Avs on the brink vs. Wings
Colorado falls into 3-0 hole; mood is getting single win
By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published April 29, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.
Photo by Darin Mcgregor / The Rocky
Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore watches a puck fly over his head Tuesday. Theodore gave up two goals 58 seconds apart in the first period and saved 31 of 35 Red Wings shots in the Game 3 loss.
Avalanche players probably don't need to pore through any history books to know they are in a heap of trouble.
Being down 3-0 to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinal series is problematic enough.
So, for now, the Avalanche will just try to keep the postseason going with a win Thursday night at the Pepsi Center instead of thinking about the prospect of joining the 1975 New York Islanders and 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs as the only teams in Stanley Cup playoff history to claim a series after dropping the first three games.
"We have to win one game," captain Joe Sakic said Tuesday night after the Avalanche's 4-3 loss. "Just keep your heads up and try and get that game and then you never know . . . see what happens. We can only worry about one thing at a time.
"They've got a great hockey team. Definitely they deserve to be up 3-0 the way the series has gone. They've outskated us, outworked us. We didn't quit, we battled back. But it wasn't enough. Hopefully, next game we can find a way to win it and at least extend it and get some momentum."
Problem is, the Red Wings have plenty of weapons to be concerned about.
There's Pavel Datsyuk, who scored twice and set up Henrik Zetterberg with what proved to be the decisive goal at 12:24 of the second period.
There's Johan Franzen, aka "Mule," the 220-pound power forward who continues to kick around the Avalanche. Franzen's goal at 13:12 of the first period - his sixth of the series - came 58 seconds after a Datsyuk power-play goal and put the Red Wings in front for good at 2-1.
"We created a lot of offense," Zetterberg said. "The whole team is playing good. This was really a huge game. We didn't want to let them back in the game."
Detroit also has a rock-solid defense led by likely future Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, who logged a game-high 25:48 in ice time, and an underrated goalie in Chris Osgood, who made 12 of his 30 saves in the third period.
"It seems like every time we got a little momentum, we lost it right away," said Andrew Brunette, whose second power-play goal of the game drew the Avalanche within 4-3 at 5:19 of the third period.
Peter Forsberg, who missed the first two games with a groin injury, skated down the left wing with the puck a few minutes later on another power play and was tripped from behind by Franzen, but the referees swallowed their whistles and the Avalanche came away empty.
"I don't understand that," Forsberg said. "They called so many in the second period and they decided not to call that one. That's just the way it goes."
The Avalanche pulled to 3-2 at 8:08 of the second period when Brunette got his stick on a John-Michael Liles slap shot and tipped it behind Osgood.
But the Red Wings regained the two-goal advantage when Datsyuk passed to a wide-open Zetterberg, who beat goalie Jose Theodore at 12:24 with Forsberg serving a double-minor for high-sticking Mikael Samuelsson.
"At first, I didn't think I hit him, but I guess he was bleeding, so I guess I did hit him," Forsberg said. "I have nothing to say. If he's bleeding, it's four minutes. I didn't think I hit him that hard. He's laying down on the ice and I thought I barely touched him, but that's just the way it is.
"It was tough. I thought we did a good job killing the first couple minutes off and then they got a good play there. Nothing I can say. They got the call and we got (shortchanged) on so many calls. Overall, we battled hard. We just came up a little short."
The Avalanche opened the scoring for the second time in the series when Cody McLeod tipped rookie T.J. Hensick's shot behind Osgood at 5:17 of the first period during a delayed penalty.
The advantage didn't last long.
Zetterberg passed to Datsyuk for a power-play goal at 12:14 just 19 seconds after Ian Laperriere went off for roughing and Franzen followed by driving unchecked to the net to cash in a pass by Brett Lebda.
"We played great," Osgood said. "We scored some beautiful goals, goals that were unstoppable for their goalie. We did a lot of good things. We took too many penalties and allowed them to get some momentum, but we managed to get through it.
"We really played good the last four minutes - getting pucks deep, making sure that we took the guy high and didn't give the puck away. The last three minutes of the game were our best three minutes of the entire game defensively."
Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3
Detroit2 2 0 - 4
Colorado1 1 1 - 3
First period - 1, Col, McLeod 1 (Hensick, Arnason), 5:17. 2, Det, Datsyuk 4 (Zetterberg, Lidstrom), 12:14 (pp). 3, Det, Franzen 8 (Lebda, Samuelsson), 13:12. Penalties - Laperriere, Col, (interference), 7:30; Laperriere, Col, (roughing), 11:55; McLeod, Col, (high-sticking), 17:39.
Second period - 4, Det, Datsyuk 5 (Rafalski, Holmstrom), 6:36. 5, Col, Brunette 4 (Liles, Sakic), 8:08 (pp). 6, Det, Zetterberg 5 (Datsyuk, Samuelsson), 12:24 (pp). Penalties - McCarty, Det (holding), 7:38; Forsberg, Col, double minor (high-sticking), 9:33; Forsberg, Col, (goalie interference), 13:07; Zetterberg, Det (interference), 13:35; Col bench, served by Hensick (too many men), 15:48.
Third period - 7, Col, Brunette 5 (Sakic, Salei), 5:19 (pp). Penalties - Det bench, served by Helm (too many men), 1:36; Det bench, served by Helm (too many men), 3:48; Drake, Det (high-sticking), 8:37.
Shots - Det 19-9-7 - 35. Col 10-10-13 - 33. Power plays - Det 2 of 7; Col 2 of 5. Goalies - Det, Osgood 5-0 (33 shots-30 saves). Col, Theodore 4-5 (35-31). A - 18,007 (18,007). T - 2:17. Referees - Don Koharski, Kelly Sutherland. Linesmen - Tim Nowak, Pierre Racicot.
Avalanche vs. Red Wings * Game 1: Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3
* Game 2: Red Wings 5, Avalanche 1
* Game 3: Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3
Red Wings lead series 3-0
* Thursday: at Colorado, 8 p.m.
* *Saturday: at Detroit, 11 a.m.
* *Monday: at Colorado, 8 p.m.
* *May 7: at Detroit, TBA
All times Mountain; * if necessary
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
April 29, 2008
10:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
Unfreakinbelievable! Forseberg gets mauled and tripped that should have set up a 5 on 3 and the ref is too busy pleasuring himself to make a call. How different would this series be if the Avs were healthy for once this season, theo wasn't sick and the refs weren't trying their hardest to hand it to the number one seed? Oh well thats how it goes I guess.
April 29, 2008
10:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
icelander13 writes:
It's the Refs?? It's the Sticks?? The sticks??? That might be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time!!!! Here's a thought: Adam Foote is a has-been; Nick Lidstrom is the best in the business; Kronwell is having a great series....Forsberg and Sakic used to be the best..turn the page and hand the title of best 1-2 combination to Z and D. Finally, goaltending makes or breaks a series...Guess which way this is falling for the Avs?
It's not the refs....it's not the sticks.....
Dallas vs Detroit looks to be a great series...probably 7 games...depends on Goaltending
April 29, 2008
10:50 p.m.
avbaggger writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
April 29, 2008
10:56 p.m.
Suggest removal
avbaggger writes:
"Liszten to me, Denvur, you've been Franzenated! Your puny goaltender has save sickness, so I keep scoring. Your Forsberg is broken. Now you quit crying, babies, or I will put you on me and shpank you."
-J. Franzen
April 29, 2008
11:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
Ummm, I think Big D is trying to be sarcastic there icelander. Go ahead and look up the word...we'll wait.
April 29, 2008
11:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
hikingartist writes:
I like the Avs personally but Detroit is obviously the better team. They play well together.
April 29, 2008
11:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
Nobody's crying and nobody's making excuses. I'm just saying this could have been a much better series if the Avs would have been healthy. They haven't been healthy all year and you would be hard pressed to find another team that has gone through what they've gone through all season let alone this series. It just would have been cool to see both teams in complete health.
Theodore - sick and shouldn't have played the first two games. Tonight just bad for a few minutes.
Forsberg - missed two games and obviously is not healthy and hasn't been since he came back. Remember he didn't play for an entire year!
