Avs hoping to juice up power play

Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 4, 2007 at midnight

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CENTENNIAL — Considering the firepower the Avalanche has at its disposal, it's baffling to watch the power play misfire as much as it does.

The inefficiency is a definite cause for concern heading into tonight's game with the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center (7, Altitude).

Asked Sunday if he's happy with the power play, coach Joel Quenne-ville responded with a simple "No."

With good reason. The Avalanche has connected for only three goals in 23 chances the past five games and is tied for 20th in the league with the Flames with a 15.9 percent success rate.

"It hasn't been as effective or as dangerous a weapon as it needs to be," Quenneville said. "With the personnel we have, I think we'll eventually get it right. We'll continue to talk about it and I think we have to simplify it.

"I think sometimes we're looking for low plays when we should just simplify it, get it back to the point, load up and improvise off that."

The Avalanche has scored 10 power-play goals, but only one from a defenseman — John-Michael Liles, who crashed the net to produce it Thursday against Pittsburgh.

"I'm not really accustomed to being there digging for pucks," Liles said. "When things aren't working, you have to modify it a little bit."

The Avalanche has been using Liles and center Joe Sakic on the points on the first unit before switching to two defensemen.

Quenneville wants to see more shots no matter who is there.

"The toughest power play to defend against is point shots, particularly from the middle," Quenneville said. "Second and third opportunities (from rebounds) often is what can generate a lot."

The Avalanche had nine shots while going 1-for-6 on power plays in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Vancouver.

"We generated chances, but the bottom line is we had quite a few opportunities," Liles said. One or two more goals and it would have been a different game. It's kind of a funny thing, power plays; they seem to kind of get streaky a lot. Hopefully, we can get on a roll here.

"We're definitely taking to heart that we need to be better on it. I don't want to make excuses because, bottom line, it has the ability to affect the outcome of games."

THEODORE GETS START: It comes as no surprise that Jose Theodore will start in goal against the Flames. He's gone 2-0 against them this season while stopping 56 of 58 shots.

That doesn't count turning back two of three breakaways in a 5-4 shootout win Oct. 16 after relieving Peter Budaj in the second period.

Theodore made 39 saves 10 days later in a 3-2 overtime win in Calgary when the Avalanche was badly outplayed, and he stopped 26 shots Thursday in a 3-2 win against Pittsburgh.

The Avalanche came from behind in all three wins.

"Jose's been solid," Quenneville said. "He's confident, composed, he challenges, he's controlling rebounds and he's fighting through traffic to find pucks. You can see the confidence in his overall game."

Theodore, 3-2 overall with a 2.55 goals-against average and .911 saves percentage, gives much of the credit to goalie coach Jeff Hackett.

"Having him here every day makes a big, big difference to me, just to work on the little details," he said. "When you get away from some good things you were doing, he's there to remind you. Sometimes it's just a matter of inches, challenging a little bit more or staying patient half a second longer before going down.

"With a guy like Jeff looking at every movement in practices and games, he's going to pick up the little mistakes you do."

JILLSON TO PLAY? Quenneville said he would consider playing 6-foot-3, 215-pound defenseman Jeff Jillson against the physical Flames.

Jillson, a former San Jose Sharks first-round draft pick, has yet to suit up since being summoned from Lake Erie in the American Hockey League 10 days ago to replace injured Jordan Leopold on the roster.

"It's a maybe. We'll see," Quenne-ville said. "Our defense wasn't as good (Saturday) as it's been all year. Our coverage maybe wasn't as solid as it needed to be in the tight areas, which is something we take pride in and it's got to be better.

"(Tonight) especially, that's the type of game (the Flames) play, so we have to be aware of that."

Flames at Avalanche

• When: 7 tonight.

• Where: Pepsi Center.

• TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

• Leading scorers

Calgary (6-5-3) G A P

RW Jarome Iginla 9 12 21

C Daymond Langkow 8 9 17

LW Alex Tanguay 4 13 17

LW Kristian Huselius 7 5 12

C Matthew Lombardi 5 4 9

D Dion Phaneuf 3 6 9

Coach: Mike Keenan

Colorado (8-5-0) G A P

C Paul Stastny 5 12 17

C Joe Sakic 5 10 15

RW Andrew Brunette 2 9 11

LW Ryan Smyth 5 5 10

LW Wojtek Wolski 5 5 10

Coach: Joel Quenneville

• Injuries: Calgary — C Wayne Prim-eau (ankle) is out. Colorado — D Jordan Leopold (wrist surgery), LW Brad Richardson (wrist) and D Karlis Skrastins (separated shoulder) are out.

• Sidelight: The Avalanche is 2-0 against the Flames this season and has beaten them six consecutive times since a 5-2 loss in Calgary on Feb. 17. Five of the games have been decided by one goal.

• Notes: Avalanche left wing Jaroslav Hlinka stayed on the ice long after practice ended Sunday to shoot pucks. He logged a season-low 6:30 in ice time Saturday against Vancouver, 5 1/2 minutes below his average. . . . Skrastins, who was injured Oct. 19 in Chicago, did some light shooting but can't take physical contact. He's expected to miss at least two more weeks. . . . Tanguay has four goals and five assists in a five-game point-scoring streak for the Flames. . . . Iginla has at least one point in 11 of Calgary's 14 games.

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com

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