoever the starter is at that time. He’s coming to ride the pine for 3 weeks and take the back-up’s starts.

JAY VEAN - I think the only way Weiman gets called up is if either Budaj or Anderson gets injured. Even if Budaj struggles, I just can’t see the organization sending him to Lake Erie. There just aren’t that many former number one goaltenders that become full-time backups (unless they’re towards the end of their careers), let alone get sent down for extended amounts of time. That doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like to see Weiman with the big club though. I’ll welcome anyone that can stop pucks on a consistent basis. That would be a welcome change for sure.

ANGELIQUE - Tyler Weiman should receive a real opportunity to compete for the backup spot in Colorado, but considering Peter Budaj’s salary, that is unlikely to occur. Weiman is unlikely to see a recall unless both Craig Anderson and Budaj struggle, or either succumbs to injury. I believe Weiman is talented enough to be a NHL backup, but I’m beginning to wonder if that opportunity will ever come in Colorado.

Weiman will be the number one goalie for the Lake Erie Monsters this season, whereas he split time with Jason Bacashihua in 2008-09. The heavy load should prepare Weiman if he does get the opportunity to play for the Avalanche this season.

DAVID - I thought last season presented a good opportunity to bring Weiman up, but it never happened. As Angélique mentioned, he’s going to be the #1 guy in Lake Erie this year – a club that could really use its first ever playoff berth. With that in mind, Weiman will probably only get called up this year if there’s an injury to Budaj or Anderson.

GRANT - Weiman *should* get called up, but I am almost certain he won’t. The real question is whether Weiman will clear waivers after he gets sent down. If he does get picked up, it will hopefully be with a team that will give him the NHL opportunity he deserves (and didn’t get last year).

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PART 1: Is Craig Anderson capable of playing 55-60 games and winning 30 for the first time in his career?

JUSTIN- Although I could go on for pages and pages about Anderson’s abilities and how quickly fans will no doubt rally around his great work ethic, that’s honestly something for you to experience once the regular season starts. I have been scouting Anderson since his days with the Chicago Blackhawks and to be quite frank, it’s not only a legitimate argument to make that Anderson is the best goalie the Avalanche have had since Patrick Roy, it’s downright obvious.

The biggest point we can make about Anderson is this: he is primed for a break-out season and from a long-term perspective, he could easily become regarded as one of the best U-S born goaltenders in the game. He has great size combined with excellent foot speed, making him one of the most efficient goalies around. His save percentage over the last two years is the highest in the NHL and his presence in the crease is noticeable and intimidating. He also displays one vital trait that we all know Peter Budaj struggles with - rebound control.

So we not only feel that Anderson will easily play 55-60 games, but we think he’ll have a shot at winning 30 games. Like most responses below, the 30-win plateau is pretty unrealistic, but not because of Anderson’s lack of skill or effort. Sometimes a goalie can only take a team so far, right?

But hey, at least Avalanche fans are finally guaranteed to see a starting goaltender that has the confidence and poise to win a lot of game, no matter how many shots he faces or where the shots come from.

Click to read about the design on Anderson’s new mask!

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JIBBLESCRIBBITS - I think Anderson is capable of playing more than 55 games, but I’m not sure he will. I think the coaching staff is going to try and play Budaj some to try and prop up his trade value. He needs to have a good season for anyone to be willing to take him on, so I expect to see Budaj on the tail end of back-to-backs and against some of the weaker competition.

That said I think Anderson will be good. I don’t think he’ll win 30 games though because the Avs are going to struggle to win much more than 30 games total. I see Budaj picking up about 5-10 and Anderson with 22-27 or so.

NIC FROM AVAHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Sure Anderson is capable of playing 55-60 games and he definitely should. Winning 30 is also a possibility. Last season the Avs were at the top of the league in 1 goal games. A large part of that was because the goalies could not make the big save in the big moment. If Anderson could make those same stops that Budaj and Raycroft failed to make last season, GA should go down and lead to more wins. From what I’ve seen in Anderson, he plays big in net and brings more confidence than Budaj has in his game. If that same confidence spreads to the rest of the guys on the ice, 30 wins is definitely a possibility.

TAPELEG – He’s going to have to. The Avalanche fans are getting tired of waiting for the Peter Budaj of a few years ago to resurface. After seeing him flail, and every other goalie that has come through after Patrick Roy either do poorly or move on, Craig Anderson needs to be a solid number one. I’m not saying he needs to be the second coming in net, but he was hired to be the number one goalie, and he will have to step up to that challenge. No one else is going to take the job away from him (unless Budaj remembers what worked for him a few years ago).

MIKE @ MHH- So the question is basically “Can Anderson win as many games this season as Budaj and Raycroft won all of last season? Ummm, no. Not with the team that has been assembled in front of him. I think he’ll be more likely to keep the Avs in more games, but I don’t honestly expect the outcome to be all that different. I figure him for the 23-27 win range at most with Budaj getting 5-8 wins too.

DAVID @ MHH – Can Anderson play 55-60 games? Sure, although he’s only played 50+ twice in his career – 59 one year in juniors and 58 in 2003-2004 between the AHL and NHL. Will he win 30 games? On a team that won just 32 games last year? Not. Very. Likely.

Starting tomorrow, you can also find more of our in-depth Avalanche analysis on KCKK 1510 AM, Mile High Sports Radio. This is our second year providing color commentary and hockey insight on the official radio partner of the Avalanche (and our fifth on KBPI’s Uncle Nasty Show), so join us every Monday from 6-7pm for Avalanche Weekly, the show that’s all things Avalanche from the week that was and will be. The show will also be streamed on www.milehighsports.com.

The opening week of the third-annual Avalanche Blogger RoundTable has been a successful journey into the deep forests of this team’s upcoming hockey season. But no journey is complete without meeting some new characters and making new friends along the way.

Today is dedicated to another pair of new RoundTable members as we introduce Brian Thompson from the Colorado Avalanche Examiner and Magnum, otherwise known as the Disgruntled Avalanche Blogger. And even though we all have way too much fun with the RoundTable, we still mean business.

This morning the Colorado Avalanche Examiner take a look at the off-season move that proved to be most intelligent and the one that proved to be the most ignorant. That’s followed up in the afternoon by taking a trip on the Avalanche time machine to see if this strong core of young players could potentially battle for the Stanley Cup!