GDT: Round Dos, Game Uno: Blues @ Avalanche (9:30pm ET / 7:30pm MT)

[GirardSpinorama]

I think the Blues are the easiest second round opponent this core has had (once you factor in injuries against Dallas).

If the Avs lose this series, barring a bunch of injuries, it's a huge disappointment.

I think the declining sharks are easier. We should have beaten them.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

I think the declining sharks are easier. We should have beaten them.

Sakic had no faith in that team. Grubauer was the big offseason move + he sat on his hands during the deadline. All this while having a ton of cap space all season.

 

[Ararana]

Fully healthy in the postseason. Such a weird feeling

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

I wouldn't say the blues are easier but we are better this year and healthier.

They definitely are. Vegas last year was a Top 3 team, they tied us for the presidents trophy remember.


The Blues are more in line with Dallas/San Jose. I would say they're a little better then the Sharks, roughly the same as Dallas.

 

[Avsboy]

Smoke em' out of their caves

 

[The Abusement Park]

Sakic had no faith in that team. Grubauer was the big offseason move + he sat on his hands during the deadline. All this while having a ton of cap space all season.

The fact that this is the only season that Sakic made a legit push at the deadline is a little upsetting to me.

 

[Avsboy]

The fact that this is the only season that Sakic made a legit push at the deadline is a little upsetting to me.

Wouldn't have mattered. Graves, Timmins, and whoever they would have gotten other than Nemeth would still have been too high on the depth chart

 

[TruePowerSlave]

The Blues Dcore sucks at this point of the season. Would be very disapointing to drop a series to that group.

 

[Anders Cain]

I love that mack has that side when he's engaged that he can battle thru this stuff. He loves a challenge in big moments

 

[Avsboy]

I love that mack has that side when he's engaged that he can battle thru this stuff. He loves a challenge in big moments

Makar too. There's no "playing him tight", his skating is too good. You just have to block his shots.

 

[Ararana]

The Blues Dcore sucks at this point of the season. Would be very disapointing to drop a series to that group.

Leddy on the top pairing. Rosen on the second pairing. The entire third pairing. So many areas to attack.

 

[Murzu]

What a concept. Play their best players tight!

Oh and btw. We will simply delete Blues.

 

[Pokecheque]

I think the declining sharks are easier. We should have beaten them.

In hindsight, Grubauer was clearly not the answer. He wasn't good enough in that series, and he wasn't even close to good enough the following postseason against the Golden Blights. A more stacked roster maybe would've eked them past the

I'm also still irrationally angry at Landeskog for that insanely lazy change (and also Nemeth for just sitting there and not opening the damned gate) that led to the GTG getting called back.

Do I wish the Avs had been a little more proactive in those intervening seasons? Yeah, kinda. I've harped for years that they waited WAY too long to cut bait on Jost, among other things.

But...what's done is done. They're at least going for it THIS year, we'll see if the gambit pays off.

 

[RampoSanta]

Anyone have the latest on the STL injuries on D? Curious how much the 4 days off helped that situation

 

[Pokecheque]

One luxury Berube has this time around is more depth up front. That killed him in the previous first round series. He tried to use ROR as his top shutdown guy, but in doing so he couldn't use ROR to generate any offense. THIS time around he can do that and not necessarily worry about the Blues not scoring. Thomas, Kyrou, and others can pick up the slack whereas that wasn't the case a year ago.

Will definitely need to see better hockey from one Mr. Kadri--he was pretty mediocre in those four games against the Preds.

 

[Ararana]

Anyone have the latest on the STL injuries on D? Curious how much the 4 days off helped that situation

Scandella skated yesterday and is skating today. No word on Krug who still isn't skating.

 

[sethro109]

Gotta keep the Madden inspiration going.

 

[Polite HKYDiscussion]

“Play the top players tight”

That’s some deep level thinking that you’re only get from the game’s top coaches.

 

[Pokecheque]

Scandella skated yesterday and is skating today. No word on Krug who still isn't skating.

Scandella makes them worse so I'm all for him being in.

 

[RampoSanta]

Scandella skated yesterday and is skating today. No word on Krug who still isn't skating.

So that is Scandella just skating, not practicing with the team, even in a no contact jersey?

 

[The Abusement Park]

Wouldn't have mattered. Graves, Timmins, and whoever they would have gotten other than Nemeth would still have been too high on the depth chart

I mean that’s the point. Why Sakic opted for Nemeth instead of a legit upgrade is infuriating. Or leaving Jost as the 3C as long as he did. Just a little more aggression could’ve balanced this team out a few years ago and now we wouldn’t have only one legit all in year like we do right now. Just not the most efficient way to manage a contention window imo.

 

[Avsboy]

I mean that’s the point. Why Sakic opted for Nemeth instead of a legit upgrade is infuriating. Or leaving Jost as the 3C as long as he did. Just a little more aggression could’ve balanced this team out a few years ago and now we wouldn’t have only one legit all in year like we do right now. Just not the most efficient way to manage a contention window imo.

It was a bad year. iirc David Savard got a 1st +, same with Foligno

 

[The Abusement Park]

It was a bad year. iirc David Savard got a 1st +.

And he was IIRC part of the top 4 that won a cup. When you’re in a cup window paying this prices needs to happen. I would’ve paid a 1st for Savard 11/10 over getting Nemeth for free.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Blues should win this easy. Avs coming off a long break reading all the good headlines about them. They probably thought they won the cup in Round 1 against the Nashville Ingrams.

I think the Blues are the easiest second round opponent this core has had (once you factor in injuries against Dallas).

If the Avs lose this series, barring a bunch of injuries, it's a huge disappointment.

If the Avs lose this series and are healthy Bednar has to go. Hes a good coach and will get a job fast but this team is built for now and he might not be the now coach if they cant get past this round.

 

[Snow Arc]

GOOD LUCK AVALANCHE!!! Go out there and have fun!