Ice in the Rockies... A Colorado Avalanche Franchise

[Bluejaysfan65]

Nice start to the season! But.... HOW THE HECK IS JOHN MITCHELL YOUR LEADING SCORING?!?! Keep up the good work

[ML]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bluejaysfan65

Nice start to the season! But.... HOW THE HECK IS JOHN MITCHELL YOUR LEADING SCORING?!?! Keep up the good work

I think Mitchell was quoted saying that hes very happy the team has found a way to tap into his true potential

The Denver Press



"Avalanche (7-3-1) @ Blues (4-3-1) Game Preview"

11/1/14 -- Matt Lamm

St. Louis, MO -- The Avalanche start off the new month of November in 1st place of the Western Conference. They travel to St. Louis for a game before coming home to a three game stand. The schedule gets a bit tough for the Avalanche this month, as their opponents have a combined record of 85-57-18.

Tonight's game is almost a must win for the Avalanche if they want to gain any momentum on their Western Conference opponents. If they win tonight, and take at least two out of three on their homestand, they should be in good shape heading out onto a tough four game roadtrip along the East coast.

The St. Louis Blues have the second Goals Against Per Game Average in the entire league at 2.11, only behind the Washington Capitals (1.56). On the other end of the spectrum, the Avalanche are fourth in the league Goals For Per Game Average at 3.82. A good offense takes on a good defense. If the Avalanche are able to put one in the net early, they can control the tempo of the rest of the game and cruise to a space creating victory.

Final Prediction: Avalanche 2 - Maple Leafs 1

[ML]

The Denver Press


"Avalanche Barely Hang on, Beat Blues by a Goal"


11/1/14 -- Matt Lamm

Final Score: Avalanche 4 - Blues 3

St. Louis, MO -- Tonight's game seemed as if it was going to be a defensive gem, as neither team could muster up a goal in the 1st period and a half. After that, things got out of hand very quickly for the Blues, as the Avalanche managed to score three goals in the 2nd period. This included two goals within 20 seconds of eachother scored by Colorado alternate Captain Cody McLeod (4,5).

Just as soon as the Avalanche thought they could get comfortable, the Blues decided to get back in the game. They scored three goals in the third period as the Avalanche managed to hold the lead with a goal scored by John Mitchell. The Avalanche stood their ground, holding off the Blues, who had the puck in the Avalanche zone for the entire final minute of the game.

The Avalanche improve to 8-3-1 on the year and will start their three game homestand tomorrow night against the Anaheim Ducks on November 2, 2014.

Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues
Nov 1, 2014 1 2 3 F COL (8-3-1) 0 3 1 4 STL (4-4-1) 0 0 3 3 Three Stars (COL) J. Hejda 3A, 1H (COL) C. McLeod 2G (COL) J. Mitchell 1G, 1A	Team Stats Comparison COL STL Shots on Goal 25 35 Hits 7 20 Faceoffs Won-Lost 13/34 21/34 Penalty Minutes 15:00 07:40 Power Plays Converted 1 2 Power Play Opportunities 1 5 Time on Attack 06:04 07:40
Scoring Summary SECOND PERIOD COL 13:51 C. McLeod (4) (R. O'Reilly, J. Hejda) COL 14:10 C. McLeod (5) (B. Stuart, J. Hejda) COL 17:42 A. Tanguay (5) (J. Mitchell, J. Iginla) (PP) THIRD PERIOD STL 02:11 P. Stastny (4) (A. Pietrangelo) (PP) COL 09:39 J. Mitchell (5) (J. Hejda, B. Stuart) STL 12:08 C. Gunnarsson (2) (S. Ott) STL 16:07 J. Schwartz (4) (P. Stastny, K. Shattenkirk) (PP)
Colorado Avalanche - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA S. Varlamov 35 32 91% 3.11
St. Louis Blues - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA B. Elliot 25 21 84% 4.11

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Transactions as of 11/1/2014

10/28/14
FLA signed free agent C Saku Koivu to a 1 year contract.

Injury Report ("Major Injuries" as of 11/1/2014)

10/31/14
SJ C Joe Thornton will be injured for the next 1-2 weeks(Sore foot).

CHI C Marcus Kruger will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Back spasms).

Buf D Tyler Myers will be injured for the next 2 weeks(Pulled groin).

PIT G March-Andre Fleury will be injured for the next 3 weeks(Back spasms).

10/30/14
ARZ C Rob Klinkhammer will be injured for the next 3 weeks(Pulled groin).

10/29/14
SJ C Joe Pavelski will be injured for the next 4 weeks(Mild concussion).

NYR RW Martin St. Louis will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Back spasms).

WPG C Mathieu Perreault will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Pulled groin).

10/28/14
COL C Matt Duchene will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Abdominal strain).

10/27/14
TOR C Leo Komarov will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Neck strain).

