GDT: Game 1: Colorado Avalanche Vs. St. Louis Blues - Quest For the Covid Cup - 8:30 PM MT

[TruePowerSlave]

The Avs had very little structure. It was a bunch of talented individuals trying to do it themselves. A bunch of guys were cheating defensively all night, leaving the zone when the puck was not out and going on solo rushes to be the hero.

 

[dahrougem2]

I'm not someone that usually screams for "MOAR TUFFNESS" but it was clear as day the Avs wilted when nobody did a thing to defend Toews from a disgusting hit straight to the head.

Look at the Leafs/Canadiens game. No hit but Simmonds drops the gloves with Chariot with the Leafs down 3-1 and immediately afterwards, the tide begins to turn. Is it directly because of that? No. The Canadiens took two ill-advised penalties which got the Leafs back into the game, but there was a noticeable jump in their play after that fight, too.

I'm not saying this team needs a goon. But you can't let someone do that to Toews. His first game as a member of this team and he gets clobbered in the head like that, what's that tell the guy? Welcome to the team buddy, fend for yourself out there?

On an unrelated note, I'd be taking it easy on Saad. Brand new team, had to sit out a few practices and meetings because of Covid precautions and this is a brand new system for him to learn. He'll get it. I will say that he needs to be used on the PK as time passes by. He's way too good of a penalty killer to not be utilized there, especially in place of guys like Compher and Donskoi.

 

[The Kingslayer]

But why????

Picture the Avs fan base as the ugly girl from junior high through high school. Picked on, spat on, disrespected for years. We now in college and we are hot. Lost all the weight, face cleared up and we up 3 bra sizes. Then the St. Louis show up to our campus and show our new friends what we used to look like. All of a sudden all those insecurities we had come rushing back.

 

[filip85]

Gru is barely a starting goalie.
but the whole team was embarrassing.

When I expressed pesimisim about winning the Cup with him during 2020 playoffs, I got response "Chicago won it with Niemi"...

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I'm not someone that usually screams for "MOAR TUFFNESS" but it was clear as day the Avs wilted when nobody did a thing to defend Toews from a disgusting hit straight to the head.

Look at the Leafs/Canadiens game. No hit but Simmonds drops the gloves with Chariot with the Leafs down 3-1 and immediately afterwards, the tide begins to turn. Is it directly because of that? No. The Canadiens took two ill-advised penalties which got the Leafs back into the game, but there was a noticeable jump in their play after that fight, too.

I'm not saying this team needs a goon. But you can't let someone do that to Toews. His first game as a member of this team and he gets clobbered in the head like that, what's that tell the guy? Welcome to the team buddy, fend for yourself out there?

On an unrelated note, I'd be taking it easy on Saad. Brand new team, had to sit out a few practices and meetings because of Covid precautions and this is a brand new system for him to learn. He'll get it. I will say that he needs to be used on the PK as time passes by. He's way too good of a penalty killer to not be utilized there, especially in place of guys like Compher and Donskoi.

Yeah, that line could have been better, but it was the bottom six that really got obliterated last night. The 3rd and 4th line got crushed ever time they were on the ice.

 

[Balthazar]

Yeah, that line could have been better, but it was the bottom six that really got obliterated last night.

This 3rd line is f***ing useless. I know they make sense on paper but they were useless in the playoffs and they were useless yesterday. Compher with Nuke just doesn't work.

I'd move Nuke on the 2nd line and try Saad on the 3rd line to see if it's any better.

 

[Balthazar]

The 3C has to fix itself in the first 20, or Sakic needs to just pay up for a solution.

I get the feeling that he's waiting for an internal solution at 3C. Like Bowers.

 

[The Abusement Park]

I get the feeling that he's waiting for an internal solution at 3C. Like Bowers.

Or going to trade for a rental at the deadline.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

This 3rd line is f***ing useless. I know they make sense on paper but they were useless in the playoffs and they were useless yesterday. Compher with Nuke just doesn't work.

I'd move Nuke on the 2nd line and try Saad on the 3rd line to see if it's any better.

Not good certainly.

I think Bowers, Newhook, or a trade could be options later in the season.

In the short term it make make sense to to elevate someone like Donskoi to the 1st, or second line and put Burakovsky on the 3rd line. I know it seems dumb to elevate a worse player, but it might help balance the lineup a bit.

 

[dahrougem2]

This 3rd line is f***ing useless. I know they make sense on paper but they were useless in the playoffs and they were useless yesterday. Compher with Nuke just doesn't work.

I'd move Nuke on the 2nd line and try Saad on the 3rd line to see if it's any better.

It's like @Cousin Eddie has been saying for months: Nichushkin-Kadri-Burakovsky just ****ing works. I don't know why, but the production and underlying numbers are there to suggest they work.

 

[The Kingslayer]

I'm not someone that usually screams for "MOAR TUFFNESS" but it was clear as day the Avs wilted when nobody did a thing to defend Toews from a disgusting hit straight to the head.

Look at the Leafs/Canadiens game. No hit but Simmonds drops the gloves with Chariot with the Leafs down 3-1 and immediately afterwards, the tide begins to turn. Is it directly because of that? No. The Canadiens took two ill-advised penalties which got the Leafs back into the game, but there was a noticeable jump in their play after that fight, too.

I'm not saying this team needs a goon. But you can't let someone do that to Toews. His first game as a member of this team and he gets clobbered in the head like that, what's that tell the guy? Welcome to the team buddy, fend for yourself out there?

On an unrelated note, I'd be taking it easy on Saad. Brand new team, had to sit out a few practices and meetings because of Covid precautions and this is a brand new system for him to learn. He'll get it. I will say that he needs to be used on the PK as time passes by. He's way too good of a penalty killer to not be utilized there, especially in place of guys like Compher and Donskoi.