Hannen - Injured missed game 2
Smyth - Injured missed tonight
Svatos - Torn ACL hasn't played in months
Clark - Bum shoulder hasn't played in months
Stasny - Injured 1st period did not finish tonight
Wolski - Injured 1st game hasn't returned
That's just the recent injuries. The reality is, with all the man games lost during the regular season it's a wonder they finished where they did. They probably shouldn't have even made the playoffs, but they pulled it out somehow.
Finally, anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that the refs blew the Forsberg call in the third. The Avs had a chance at a long 5 on 3 that could have led to a tied game. It was a blatant trip and the ref just flat out missed it!
April 29, 2008
11:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
As with all things that go into this rivalry, putting up with the underbelly of the 'wings nation is just a part of it. It goes with the territory, and for the most part it shows nothing of what a real hockey fan from Detroit is all about. What it does shine a light on is how incest ruins a brain for some of the Detroit faithful. For those Detroit fans that are a pleasure to converse with: live on, do well, and bring the Cup back to the West again. One word of advice though, stay away from injuries...that messes up the whole shooting match.
April 29, 2008
11:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
PapaWayne writes:
Well, I was right - that was a close one, a good game.
No shame in losing, when you've played your best. Your guys gave it a good shot...our guys were just better. And it is true, the Avs are beat up and injured. I was worried that Forsberg would contribute more against the Wings than he did, but apparently all that downtime has his timing off. And his penalty for high-sticking Samuelsson was ultimately what cost the game - ironic indeed.
But although the Avs came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4 straight against the Wings (what year was that?), no series between the two teams has ever resulted in a sweep; if history asserts itself, game 4 might go to the Avs. It's going to be a great game.
Here's looking forward to Thursday!
April 29, 2008
11:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Chard58 writes:
Did anyone notice the one sided officiating
How much is the going rate for official these days
I think we should take half of coach Q salery and buy us one
April 29, 2008
11:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
Finally a good game from the Avalanche. This is what I’ve been waiting for from this series. I think the calls, and NON-CALLS were even in this game. Sure the Av’s should have had a 5 on 3 cause Forsberg got tripped on the PP, but the refs let go that boarding on Lebda, and the hook on Datyuke that should have been a scoring chance. I would have pointed it out if we lost, but I'd still say it was about even.
For those of you that have been paying attention to my posts. I TOLD YOU SO. You might have won if you started Budaj, but Coach Q obviously knows best...?
If the Av’s expect to win getting 4 goals a game scored on them, they must grow it good in the Rocky Mountains.
I said Wings in 6, but I’ll have my broom near by if Theodore is playing again in game 4. And just for the record. I TOLD YOU SO.
April 29, 2008
11:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
SDWingNut writes:
Jlstaud, tripping!? Give me a break. I saw trips on both sides that were not called. The refs gave both teams a lot of leeway and you know it.Every playoff series I've been watching (and I'm watching them all) has been pretty open by design. I really believe that the refs have instructions to call only the most injurious fouls (the ones they see). Forsberg (aside from being very talented) is also a whiner and professional flopper and the refs know that, so stop your whining and take your loss with some dignity. Everybody is hurting this time of year, but it seems like the Avs (many of them) are the only ones complaining about it. Here's the deal my friend: the Avs are being outplayed by a better team. Nothing more, nothing less and it will be over soon. Go Wings!!
April 29, 2008
11:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
icelander13 writes:
Anybody who knows anything about hockey knows that refs make or don't make calls every game. In the course of 60 minutes, it goes both ways.
Apr 04, 2008 Tomas Kopecky Sprained MCL and torn ACL
Apr 03, 2008 Kirk Maltby Hamstring
Apr 02, 2008 Kris Draper Groin
Mar 28, 2008 Mikael Samuelsson Groin
Mar 22, 2008 Dallas Drake Bruised sternum
Mar 20, 2008 Brad Stuart Broken finger
Mar 19, 2008 Valtteri Filppula Groin
Mar 13, 2008 Kris Draper Groin tear
Mar 13, 2008 Dominik Hasek Sore back
Mar 08, 2008 Darren McCarty Ribs
Mar 08, 2008 Tomas Holmstrom Groin
Feb 23, 2008 Chris Chelios Knee
Feb 19, 2008 Nicklas Lidstrom Sprained right MCL
Feb 15, 2008 Brian Rafalski Injured Reserve Sore groin
Feb 15, 2008 Brian Rafalski Injured Reserve Sore groin
Feb 11, 2008 Dominik Hasek Injured Reserve Hip flexor inflammation
Feb 11, 2008 Dominik Hasek Injured Reserve Hip flexor inflammation
Feb 10, 2008 Daniel Cleary Injured Reserve Broken jaw
Feb 10, 2008 Daniel Cleary Injured Reserve Broken jaw
Jan 31, 2008 Niklas Kronwall Injured Reserve SC sprain
Jan 31, 2008 Niklas Kronwall Injured Reserve
Jan 31, 2008 Niklas Kronwall Left shoulder
Jan 30, 2008 Brett Lebda Left wrist
Jan 22, 2008 Henrik Zetterberg Back
Dec 22, 2007 Henrik Zetterberg Day-to-day Back
Dec 20, 2007 Tomas Holmstrom Day-to-day Right knee
Dec 17, 2007 Mikael Samuelsson Day-to-day Elbow
Dec 13, 2007 Tomas Holmstrom Day-to-day Sore knee
Nov 29, 2007 Kirk Maltby Injured Reserve Back
Nov 29, 2007 Kirk Maltby Injured Reserve Back
Nov 28, 2007 Kris Draper Injured Reserve Sprained left knee
Nov 28, 2007 Kris Draper Injured Reserve Sprained left knee
Nov 24, 2007 Matt Ellis Day-to-day Head
Nov 22, 2007 Tomas Kopecky Day-to-day Shoulder
Oct 28, 2007 Niklas Kronwall Sore groin
Oct 25, 2007 Dominik Hasek Injured Reserve Sore hip
Oct 25, 2007 Dominik Hasek Injured Reserve Sore hip
Oct 21, 2007 Dallas Drake Injured Reserve Fractured cheekbone
Oct 19, 2007 Dallas Drake Injured Reserve Fractured cheekbone
Oct 14, 2007 Mikael Samuelsson Day-to-day Groin
Oct 07, 2007 Johan Franzen Injured Reserve Sprained knee
Oct 07, 2007 Johan Franzen Injured Reserve Sprained knee
Sep 27, 2007 Kyle Quincey Injured Reserve Broken bone, left hand
Sep 27, 2007 Kyle Quincey Injured Reserve Broken bone, left hand
Injuries happen to everyone....We lost Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Holmstrom for significant time this year. Im thankful for having them back now though.
Series isn't over yet. 4th game is the hardest to win....
April 29, 2008
11:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
Sometimes Maltby you have to dance with who brought you. Not always the most cerebral of moves, but that in and of itself is hockey. Don't know that I disagree with your post(s), but Q is a creature of habit, and like all of us, he is overriding his gut instinct with his wits. Well now he, like the rest of us, are at our wits end...well almost. We do have that thin sliver of a thread known as hope going for us in game 4. Not much to hang a pair of skates on, but what the hey.
April 29, 2008
11:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
icelander13 writes:
Just an observation, I think many of the Wings fans are here courtesy of that classless article Bernie Linciomme put out there trashing Detroit, Cleveland, and a few other cities along the way. Check out my post on his last article to get some perspective.
I don't like personalizing these things, and I think he brought a lot of this on...
April 29, 2008
11:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
SDWingNut, I understand that the refs don't always get them, but they have to call that one. Sure there were missed calls on both sides, but when a guy has a chance at a one on one with the goalie during a power play and he is blatantly tripped within 15 feet of the goal you have to blow the whistle. As for the injuries, I understand lots of teams are beat up at this point in the year, but I was just stating that the Avs have been worse off than most at this time of year. Again, it would just be nice to see these two teams fight it out with everyone healthy. With that being said, two of your wins have been by 1 goal. I wouldn't exactly call that dominance.
