Don't Stop Believin'

Hard to believe the Avalanche only have 10 REGULAR season games remaining. Up until now, it looked like a sure bet that the Avs would make the playoffs, but now anything could happen. Since the Olympic break, the Avs have 5 WINS and 6 LOSSES. Not quite what I was expecting. A previous blog of mine talked about the effect the break would have on the team. Well, here’s how things have played out.

Paul Stastny: After bringing a silver medal back to Denver, #26 has been on fire. He has had at least one point in all but one game since the break. After playing with some of the best in the league, he is feeling more confident on the ice and knows what it takes to win.

Craig Anderson: I thought the Olympics were going to serve as a great break for Andy to get some much needed rest, but it certainly doesn’t look that way. I realize the defense needs to be better in front of him, but I think he looks tired and not as sharp as he did earlier in the season. This could be from a number of factors including the two and half week break or too much playing time throughout the season.

Overall, the team is playing mediocre hockey at best and if they want to the make the playoffs, they are going to need to step it up these last 10 games because other teams like Detroit and Calgary aren’t going away. I am not quite sure why the Avs’ level of play has decreased, but I certainly have some ideas.

1. Sacco is switching up the lines all the time as well as scratching different defensemen every night. There doesn’t seem
to be a lot of continuity, which I think is needed with such a young team.

2. The team is young and it is possible that they are tired and worn down from the long NHL season. I look at the season
as a marathon, but some of the young guys like Duchene and O’Reilly started the season like a sprint, and their
production has slowed down recently.

3. This is a team that kept on winning when nobody believed in them. Chris Stewart was quoted as saying, “We just don’t
know any better.” Well, maybe now the Avs have started thinking about it and have stopped believing in themselves. I
Initially, they took it one game at a time, but it’s quite possible that they are already looking to the playoffs, forgetting
that the regular season isn’t over yet.

At the beginning of the season, no one believed in this team, and no one ever imagined they would be in the playoff picture. Now, people do believe in the Avalanche, and maybe that has thrown them off their game. Maybe we should use a little reverse psychology and stop believing in them so the Avs can prove us wrong once again!

And the winner is...

In honor of the Academy Awards, I have decided to give “awards” to the Most Valuable Player and the Most Improved Player. I realize there are still 17 games left, but these two players have helped the Avalanche all season long and their performances during the remainder of the season will be a determining factor in the Norwest Division.

Most Valuable Player: This is a no brainer, but in case you’ve been living under a rock all season, goalie Craig Anderson is by far the team’s MVP. All season long, “Andy” has been Sacco’s go to goalie. Even in back-to-back games, Sacco has put his faith in Anderson rather than giving Budaj a chance. Anderson already has 33 wins with 17 games remaining. The most wins for an Avalanche goalie in one season is 40 (done by Roy of course). If the Avalanche and Anderson keep playing the way they can, then I don’t see how Anderson won’t reach or surpass this 40 game mark (Don’t worry, I knocked on wood so I don’t jinx anyone). Finally, in almost every game thus far, Andy has always given the Avalanche the opportunity to win.

Most Improved Player: In honor of his first career hat trick Saturday night against the Blues, in my mind, Chris Stewart gets Most Improved Player. In 53 games last season with the Avalanche, Stewart only had 19 points. After getting off to a slow start this season, Stewart was sent to the minors for a couple games, but due to an injury on the Avalanche, Stewart was recalled after only 2 games with the Lake Erie Monsters. Since he was brought back to Colorado, Stewart hasn’t looked back. So far, Stewie has 27 assists and a team-leading 24 goals.

Thanks to Anderson’s strong goaltending and Stewart’s stellar offense, the Avalanche have surpassed all pre-season expectations. Let’s not forget, the Avalanche were picked to finish near the bottom of the Western Conference. Well, all season long the Avs have stayed in playoff contention and could possibly come away with the Northwest Division title and home ice advantage (knocked on wood again). But in reality, all I really care about is making it to the playoffs, and it would be fabulous if we could finish ahead of Detroit.

“Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you.” - Jacques Plante

Can the Avs get that sellout streak going again?

Hello Avs fans!

Remember when the Avalanche sold out every game? They still hold the NHL record for longest consecutive attendance sellouts with 487 games. Well, that streak ended on October 16th 2006, and attendance hasn’t ever been the same. How can the Colorado Avalanche organization increase game attendance and grow their fan base??

Before the days of Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets couldn’t pay people to attend their games. Now, they regularly sell out thanks to players like Melo, Chauncey Billups, Chris “Birdman” Anderson, and JR Smith. Not only are these guys talented, but they each have a different personality that can draw people in.

For the Avalanche, long gone are the days of Patrick Roy, Ian Laperriere, Peter Forsberg, and Joe Sakic. Sure, the Avs have talent in Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene, and Chris Stewart, but these guys don’t bring anything “special” to the marketing table. These guys are young and adjusting to life in the NHL and haven’t quite found their voice and don’t attract the spotlight. Or maybe they are just all quiet by nature, but that won’t attract new fans or get fans fired up. However, fans are really connecting to CRAIG ANDERSON not only because of his stellar play thus far, but because he gives a good interview and shows his appreciation for the fans every time he is interviewed.

In order to increase fan attendance, the Avalanche marketing department needs to find ways to get the fans pumped up. “Birdman” and JR Smith have personalities that get the fans into the game, but the Avalanche don’t have anyone like that. Fans love fights, but the Avs don’t even have a good fighter right now since Koci is hurt.

With trading done for the season, the Avs made a couple of trades, but nothing huge. Wolski is gone, which I think some fans are pretty happy about because he wasn’t contributing has much as he could; the consistency just wasn’t there. Who knows what Mueller will bring the table, but I like that he’s young so he will fit in with everyone else. I must admit I am pretty happy the Avs got Stephane Yelle back!!! He was a fan favorite so I think it will get the fans fired up. I also think he is a valuable asset to the young guys like O’Reilly because he can serve as a mentor since he has been in the league for awhile and has won the Stanley Cup with the Avs.

My final point: the Avalanche need a new intro video at games. I don’t know about you, but when I go to games, pictures are so small and go by so fast and I have no time to cheer for my favorite players because their picture has already passed by. Let’s get a new video that shows each player individually so we can “meet” the players!

What do you guys think? How can the Colorado Avalanche get that sellout streak going again???