OTT D Patrick Wiercioch will be injured for the next 2-3 weeks(Bruised hand).

10/26/14
WPG RW Blake Wheeler will be injured for the next 1-2 weeks(Mild concussion).

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The Denver Press


"Ducks (5-6-1) @ Avalanche (8-3-1) Game Preview"

Denver, COL -- The Avalanche are set to take on the Anaheim Ducks (5-6-1) which will start a three game home stretch for the Avalanche. The Avalanche have won their last two games against middle of the pack teams, and look to extend that winning streak to three games tonight. The Avalanche's last 10 games show a record of 8-1-1. They have caught fire.

The Avalanche have proved that they have a fast-paced, high-pressure offense that can score from all over the ice. They take a lot of shots, and are a threat to outscore their opponent every single night. The Ducks may struggle to keep up with the Avalanche offense, as they only average 2.5 goals per game. They are also giving up 3.1 goals a game. The Avalanche are on average scoring just under four goals per game (3.8) while surrendering just over three (3.3).

If everything goes as expected, look for the Avalanche offense to be an overwhelming for the Ducks, especially playing on home ice at the Pepsi Center.

Final Prediction: Avalanche 3 - Ducks 2

[ML]

The Denver Press


"Ducks Manage to Salvage a Point with Time Expiring Goal, Lose in OT"

11/2/14 -- Matt Lamm

Final Score: Avalanche 3 - Ducks 2 (OT)
Denever, COL -- The Avalanche had this one all but in the bag as John Mitchel was called for a 2-minute tripping minor with just 1:30 left in the third period.

The Ducks would silence the Pepsi Center with a game tying goal with just :06 seconds left, scored by Ryan Kesler (5) on the powerplay.

Things would not look bright in overtime for the Ducks, as the Avalanche recovered beautifully and set up John Mitchell (6) right in front of the goal for the game-winner.

Colorado Avalanche Ryan O'Reilly finds himself out until the end of the week with an injured shoulder.

The Avalanche advance to 9-3-1 on the year, and will face the Vancouver Canucks (3-5-3) on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche
Nov 2, 2014 1 2 3 OT F ANA (5-6-2) 0 1 1 0 2 COL (9-3-1) 1 0 1 1 3 Three Stars (COL) J. Mitchell 1G (COL) S. Varlamov 1.90 GAA%, 22SV, 91SV% (COL) G. Landeskog 1G, 1H	Team Stats Comparison ANA COL Shots on Goal 24 32 Hits 19 21 Faceoffs Won-Lost 21/38 17/38 Penalty Minutes 10:00 12:00 Power Plays Converted 1 0 Power Play Opportunities 1 0 Time on Attack 04:48 08:40
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD COL 02:41 M. Talbot (3) (Unassisted) SECOND PERIOD ANA 05:07 J. Silfverberg (2) (N. Thompson, F. Beauchemin) THIRD PERIOD COL 16:59 G. Landeskog (3) (A. Tanguay) ANA 19:54 R. Kesler (5) (S. Vatanen, D. Heatley) OVERTIME COL 03:16 J. Mitchell (6) (R. O'Reilly, B. Stuart)
Anaheim Ducks - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA F. Anderson 29 32 110% 2.85
Colorado Avalanche - Goalies GOALIES SHOTS SAVES SV % GAA S. Varlamov 24 22 92% 1.90

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed 22 year old Free Agent RW Nicklas Heinero to a 1yr/$.550M deal. Heinero has 54 total points in 41 games played with the HIK in the Division 1 Swedish League in 2013. Although falling into a bit of a slump last season in the Allsvenskan Swedish League, the Avalanche have signed him to add depth to their roster. Heinero will be added to the system, playing in the AHL.

[ML]

The Denver Press


"Canucks (3-5-4) @ Avalanche (9-3-1) Game Preview"

11/4/14 -- Matt Lamm

Denver, COL. -- Tonight's game at the Pepsi Center features game two of the season series between the Colorado Avalanche (9-3-1) and the Vancouver Canucks (3-5-4). The last time these two teams faced was on October 24, also here in Colorado, when the Avalanche beat the Canucks 4-1.

Since then, the Avalanche have taken sole possession of first place in the West, while the Canucks are in 2nd to last. The Canucks score 2.0 goals per game on average, while the Avalanche are still sitting just under 4 (3.8).

Look for Berra to get the start in net tonight for the Avalanche, as they have an extremely tough rest of the month which includes playing the Toronto Maple Leafs (7-4-1) followed by a four game east coast trip against the Devils (7-3-1), Capitals(8-2-1), and both New York teams(NYR 8-2-1, NYI 4-5-2). Barring injury, Berra most likely won't see ice time for the rest of the month unless Coach Patrick Roy gives him the start for one of the two back to back games (@Arizona, vs Chicago 10/25-10/26).

Final Prediction: Avalanche 4 - Canucks 2