Icelander13, thanks for the injury report. I'm not sure why you felt the need to list half of your list twice or if that was an honest mistake. In any case if you add up the man games lost to "key" players the wings aren't even close to the Avs in that one. Again, I go back to the fact that the Avs in the Northwest division probably played way above their potential throughout the injuries and somehow got into the playoffs. Kudos to the Wings but please refrain from comparing the health of the Wings today to the Avs of today.
April 29, 2008
11:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
"Theodore - sick and shouldn't have played the first two games. Tonight just bad for a few minutes.
Forsberg - missed two games and obviously is not healthy and hasn't been since he came back. Remember he didn't play for an entire year!
Hannen - Injured missed game 2
Smyth - Injured missed tonight
Svatos - Torn ACL hasn't played in months
Clark - Bum shoulder hasn't played in months
Stasny - Injured 1st period did not finish tonight
Wolski - Injured 1st game hasn't returned"
Jlstuad. Maybe if you don't build you're house out of straw the BIG BAD WOLF from DETROIT won't blow your house down. Plus Coach Q is made of straw also, because IF HE ONLY HAD A BRAIN, he wouldn't have played Theodore. New flash, Theodore has allowed 4 goals a game in 5 games against the Wings this year. Oh yeah it happed in the regular season also. Play him again I double dog dare you.
Are my cliche’s getting through, like it's the REF's fault, it's the INJURY's fault, it's just bad luck. ITS OVER. PEACE.
April 30, 2008
12:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
Eath to Maltby: warning, warning, warning, your stupid factor is approaching epic proportions!!! Detroit the big bad wolf? Hmm, your not going to convince me of that. What I would say is that Detroit has blended their current roster almost seamlessly with the Euro game of puck possession, with just enough N.A. skating and hitting, to put a different spin on how they are winning for right now.
April 30, 2008
12:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
Hey Avs fans.... As a Detroit transplant to Raleigh, NC... Blow my NC octopus! You are going down in five max! You all have made every excuse you can, but you lost in three straight to a MUCH better team! You can try and rebuild from the past (Forsberg, Sakic, Foote, etc...) But only Ken Holland can do that! Go McCarty! I hope he takes McCleod out on a stretcher! Again, wet your lips and look the octopus in the eye!
Go Wings!!!!!!!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
GJrodburner the Avalanche fans have had the luxury of Patrick Roy. You have to learn once a liability always a liability. If Detroit stayed with Hasek the entire series, the Av's might be playing San Jose right now. When it's broken you have to fix it. Like they say F me once shame on you, F me twice, shame on me. This is a valuable lesson to learn because you're not going to get another Roy for a long, long, long time. From one hockey fan to another.
"If you're afraid to pull a goalie, you're goalie is not afraid to let a goal in." LIVE IT, LEARN IT, LIVE BY IT.
April 30, 2008
12:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
Hey GJ Rodburner....
Lack of puck posession, lack of a real goalie, and lack of a real offense, plenty of excuses, and plenty of towels for the pity party.... Thats the Avs!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
GoMaltby, why the attitude? Your earlier post was nice and then you just had to go get weird on us. I agree that Jose shouldn't have played. He shouldn't have played in game one or two because it clearly gave the Wings all the momentum. Anyone who knows hockey knows that momentum is one of the most important parts of hockey. As for game 3 I don't know why Q wouldn't make the change. Believe me, I'm no coach Q apologist. I think he jacks around with lines too much, he waits too long to make changes in net, etc. As for your comments about building a house of straw.... seriously? Stasny isn't always injured, Svatos isn't always injured, Smyth isn't always injured, Clark isn't always injured, Hannen isn't always injured, Wolski isn't always inured. All of these injuries are just bad luck at bad time. As for Forsberg, look, he hasn't played in a year and he has a history of injuries but most of those can be attributed to the way he plays and bad ankles. Not much you can do about that.
April 30, 2008
12:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
Sean,
"I hope he takes McCleod out on a stretcher! Again, wet your lips and look the octopus in the eye!"
Seriously, your an idiot! That is uncalled for and ignorant. Grow up and quit acting like a total tool. Wishing injury on someone is pretty much as classless as it gets. Pathetic!
April 30, 2008
12:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
"As for Forsberg, look, he hasn't played in a year and he has a history of injuries but most of those can be attributed to the way he plays and bad ankles. Not much you can do about that."
Come on jlstaud! Not much you can do about that? Don't bring him back! Nostalgia is nice, but the Cup does come down the road of Nostalgia Street! This was a despearation move on the Avs to bring him back, and a last shot at Peter Forsberg not having to face that he is not Peter Pan! Peter got old, and know one will tell him!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
This is a hockey forum jlstaud, not a nursery, if you can't take the heat of teh season, close you eyes and think happy thoughts!! Go recycle something you Tree Hugging Denverite!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
Oh, I forgot that you all were still sensitive about the injuries issues.... Bertuzzi and all! My apologies to you jlstaud from a tool in NC. Go Wings!!!!!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
GJrodburner; What I would say is that Detroit has blended their current roster almost seamlessly with the Euro game of puck possession, with just enough N.A. skating and hitting, to put a different spin on how they've won 3 Stalely Cups, and are up 3-0 on the Av's.
I'd Also say the Avalanche have put jut enough N.A. Skill, and hitting with a top 3 all time goalie (Roy) to get 2 Stalely Cups. I'd say the Wings system is a little more proven...Over all.
Yes I am aware of the Av's 3-2 series lead, but I base my opinion on Stalely Cups, not pointless my dad can beat your dad stats.
April 30, 2008
12:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
You Go GoMaltby!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
Your a freaking idiot sean and an embarrassment to hockey fans and Wing fans.
As for Peter, he and his injuries are not the reason the Avs have lost and contrary to your belief the Wings have not been so dominate. Granted they dominated game 2 but the other two games have been decided by 1 goal each. Not domination!
April 30, 2008
12:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
coastiehero writes:
The Av's have done a remarkable job this year just getting to the
playoffs, let alone beating the Wild and getting to the second
round against a Red Wings team that is playing really well this time around.
I have noticed one thing that is missing in this series compared
to the Wings vs Av's playoff games of old, the intensity level
is not as high and the heavy hitting and fighting is almost
non-existent. Scott Parker where art thou?.
I hope coach Q gives Budaj a chance to start now that the
series is almost over. Does Theodore get the big contract
this off season or does the Avalanche go for another free-agent
Goalie?
April 30, 2008
12:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
Oh, Peters injuries are not the reason the Avs have lost? Well you wouldn't know that by listening to the announcers who praise how well you all do whe he is in the line up! My god, even after teh game, the VS. announcers were acting like the Avs can still win this! What a joke! And I am a joke? Yeah, to all haockey fans and Wing Fans, I apologize. You sir still root for a team that sucks!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
Maltby have you had to many barly/malts? Just curious. We havn't had Roy here since '03. We have learned to live without him and that's o.k., but he wasn't the only reason we did win here in Denver.
I'm guessing here, so just be patient, you find JT to be the liability, 'cause it certainly wasn't Roy. Should the goalie situation be the main focus, then alright, Osgood is playing well. For the time being. In many a series it takes just that, a hot goalie. For some un-known reason that pretty well explains a ton in hockey. Can't say I even know the reasons as to why one series is different than another...other than it just comes down to the person in net. Now in this series, it is more than that. I like the way the Detroit players and the puck flows into open ice, not being detoured by the trap, or any other designed defense, but using the ability to really skate and move the puck to that open area; regardless if it is in their zone or the neutral zone or in the opponents end of the ice. Does that make sense to you? Not being sarcastic, just wanting to know what you know about the Detroit passing attack giving time and space on the ice, no matter where it may originate from. I know that the game is more interesting when you find your team being the big bad wolf, but your team has a better talent at puck possession than that of any other team in the west. That in and of itself tells me there is a synergy to what is being done by Babcock and Holland. No one in the east can do it, but that's a topic for another time. Basically, who cares? Grind 'em up, spit them out, move on. That's hockey east mentallity.
So in the end I do hope that Colorado will live and learn, and that what we see now we can use against you next time.