First thing that came to mind when I saw the hit on Toews and not a single Av went to even give him the stink eye. Simmonds isn't the same player from years past and he knows that so he had to give Chariot those hands. Looked over at the Leafs benched and gave out a war cry. The game turned from that moment. Im not even saying someone has to fight Blais but you have to show up for your teammates in those situations. The Avs were sleep walking through the game last night and they got slappe din the face repeatedly.

 

[The Kingslayer]

It's like @Cousin Eddie has been saying for months: Nichushkin-Kadri-Burakovsky just ****ing works. I don't know why, but the production and underlying numbers are there to suggest they work.

The way Saad was playing last night he deserves the 3rd line.

Landeskog- Mackinnon - Rantanen
Nuke - Kadri - Bura
Saad - Compher - Donskoi
Bellemare- Jost - Calvert

Toews-Makar
Girard - Timmins
Graves - Anyone not named Ian Cole

 

[dahrougem2]

First thing that came to mind when I saw the hit on Toews and not a single Av went to even give him the stink eye. Simmonds isn't the same player from years past and he knows that so he had to give Chariot those hands. Looked over at the Leafs benched and gave out a war cry. The game turned from that moment. Im not even saying someone has to fight Blais but you have to show up for your teammates in those situations. The Avs were sleep walking through the game last night and they got slappe din the face repeatedly.

If Chariot doesn't fall Simmonds was going to beat the holiest of ****s out of him lmao dude was swingin'

 

[Avsavsavsavsavs]

Having someone to respond to the abuse we got last night is crucial, you don't even have to be some big physical team, just having someone who makes them think twice about doing that sort of shit can change everything. Zadorov was a terrible fighter, but you knew if you threw a shitty hit on the Avs that most likely one of yours was getting the Scheifele treatment.

I have legitimate concerns for Saad and Cole.

Franky can make the big save, his numbers in every league (including last year) speak for themselves, but my personal opinion aside no goalie is going to survive how terrible our defense was last night.

 

[The Kingslayer]

When I expressed pesimisim about winning the Cup with him during 2020 playoffs, I got response "Chicago won it with Niemi"...

Chicago had a top 4 that included Brian Campbell, Seabrook, Keith and Hjalmarsson and maybe more importantly that run Dustin Byfuglien. That Chicago team would have won a cup with Philippe Sauve in net. This Avs team isn't that Hawks team. Not yet.

 

[Avs71]

On the subject of toughness, I do hope we get to see Gilbert in some games.

On the subject of 3C, imagine this team with someone like Lowry instead of Compher.

 

[dahrougem2]

On the subject of toughness, I do hope we get to see Gilbert in some games.

On the subject of 3C, imagine this team with someone like Lowry instead of Compher.

To me Compher can be useful - probably more useful - than Donskoi on the RW of a 3rd line. Problem is he's being asked to play a position he clearly isn't good at. Like at all.

I'd sooner shoot Donskoi to the moon if possible.

I'm still of the opinion that if he's willing to come here and the Ducks are out of a playoff spot by the deadline that you go and get Ryan Getzlaf. A centre trio of MacKinnon/Kadri/Getzlaf would be unrivalled league-wide.

 

[Papa Francouz]

Picture the Avs fan base as the ugly girl from junior high through high school. Picked on, spat on, disrespected for years. We now in college and we are hot. Lost all the weight, face cleared up and we up 3 bra sizes. Then the St. Louis show up to our campus and show our new friends what we used to look like. All of a sudden all those insecurities we had come rushing back.

This is an amazing analogy . More of this, please, fellow Avs fans!

I guess I can kind of get it, but taking your analogy a step further, St. Louis showed up to campus once (maybe twice depending on how tomorrow goes), and then left. The rest of the people on campus will forget about St. Louis within a week and with a little bit of time, they'll be in the backs of our minds, too. I don't put much stock into the team's performance in one game, but I guess some people just need some time to get over the initial shock.

You said it yourself, though: the Avs are a hot girl. Despite St. Louis showing up and showing people how we used to look in high school, we are still currently a hot girl. I think we should keep that in mind.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Tyson Jost is, and has for a while been our best option for a 3C. He’s not a very good option, but he’s the best one based on what we have.

 

[Avsboy]

The way Saad was playing last night he deserves the 3rd line.

If he keeps it up he should be sat

 

[The Kingslayer]

If Chariot doesn't fall Simmonds was going to beat the holiest of ****s out of him lmao dude was swingin'

Yah man Simmonds can throw down. His hockey skills are all but gone but those hands still work.

 

[SaltySkywalker]

First thing that came to mind when I saw the hit on Toews and not a single Av went to even give him the stink eye. Simmonds isn't the same player from years past and he knows that so he had to give Chariot those hands. Looked over at the Leafs benched and gave out a war cry. The game turned from that moment. Im not even saying someone has to fight Blais but you have to show up for your teammates in those situations. The Avs were sleep walking through the game last night and they got slappe din the face repeatedly.

Also a pretty shitty "welcome to the team, pal".

 

[Peter Peckerwood]

I can't believe the Avs lost the 1st game in the playoffs like this! Oh, wait......

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Yeah, I half joke about Byram coming in and saving the team. I am excited to see him in the lineup, but I’m not worried about last nights performance at this time.

If that kind of play carries over for 5/6 games then it’s time to get concerned.

Neither Saad, or Toews played well last night, but no one really did. It was a bunch of mediocre, to poor performances from the entire team.

 

[filip85]

Or going to trade for a rental at the deadline.

How trades are gonna work this season considering pandemic and fact that you need to be in quarantine before switching city/state ?