April 30, 2008
12:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
What do the VS announcers have to do with anything? What are you talking about? Are you high or just drunk? I never said the Avs were going to win this. I never said the Avs were a better team. I never said they would win if Peter was playing. I would just like to see the series played with both teams being completely healthy. You however still feel the need to use personal attacks and act like a child. Obviously the Avs don't suck because if they did they wouldn't be playing in the second round of the playoffs. Get a clue. Teams like the Hurricanes, Blues, Oilers, Blackhawks suck, not the Avs.
April 30, 2008
12:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
Theodore is French for "let the puck in"!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
sml19682000 writes:
"Teams like the Hurricanes, Blues, Oilers, Blackhawks suck, not the Avs."
At least you got that right jlstaud!
The Avs still suck too!
Sean
April 30, 2008
12:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
GJrodburner writes:
Sean there is no doubt about it, you sir are definitely the turd in the punch bowl of life. Could it be that all you have in life is that rapier wit, suave and deboner demeanor, and comments like the one about the French language? Your not an underbelly or incest love child are you?
April 30, 2008
1:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
Wow, GJrodburner.
"We havn't had Roy here since '03. We have learned to live without him and that's o.k., but he wasn't the only reason we did win here in Denver."
Are you serious? "he wasn't the only reason we did win here in denver." Have you ever won a cup with out him?
I dislike Pat Roy, but I would trade you any goaly outside of Brodure for him. Do you really think you could have won a cup let alone 2 with out him?
I may have had a few through out the night, but I would still have enough brain cells to respect the number one facter I won two cups before posting a word.
I bet you couldn't get 33 Colorado Avalanch fans to agree with you on that one.
April 30, 2008
4:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
NotanAVeragefan writes:
I thought people around Denver liked brie and wine, not brie and whine.
But, yeah, the trip on Forsberg should have been called. Clearly, it threw off the rest of his game.
I bet he doesn't play Thursday.
As consolation, I offer this poem:
ODE TO THE AVALANCHE
The Game Three they played was hard-fought.
They made some impressive shots.
But one game remains,
It’s the final refrain.
And we’ll see if they’re Avs or Av-nots.
April 30, 2008
6:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigJohn5 writes:
To all those who are complaining about the non-call on Franzen for allegedly tripping Forsberg (I say allegedly because I don't remember the play specifically) perhaps you should review the game and see during one of the Wings Powerplays in I believe the 3rd period when we were pressuring in the Avs zone and Zetterberg clearly got highsticked behind the net and there was no call. That would have given the wings a 5 on 3 but there was no call. Or perhaps early on in the 1st period when Lebda was blatently hit from behind and there was no call. You can argue back and forth about the calls that weren't made but again the bottom line is that they were ignored/missed on both sides. I totally agree that the goalie interference on Forsberg in the second was TOTAL BS. Even our local announcers said the refs were crazy, but 28 seconds later Zetterberg got the same kind of BS call which I'm sure was the refs making up for their mistake before. Just because the Avs had less powerplays doesn't mean that the refs were favoring the Wings. The Avs have been playing rougher and taken more legitimate penalties all series. Look at Game 2. At one point it would have been a 5 on 2 if the NHL allowed it. So stop complaining about the ONE play that Forsberg maybe should have had and maybe blame the bad plays he made. Ummm, such as knocking out Samuelsson's tooth with his stick and then trying to argue to the ref that he didn't hit him. Did the tooth fall out on it's own Peter? Cmon, don't tell me that you don't realize when your stick makes contact with somebody's face. When you wave your stick at someones face you run the risk of hitting them. And even if you think you barely hit him YOU STILL HIT HIM. Dumb play, dumb penalty, bad result for Forsberg and the Avs in the end. Blame the people who took the dumb penalties. Forsberg was more of a burden then a blessing last night for the Avs. He wasn't ready to play and it showed. Sometimes the better move is sitting out rather then playing for a bit, then going out causing the coach to have to shuffle lines up and then coming back in and readjusting the lines again.
April 30, 2008
6:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigJohn5 writes:
And by the way, icelander13 was ABSOLUTELY correct as to why there are so many Wings fans posting on this site. It is because of your own IDIOT journalist (if you can call him that. I prefer DOUCHE) Bernie Lincicome and his article before the series that was trashing Detroit, a city I'll bet he hasn't been to recently. So if you don't like your company on this site then blame the one who invited us.
April 30, 2008
6:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
eam0415 writes:
All I have to say is...Go WINGS!!!!!
April 30, 2008
6:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
WitchKing writes:
Come on Nordilance fans, let's hear some of those OH SO funny Detroit put downs you were all SO FULL OF a few days ago.
Hockey Inc., can't WAIT to hear them
Thought so
It's OK, Bernie is having ovary issues and doesn't want to make another trip back to Hockeytown
April 30, 2008
6:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
stonewall0001 writes:
Well said Big John....Blind fan loyalty is never so apparent as in the NHL playoffs when the conspiracy theorists come out in droves when their home team is getting thumped.
And on the injuries...in the woulda coulda shoulda world, I guess anything can happen. But consider this, without aging and failing veterans like Sakic, Forsberg and Foote, the Avalanche were outscored 11-2 in the regular season. In their prime, those three could be difference makers but they are far from being that now.
Before this series started, I picked the Wings in 5. Before the Nashville series started, I picked the Wings in 6. It was obvious to any knowledgable hockey fan that Nashville matched up better against the Red Wings than Colorado would...the outcome of this series is, and always was, pretty inevitable. Call it injuries...call it bad calls...call it whatever you want...I still call it inevitability.
April 30, 2008
6:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Motown writes:
What is with the talk of injuries, officiating, and luck? Injuries are a part of what makes an athlete, especially when chronic. To blame chronic injury on a loss is similar to stating that Shaq is a better athlete and would win every game by himself, BUT he gets tired quickly. Well then...
Furthermore, this is a seven game series for a reason. To win four of seven (or four of four) negates most of the luck, bad officiating, and injuries that are being used as excuses.
If Av's want respect for being a good team, fine. But I have yet to see what backed up all the trash-talking aimed at Detroit in the first three games.
Go Wings!
April 30, 2008
7:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
rnano1 writes:
Good game. The calls go both ways. Both teams are
good. That's why it's called a series. I hardly think
the wings will get game 4. The avs play tough.
Good post PAPA WAYNE. GO WINGS>>>>
April 30, 2008
7:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
psu96 writes:
Excuses...Excuses
Your Goalie is a SIEVE!!!! GO FLYERS!!!
April 30, 2008
7:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
wingsfan1 writes:
Wow I hear a lot of bitching from Forsberg and Colorado fans, but I see no producing out of Forsberg.
Big D: You're a moron for thinking of a stupid excuse that the Wings sticks are too long. Nice try. It's definitely not because Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Filppula, etc. skate circles around you guys. Nope, it's for sure because their sticks are too long.
I'm not saying everybody, but a lot of you Avs "fans" are fair weather fans. You also do A LOT of bitching. Do you people actually follow hockey? What happens to you guys (bad refs, bounces, bad everything else) happens to every other team in the NHL. It's only the GOOD TEAMS that can deal with it and come through...like the Wings.
I would never make excuses for the Wings, but at the same time, I'd support them thoroughly even if they were swept. Pretty much all Wings fans would do the same.
Anywho...I think it may be time for you all to dust off the golf clubs and book a tee time. I'd do it now because in a couple days, the courses will be packed!
April 30, 2008
8:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
kathyM writes:
Wings rock!
April 30, 2008
8:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
The sun came up again :) Yea, the refs missed a high stick call on the Avs, but they also missed the takedown by Franzen on Forsberg. Equal maybe, but I think it might have changed the momentum a bit. The game is all about momentum and who takes advantage of it.
Granted the Wings are better top to bottom as a team. I don't think name calling of players shows anything. A third grader can call someone names.
I don't get the News except on the web but if I remember correctly, when Linicome started writing for the News wasn't he living somewhere in the midwest ? I never understood why they hired him to write from afar.
So Wings fans if it makes your day to gloat and call names,
go ahead. I don't remember actually seeing any of you on the ice playing. Those are the guys who can gloat but have too much class to do it.
April 30, 2008
8:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Shaupeen writes:
It's pretty funny to read these entries. A lot of Avs fans (and I am one of the biggest) are starting to sound like typical dumb Bronco fans--"No excuses, BUT the Wings have longer sticks/better calls/less injuries..."
SHUT UP
We're getting beat by a better team. Period.
April 30, 2008
8:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
Injuries are a fact, not an excuse. I haven't really seen anybody writing that the Avs would be winning this series if it weren't for injuries...because they wouldn't. However, it is a fact that their chances would be greatly improved if key players weren't missing from each game. Detroit is the best team in the league. You need all your guns to compete with them. That's a fact. Whining about refs is another thing. I agree, the refs should never come up. Bad calls/good calls affect both teams.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Forsberg is a luxury not a savior. Nobody is saying the Avs were relying on Forsberg. To say the decision to sign him was a mistake is uninformed and ignorant. The Avs had cap space, couldn't make a trade or another signing to use that money, and signed Forsberg for the stretch run. Everybody knew of his injury risk, but that doesn't matter. Whatever he could contribute would help. It was a no risk/reward signing. If he could play this game or that, great, the Avs were better for that game. If not, so be it, they were the same team that they were all season. Please stop acting like Avs fans put all our eggs in Forsberg's basket. It's simply not true.
How can Avs fans posting messages on sites like this be considered fair weather fans? That doesn't make any sense. We are here supporting our team through good times and bad times. For a Wings fan to call an Avs fan a bandwagoner or fair weather fan is highly hypocritical. Know how I know? While you can look around town and always spot a few Red Wings fans, you never see a Lions fans anywhere. Never. Not one. All these supposed proud Detroit transplants yet not a Lion fan among them. Why? Because they refuse to openly support a team that isn't at the top. Just proves that Red Wings fans in Colorado are either frontrunners or haters. That's their only motiviation. It's like Raiders fans here....most only like the Raiders because they are so miserable in their own lives that they go against the grain just to be irritating. It is so pathetic and sad.
April 30, 2008
8:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigJohn5 writes:
I'm sorry but I have one more comment to make that is kind of in regards to jlstaud's comment a ways up about the refs having to call the trip on Forsberg late in the 3rd. Yes that would have been a very important call as the Avs would have gotten a 5-3 and could have tied the game up. However, why is that call so much more vital to make then the one that was missed when Zetterberg was high sticked earlier in the game while the Wings were on a powerplay? Just because it's late in the game and the Avs had a chance to tie it doesn't make it more important of a call then the highsticking on Zetterberg. The Wings would have gotten a 5 on 3 and possibley scored again making the score 5-3. In which case the missed call on Forsberg probably wouldn't be that big of an issue. I would think that everyone would realize that since this was a one goal game at the end that every call that could have been made but wasn't was vital whether it was at the beginning, middle, or end of the game.
April 30, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
pcordoba writes:
Stop to blame the guys.
Every game someone made mistakes, but Q? He has all the responsibility. He is the coach and he failed all the year.
Sakic show his age. Foppa is injured.I see clouds in the future.
First, Q has to take his stuffs and go out from Colorado. Granato must join him.
First, the Avs need a winner coach.
Then, the organization need to hire a superstar as a center or defense.
April 30, 2008
9:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
RdWng00 writes:
I'm impressed that many of the Avs fans on this post are displaying Sakic-like class about the series. Too bad the classless Lincicome article set off a firestorm of anger before the series started.
GO Wings!
April 30, 2008
9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
GeeTee writes:
The Avalanche wasted millions on Forsberg. Theodore is not a great goalie -- always a mistake waiting to happen. And everyone wants to blame the refs. Solution? Put the freaking goal in the net and stop making excuses -- I swear the Avs are starting to sound like the Nuggets!
April 30, 2008
9:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
wingsfan1 writes:
Finn, I'm a huge Lions fan and there are TONS of Lions fans here in Detroit. You are misinformed on that one. You bring up a PERFECT example of fans in Detroit. We always support the Lions even if what they do is dumb or when they play terrible. Yes, they're a bad team, but we support all our teams in good and bad times. We've supported the Tigers even before they were good. We've always supported the Pistons. And obviously we've always supported the Wings. Now, supporting does not mean going to the games and filling up the stadiums all the time. We're still huge fans of all our teams.
Notice I did not say all of you are fair weather fans. There are for sure fair weather fans in Detroit and bandwagon fans. But not much. I know this because a couple of my friends are bandwagon fans and fair weather. It really pisses me off too.
For the rest of you that are complaining, here is one huge fact about this season series and playoff series between the Wings and Avs:
Games played: 7
Red Wings wins: 7 (with 3 regular season shutouts)
Avalanche wins: 0
Were the refs bad in all 7 games? Probably, but for both sides. So no excuses either way.
Stop making excuses. The Avs are getting shut down by the best team in hockey. They're the best team for a reason. End of story.
April 30, 2008
9:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
nycavsfan writes:
No whining here. The Wings looked to be the better team last night. On offense their players seemed to almost always anticipate where the puck would be, while Theo often seemed out of position. He was lucky on a few shots, like in the first period where the puck hit both uprights and bounced out. I didn't see the same quality of scoring chances for the Avs.
There were flashes of the old Forsberg, and his presence did give a tangible boost to the offense, but it was not enough.
I hope they can find a way to break through on Thursday. If so, they may regain some confidence to take back to Detroit, and by then maybe Smyth, Stastny, Wolski, etc. will be healthy enough to rejoin the battle. The coming game(s) should at least be even closer than last night's.
GO AVS!!
April 30, 2008
9:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigJohn5 writes:
Finn / Wingsfan1,
I think that fair weather fans is a term used sometimes by mistake. The only Detroit sports team I consider myself a fan of is the Wings. The tigers are beginning to grow on me though. However as for the Pistons or Lions I don't consider myself a fan. I will however cheer on the home teams through the good streches because I like to see them do good (who doesn't like to see their teams do good) but even then I don't consider myself a fan. To me the fair weather fans are the fans are the ones that gloat on boards like this when times are good but then trash the team when times are bad. Mind you, trashing a team and expressing what you think should be done to improve I feel are two different things and that is the difference between a fair weather fan and a real fan. Honestly I don't see anyone here who I would classify as a fair weather fan. Just the fact that both sides are posting on this site shows the passion they have for the team and the game. Those without that passion aren't posting here. I'm not meaning to criticize anyone here. I'm just putting my thoughts in.
GO WINGS !! (Sorry, I had to add that. I'm a fan after all. :-)
April 30, 2008
9:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
GeeTee writes:
Avs should have picked up Biron last year before he signed with the Flyers -- he is a better goalie than Josey.
The Avs need a defender who can plant opponents on their butts.
And then let the yound scorers -- and Sakic -- go at it.
April 30, 2008
9:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
Wingsfan1...I was commenting on Wings fans here in Colorado. That's why I said "Detroit transplants" and "Red Wings fans in Colorado" and other similar things. Obviously there are tons of Lions fans in Detroit. It'd be hard to have a team without them :).
Complaining about the refs if pointless. But we have a right to complain about injuries. I guarantee you there were also TONS of Wings fans complaining about injuries last year when the Ducks demolished them. And they should have. It's hard to stay competitive with great teams when you're missing so much of your lineup. It's disappointing. Why not be allowed to express that disappointment? Doesn't seem so terrible to me.
I would urge you not to be so selective in what you want to hear. The majority of AVS fans on here are giving the Wings there due. Yes, the Wings are the better team. How many more times do we have to say that before we are allowed to be annoyed with our own injuries?
April 30, 2008
9:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
Finn I take offence to you comparing the Red Wings to the Lions. That is just sick, and down right mean. Those franchises are complete opposites, and there fan base has a different mentality. You compared the Lions 1 playoff win in 50+ years to the Red Wings three Championships in the last 11 years. Not a whole lot to be proud of for a Lions fan, and somehow you expect to see them all over Colorado rocking Honolulu blue, and silver? Apples to Oranges man, Apples to Oranges.
I do agree that injuries have ruined this series. I was expecting the Wings in 6, and after the Wings dropped two to Nashville, I though maybe a game 7. If the Avalanche were healthy I could still hope for a game 6, but it's not looking good at all. Unless the Avalanche go on a 2 or 3 game run this rivalry is dead.
April 30, 2008
9:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
4gColoNative writes:
Yep, our Avs are getting beaten by a superior team. So many times it looks like the Wings are on a power play ... and they aren't! Just great puck control and passing.
Note that at least three of the Wings goals came from the same right-post area [right from goalie perspective]. A pattern of defensemen and goalie breakdown.
I'm hoping that the Avs don't start behaving like goons as this series winds down ... and that our fans show a little class as well.
April 30, 2008
10:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
BigJohn5...yeah, you're probably right. However you might define the word or whatever word you want to use, I'm just speaking of those traditional hometown fans. I realize that not all people are going to fans of every team in one city. But, I think you might agree, the majority of hometown sports fans tend to root for any team that is from their same city. In this regard, and in regard to those fans only, it is highly selective and bandwagonish to only express your fandom (how many words can I make up!) only for those teams that do good year in year out.
GoMaltby....sorry to disrespect you like that :). You made me smile though. Yeah, I don't expect those Lions fans to be out with their trumpets at the top of every mountain. But it gets irritating how vocal and abrasive the loud minority can be - knocking us because they were able to buy tickets to games in our arena (like that's some sign that we aren't good fans???) and other things - but then they disappear when football season rolls around or, alternatively, put on their Patriots or Cowboys jerseys. I'll never have respect for those guys.
April 30, 2008
10:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
RustyWon writes:
Injuries have played a part in the series, but they are not the difference in the series.
I can't stand the red wings, but a hockey fan has to marvel at how they play the game. Side note: if you don't have HD television, - get it; you won't be sorry. It's worth every penny. Your wife will forgive you someday, don't let that stop you.
The play of zetterberg and datsyuk around the net is impressive, I don't care who you root for.
Those goals would have been scored on just about anybody.
Also, their (not there) neutral zone defense proved to be impenetrable down the stretch.
Enough of that.
Now, Let's go Avs!!
One at a time. It can be done.
April 30, 2008
10:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
stonewall0001 writes:
As the ancient Greeks once said...eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth?
"Forsberg added that he felt Samuelsson sold the call.
'Definitely. He's laying there on the ice and I barely touched him,' Forsberg said."
I vote that someboady wacks Forsberg in the face tomorrow night with their stick. While the refs are picking his teeth up off the ice, the player responsible can let him know that they are sorry for hitting him in the face, but he should really not embellish so much.
Of course, that is all dependent on whether or not he decides if its worth it to him to play through his pain to help out his teammates. Man, am I glad that Peter thumbed his nose at the Wings when he was looking for an NHL team to make room for him on their roster.
Being as good of a GM as Ken Holland is, I highly doubt we were even seriously entertaining the idea in the first place...
April 30, 2008
10:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigJohn5 writes:
stonewall0001, while I don't necessarily agree that someone should nail forsbergs face tomorrow, I do think that the fact that Samuelsson's tooth got knocked out by the hit was missed by many. FSN showed the linesmen pick up the tooth after the commercial break but I don't know if VS. or the local station picked that up. I also don't think Peter Forsberg realized it either judging by his opinion that Samuelsson "sold the call". If he did know and still thought that then he's a big idiot. A missing tooth tells you that he more then "barely" touched him. Forsberg is the one who sold the call when he hit him in the first place. A veteren player in a virtual must win game against a powerful powerplay unit should know better then that and keep his emotions in check. As I said before, dumb play, dumb penalty, and bad result for Forsberg and the Avs.
April 30, 2008
10:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Pistons_Fan writes:
Dee-Troit Bask-et-ball
Red Wings RULE
What else could you ask for?
April 30, 2008
10:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
WingNut1967 writes:
Whoever said that Zetterberg tripped Forsberg in the 3rd, was not watching the same play I was... Z's stick made contact with the Puck and Stick blade first... Then ol Forsy flopped on the Ice, when he knew he'd been beat... Your probably lucky they didn't call the Dive...
There are So many excuss's on here, it's amazing...
All this whinning, and yet not one of you has adressed your Defense. That and Jose has been your Achilles heal
Your team has been out played hands down, no matter the reason... And your goalie has been consistantly letting in 4 goals per game every game...
April 30, 2008
10:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
WingNut1967 writes:
Come on now Avs Fans, in the begining, I was hearing all this great stuff about your team, and how much you all loved them. I was also hearing how great you all are as fans, and the support you give your team is second to none.... So you have now left me with this question... Don't you guys still Love them??? Why aren't you supporting your team???
I would still be Loving my Wings if the tables were reversed... In fact, I have been Loving them Win or Lose since around 1981... Thats called a True Fan...
I'm very sorry, but, I think there are a bunch of Bandwagoners in Colorado. And how very quick you are to Jump...
So I don't really understand, how you can compair yourselfs as Fans, To Detroit Fans...
April 30, 2008
11:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
GoMaltby writes:
Finn I know exactly what you mean.
I was at a Wings vs. Blues game earlier this year, and in our section was one Blues fan. He came with a girl wearing a Wings Jersey. The loudest guy at the game, but the Blues, and Wings couldn't hear him. All his yelling and trash talk was for the sole purpose of annoying the wings fans around him.
It's like the wings fans that come to this site only to rip on the Av's and not talk about hockey, and Av's fans that only want to rip on Detroit City. Just annoying.
April 30, 2008
11:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
Avs_Blow writes:
THANK YOU shaupeen...finally an Avs fan gets it.
It's pretty funny to read these entries. A lot of Avs fans (and I am one of the biggest) are starting to sound like typical dumb Bronco fans--"No excuses, BUT the Wings have longer sticks/better calls/less injuries..."
SHUT UP
We're getting beat by a better team. Period
GO WINGS!!!!
April 30, 2008
11:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
RustyWon writes:
Hey guys, there are plenty of Avs and Colorado fans out there.
Make no mistake, we support our teams. We love our teams, win or lose.
Believe me, our teams have had their share of losing over the years, and we still support them.
One of our big problems as fans is that because Denver, and Colorado in general, is a place where people from other places typically like to relocate, we have to put up with the worst of the worst at the ballpark these days.
Avs, Broncos, Rockies, and even the Nuggets now.
The fans that go to our venues to root for their team are generally pretty vocal and as a result, they can be very annoying.
You have to admit, a modicum of respect in the opposing ballpark is not too much to ask.
I have been to other venues and was largely left alone because I wasn't up in everyone's face when my team did something good.
I don't think you have the same thing in other places right now.
Sure there will always be the obnoxious Blues fan, or whatever, but they are in the extreme minority in Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Philadelphia, among others.
These days in Denver, the opposing fans are not nearly as much of a minority.
We have Avs and Broncos season tickets and I am shocked how many opposing fans crowd the stands these days.
Packer's fans were by far the worst, something I wouldn't have expected actually.
We don't like where were at right now, but we're still Avs fans, and we can still win some games in this series.
You guys are good, but to be the best, we must beat the best.
Go Avs!!
April 30, 2008
11:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
discer writes:
First off Bernie Linsecome doesn't speak for me. He usually knows very little of what he is talking about. He is also a transplanted journalist (questionable) from somewhere east of Colorado who was hired by this paper to talk trash and stir up sh&* to rile gullible knuckleheads and get them to respond. I would say that he is doing his job pretty well so far. You have two choices the way I see it. Read his work knowing that he is probably going to hit a nerve. Or don't read it.
As far as this series goes the Avalanche are being beat by a better team in every aspect of the game. Offense, defense, goal tending, special teams and coaching! Did I miss anything? Give the Red Wings their due. They were the best team all year, suffered injuries and hit a little slump. They are healthy now,hitting on all cylinders and should bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to Detroit in a few weeks. It will be a surprise if they don't. To all of you knuckleheads on both sides of the ice; Don't read the Knucklehead's column if it stirs you up. That's what he get's paid for!
April 30, 2008
11:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
"I'm very sorry, but, I think there are a bunch of Bandwagoners in Colorado. And how very quick you are to Jump...
So I don't really understand, how you can compair yourselfs as Fans, To Detroit Fans..."
See my comments from 9:29 and 10:10am. Case closed.
There are plenty of Avs fans on here and the other paper talking about the game and showing our support for the team. What else are you expecting? There are lots of other things to do today than read about how little you Wings fans think of us, or see over and over and over again how many different ways you all can change Forsberg's name to be vulgar and disrespectful. Like I said before, if all you see on here are excuses, then you are blind and closed-minded. It total, easily the prevailing opinion from Avs fans is that Detroit is simply better this year. If you refuse to acknowledge the majority, then I feel sorry for you. Your paranoia is pathetic for sure, but it doesn't establish any basis for claiming that Colorado does not support its teams.
April 30, 2008
12:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
milloy36 writes:
It's a fact that Colorado fans support their team, you are just a bunch of cry babies when you lose. And blame everyone else. It's simple, all of your teams are losers.
April 30, 2008
12:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
zicknak writes:
The Avs have played hard while clearly outmanned. It has been great to see Sakic playing in possibly his last playoff series, as he is a true class act... And it was nice to see that Forsberg is still the dirty player that Detroit fans love to despise. But it is time for an overhall of the Avalanche roster. The wings learned that eventually the reigns need to be turned over to younger players, and players like Shanahan and Fedorov left for that to happen, while Yzerman retired. Hopefully Joe gets a front office gig just like Yzerman and helps to rebuild the Avs farm system so this can truly be a rivalry once again!
Go Wings! 9 more wins to number 11!
April 30, 2008
1:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
MrBrightSide writes:
This from a Detroit article, I couldn't agree more. To have a rivalry, both teams need to be part of it, Colorado since 2002 has been weak at best. The "Team that Lindross Built" is no more.
"This game might finally lay to rest the rivalry, or perhaps it could be better phrased as the “rivalry that once was.” Its memory means more to the Avalanche than it does to the Wings. There’s always competitive animosity against the opposition because you’re both going after the same thing and one can have it.
But the devout hatred between these two simply isn’t there, despite this city’s attempts to the contrary."
April 30, 2008
1:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
psu96 writes:
BIG D,
thats funny, stick size. there is a limit on how much of a curve you can put on your blade, maybe thats the issue.
I bet you Avs fan wish you picked up Biron, he is playing like a stud. GO FLYERS!!!
April 30, 2008
1:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
detroitmetal writes:
I have no doubt if the Av’s were up 3 – 0 on the Wings the Detroit papers would be full of Av’s fans saying the Wings suck.
That being said, I never got that. If one team sucks, then it should be no problem (and no joy) in beating them.
As far as penalties, I always played with the attitude: if it takes a call by the referee to win or lose a game then you didn’t do enough to win on your own.
I give Forsberg credit for playing, anyone who has ever played knows how painful it is to push off with a groin injury. Fully respect Sakic/Forsberg. Toughness should be the norm. See Steve Yzerman, the only professional athlete in ANY professional sport to ever have an Osteotomy and keep playing. (Sawing the leg bone in half to reposition it – to take pressure off the knee.) Hardcore Hockey....
Will never have respect for Claude Lemeiux. Not so much for what he did to Draper, but what happened after. Could have said… Sorry…got carried away on the ice… With that hit, he could have broken Draper’s neck.
For as much as Av’s fans hate Bertuzzi, even he apologized for what he did to Steve Moore. What Lemeuix said was: "I made Chris Draper's career, I made him famous" Lemeuix is a piece of “crap” and the Av’s fans fully know it. But that is what made the rivalry.
April 30, 2008
1:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
steamboatwill writes:
As a diehard, lifelong, winged-wheel on my tombstone Red Wings fan I can tell you we do not hate Forsberg in Detroit. We hated Lemieux and Roy, but never Foppa. He is one of my favorite non-Wings players.
April 30, 2008
1:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
zicknak writes:
Speak for yourself Steamboat...
April 30, 2008
2:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
"This from a Detroit article, I couldn't agree more. To have a rivalry, both teams need to be part of it, Colorado since 2002 has been weak at best. The "Team that Lindross Built" is no more."
Weak is quite an overstatement. The Avs have made the playoffs every year except 2007. That's hardly weak. The "Team that Lindross Built?" Also incorrect. That trade brought Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, and two draft picks, which turned into Jocelyn Thibault and Nolan Baumgartner. Only Forsberg, Simon and Ricci contributed in the first cup season. Then Simon and Ricci were shipped out. Not really the team-creating trade that you're blindly claiming. But overstatements are common out of Detroit right now.
Besides that, I agree with you. Just as the Avs have lost the last two playoff series with Detorit, the matchup could hardly be called a rivalry back in the late '90s and through the new millenium when the Avs quite easily were dispatching of the RedWings in back to back years (4-2 in '99 and 4-1 in 2000). It wasn't a rivalry back then and it's still not. For whatever reason, the Detroit fans got their panties in a bunch over the Claude Lemeieux thing during the Avs '96 cup winning season and started claiming some supposed "rivalry." That was the first season the cities had even played each other! Then to continue claiming it was a rivalry later in the decade is ridiculous. How can it be a rivalry when Detroit goes 0-2 against the Avs from '98 through 2001??? I never got it. It takes two to tango. Glad we agree MrBrightSide. See, the two sides can agree on something :).
April 30, 2008
2:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
From the interview with Claude Lemieux after the '96 conference championship series:
"Are you sorry about the hit on Draper? Apparently his injuries are pretty bad."
"Nobody wants to see a player get injured. I didn't try to hurt him, and I'm sorry he's hurt," Lemieux said.
Are you guys fact-challenged out there? I know you have the internet. I don't know that it can get any clearer than that. It's like all the Wings fans on here telling us today over and over that we need to stop making excuses and admit that Detroit is the better team this year. We can keep saying it, but it's never going to be enough because you just won't listen. Are your lives really that miserable?
April 30, 2008
2:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Steamboat, why would you hate Roy ? I mean he was one tough in your face goalie but you had to like that didn't you ? I could care less about his fights. I see where he encouraged his son to do the same thing at minor league level earlier this year.
Earlier this year Ryan Smith was hit very close to the same situation that Draper was hit. Luckily, his face did not try to dislodge the pole at the begining of the glass. His shoulder hit it but then he bounced like a rag doll to the ice where he hit his head without his helmet on.
It was not a dirty check by the opposition just terribly bad time and place. Is that where Draper hit the boards too ?
The thing I love about Roy, Saki, Forsberg are they are terrific competitiors. Like Shanahan and Yzerman (sp).
How are things on the lake ?
I don't need anybody else jumping in here with "dirty this and dirty hit that" " cheap shot" etc. If you do all I can do is refer you to above posts where some of you say " Hey its hockey , stop being a pansy."
I just can't remember where along the boards the hit took place.
April 30, 2008
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Denverredwing writes:
I felt the Avs fans true spirit last night at the game - all I got was a beer thrown at me and my wife at the end of the 3rd period. What ahole throws a full beer at a woman? What pansy has a full beer still at the end of the game? Hope we thrash them 7-0 thursday night, Go wings!
April 30, 2008
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Finn writes:
Draper hit the boards right in front of the Detroit bench. He was skating backwards slightly, I think getting ready to get off the ice, and Lemieux was going pretty fast when he hit him from behind. Draper's face hit the top edge of the boards. Ouch!
April 30, 2008
2:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
steamboatwill writes:
Hi agian farsidefan!
Okay, I don't HATE Roy. I think it was the "Statue of Liberty" stuff that bugged me, but you can call taht gamesmanship. Ironically it was the S of L play that lead to the first goal in the Wings 2-0 win and the following 7-0 shallacking in 2002. I will not dispute his greatness as that would be foolish.
The Draper hit was a hard hit from behind that bounced his chin off the dasher board (red area at the top of the boards). Lemiuux was kind of psycho (and dumb) and he difinitely went out to injure guys. McCarty's response went a long way toward making him a fan favorite in Detroit.
Things are good on the Lakes. We just picked up a load of stone out of Rogers City, MI for Cleveland (Great Lakes Brewing Co. awaits!). Weather is nice, seas calm.
April 30, 2008
3:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Denverredwing. I apologize for the morons who act so stupid at Pepsi Center. It is just a game ! Too bad so many people live vicariously thru the results. I get irritated at people who cuss around us when our daughter is sitting right there. I ask them to tone it down and then I get this "rights" bullcrap and then I have to get ushers involved.
Steamboat, it is 80 degrees here, but tonight we are to get snow and rain. Spring time in the Rockies..
Yea, Patrick loved that glove in your face act.
The best though, was when we made a terrific save on Roenick and the cameras caught him winking at Roenick as he went by.
Have a safe trip.
April 30, 2008
3:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
CaptainObvious writes:
Yes, we DO have idiots out here too Denverredwing. I mean, who wastes a full beer when they've closed the beer vendors?!??
Jeez!
April 30, 2008
3:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
nycavsfan writes:
I just got "Blood Feud," a book by an Avs writer (not Bernie Lincicome) that traces the history of the Wings/Avs rivalry. It's a pretty good read so far. (I'm at the page where Crawford is screaming at Bowman across the glass partition. I hadn't known before now what Crawford actually said. VERY colorful language, to say the least.)
April 30, 2008
3:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
steamboatwill writes:
Denverredwings,
That is a shame, but it is not unique to Denver. In fact it could happen anywhere. I was at a Toledo Storm (ECHL) Games a few years back. Some guy below me (in many ways) was shouting at a Storm enforcer, "Fight you pussy!" as his fivish y.o. son gazed up admiringly at Dad and yelled, "Yeah, fight you pussy!" Pretty much ruined the game for me. It is a scene I will always keep in mind as I raise my kids. Funny thing is the guys would have gladly been fighting every period, but it was a close game and they wanted to play hockey. The Storm coach used to say, "If we can't win, we fight." Gotta sell tickets!
April 30, 2008
4:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
meatwad writes:
How can you not expect to go anywhere and see idiots doing what they do best? It's my firm belief that a quarter of the population is retarded, and it seems these ones, because of their antics, get mentioned and unfairly mark other "good" fans into that stereotype because of their location.
So let's get to the avs-kicking. Damn the red wings are disgustingly good, especially in the neutral zone. Gotta give em props and it's a long shot but hopefull the avs will at least make this somewhat of a series. At least two games guys, come on.
If not, bring it back to the west and hopefully we'll get better next year.
April 30, 2008
5:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
The Wings are going to win this series. It's pretty much a done deal and I hate it. But come on, why is it a crime for an Avs fan to wish that this series was being played with both teams completely healthy. Right now the Wings have won two of the games by one goal and the Avs lost their minds in game 2. But honestly the Avs have given them a good run considering their injury situation. It's just wishful thinking and I bet the Wings fans would be saying the same thing if they were down 3-0 while suffering through losses of some of their key players. Nobody's making excuses just wishing the situation was a little different.
April 30, 2008
5:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
jlstaud writes:
Oh by the way. I was just listening to the local sports radio station and they had your favorite Scotty Bowman being interviewed. Even the great Scotty mentioned that the Avs have had some very unfortunate injuries at the worst possible time and made mention that healthy teams win in the playoffs. How much more fun would this series be if everyone was healthy and at full strength? Oh well, injuries happen and this year it just seems the Avs got it at the worst time. Still a great year! GO AVS!!!
April 30, 2008
7:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dirtchief writes:
We will see how many Red Wings fans are posting on freep.com when Dallas goes up 3-0 on you guys. Just kidding that is going to be a great series. Steamboat stay safe out there and have a pint of Great Lakes for me.
April 30, 2008
8:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
originalsix writes:
Farsidefan,
You got it all wrong, the best was when roy pulled that Statue of libery in your face crap in front of Brendan Shanahan but didn't have the puck and Shanny scored on him and roy stood there limp.
That was best. On, wait, maybe it was in Montreal when the wings scored 6 or 7 on him and his last game there.
May 1, 2008
8:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
HE5t writes:
All you transplants should go back to wherever you came from!
May 1, 2008
6:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
WINGEDLIGEROFSPARTA writes:
Hello to all in your beautiful state. My first post/first read of your paper. Raised Detroiter, now in California.
Some random thoughts, skimming these; Injuries are indeed paramount to success come p.offs, & u have suffered a host of important ones 2 B sure. As to Theodore, tho', would only make excuses for game 1, battling whatever pre-current-post flu symptoms. Come game 2, u r either ready or 2 sick to play and not a detriment to the team, which was the implied reasoning post him getting pulled the first time. I did instinctively find it a touch odd the announcers were given the information he went back to his hotel, too sick, etc., to stomach watching/sitting on the bench.
As 4 Peter the Great, don't think anybody can complain 2 much about his health/scratch status, "If only Forsberg was healthy". I'd love to have Steve Yzerman suit up tonight, if only because I know what kind of extra spunk the wings will need to try and sweep, not because I feel he could play on a serious level anymore with that bone on bone knee. Maybe your hero isn't QUITE ready for retirement, but my point is everyone should understand he was a huge risk/reward pick up, and to feel somehow slighted by the hockey gods because he cannot go is, well, unrealistic.
I did laugh, sorry, at that Johan Franzen poster--"Your goalie has the save sickness, your Forsberg is broken", but honest to goodness, only because I heard Arnold Schwarzenegger or a Saturday Night Live comic, their voice...I am obviously relieved to be up this way, but never enjoy the passing of great rivalries, or players like Foppa who at 29pts in 28 playoff games vs. the Wings was ALWAYS so scary, and, simply, the best man on the ice, with the puck, so many games, it seemed. Nice to see you brought him and Foote back. MY ADVICE would have been to get Chris Drury back, too, whatever his numbers...he was indeed a Red Wing Killer, along with that other with the killer name, Adam Deadmarsh.
That said, I sure am hopeful the boys will win out, make it an even 3-3 in playoffs between Colorado and Detroit, with you guys winning two semi's and one final (conference-wise), and us winning 2 finals and one semi, if I am correct. Pretty Damn great and even hockey, the best rivalry, for me, since Detroit and Toronto used to be so special. Between us and the Devils, we round out the great triumvirate of teams the last dozen or baker's dozen years. I sometimes fluctuate on who is number 2 or 3, and I am sure New Jersey fans will say, "We are best, we beat you guys in 1995", swept you, even. But if memory serves, Colorado beat New Jersey (I was truly pulling for you), so does that mean Colorado was better than New Jersey, OVER THAT DECADE or so of time that I refer to? Colorado won two cups, New Jersey won 3. Kind of negates that New Jersey argument.
May 1, 2008
7:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
WINGEDLIGEROFSPARTA writes:
P.S. Also, While the Devils had Brodeur all those years and still, and Colorado had Roy (apples and oranges almost, really, in the greatness factor), Detroit did it THREE TIMES WITH THREE DIFFERENT GOALIES, and Back 2 BACK, the only team of the three to do so. And While most would argue for Roy as the best ever, I must offer TERRY SAWCHUK, who, despite playing the likes of 50 game schedules and AT MOST two playoff rounds a year, STILL holds the shutouts record, career (pretty sure Broduer wants that), and HE NEVER WORE A MASK, much less all the bigger equipment. Roy was just a tad too arrogant, the tad coming when playing head games and roostering it up take precedent over sealing a series for your team, in a HOME GAME 6, vs. their most hated rival, and not only for a chance to go on to the Stanley Cup, but to get a 3rd for your team, vs. 2 for your rival, and win a fourth time in the playoffs for your team, vs. only one for your rival, and CEMENT YOUR TEAM'S STATUS AS THE BETTER TEAM OF THE DECADE than your hated rival, and, since you beat the Devil's, and would share a 3rd Cup should you win said Cup, secure status as the best of all three great teams.
Instead, Roy decided to wave Steve Yzerman's blast in his glove, haughtyness blinding him to the liveliness of the puck, and leaving the crease, only to watch Yzerman's shot continue on toward a certain goal, had not the goals starved Shanahan and another goals deficeint teammate (can't remember now, but there were two of them, like jackals racing for the unnecessary but there for the taking poke in the last cpl inches).
Such was Roy's arrogance he came right back the next game, or period, and waved his glove again on a save (can't show any wrong, or apologize, admit I blew it). But I don't think I need to go into his retirement party against the Wings the next game, game 7, with you all here. Terry Sawchuk would've stowed his ego.