Colorado@San Jose--preseason finale

Aebischer will be the starter tonight for Colorado.

Forsberg is out with what is being called a minor injury.

Peter Worrell will also be out with his knee injury.

Parker is in for San Jose, but no showdown tonight.

Must be listening to the same thing :). This shall be the thred, I'll leave the updates to you. I'll remain the peanut gallary.

can i get a radio link please???

DJ Smith apparently took a puck near his eye in an earlier practice and will sit this one out.

can i get a radio link please???

Go look at the San Jose site, I don't think NHL will broadcast the link.

DJ Smith apparently took a puck near his eye in an earlier practice and will sit this one out.

How can Smith make this team? If he does, you can be sure it is because he is one of Granato and Tocchet's boys.

Also I am beginning to think Worrell may be damaged goods.

While it's always been assumed that the Avs would only make one more cut to 23, it's not unheard of for teams to carry just 22. Granato just confirmed they have "one" more cut to make.

Granato just stated in his pregame show that the final cut will be made tomorrow. Lets hope DJ Smith enjoys his last day in an NHL press box :joker:

Jori, once again, your are our salvation!!

if only one cut is to be made, i doubt its smith. McCormick or Svatos should be sent back to the farm unless they are both getting roster spots.

Nabakov vs. Abby

Hejduk, Tangauy and... don't know who's in for Forsberg on that line. I would think Svatos. Er, Cummins...? That was toward the end of the shift so he may have been on a different line.

Svatos, Tanguay and Hejduk will be one of the Colorado lines tonight with Forsberg's injury. The Kariya/Sakic/Selanne line is expected to be playing together tonight.

Goaltending matchup: Nabokov versus Aebischer.

Tom Preissing former CC Tiger (boo :rolly: ) is in the lineup tonight for SJ; led all defenders in scoring last year in the NCAA (just one more point than JM Liles).

McAllister is the lone healthy scratch tonight.

Cummins on the ice with Hinote, so it was a late shift.

if only one cut is to be made, i doubt its smith. McCormick or Svatos should be sent back to the farm unless they are both getting roster spots.

People are saying Smith is likely to be cut, because its most likely the Avs will carry seven defensemen rather than eight. The team will most likely feature 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders.

it says listenlive on the main page of the sharks site, but it isn't working

:(

San Jose is booing Selanne every time he touches the puck.

What Selanne getting booed by the San Jose fans? Avalanche players never get booed in the state of California :joker:

Tanguay is centering a line between Svatos and Hejduk tonight.

Foote and Morris are paired.

Sounds like Blake with Skrastins

it says listenlive on the main page of the sharks site, but it isn't working

:(

A lot of WHL games on right now and almost all of them broadcast via internet radio. You can listen to Johansson, Svagrovksy or Boychuk play right now...

A lot of WHL games on right now and almost all of them broadcast via internet radio. You can listen to Johansson, Svagrovksy or Boychuk play right now...

nah, Do not feel like listening to WHL. I'll just stay tuned to the updates ;D

San Jose is booing Selanne every time he touches the puck.

That is awesome. Now the Avs will get booed in every arena in California. You've got Blake/LA, Kariya/Anaheim, and Selanne/SJ. It's like the whole state hates the Avs. That's a pretty rare trifecta (the only I can think of actually).

That is awesome. Now the Avs will get booed in every arena in California. You've got Blake/LA, Kariya/Anaheim, and Selanne/SJ. It's like the whole state hates the Avs. That's a pretty rare trifecta (the only I can think of actually).

I understand two of those, I don't get the Selanne booing at all. He was just a free agent that didn't resign.

Nabokov has made a couple of nice saves. He seems to be getting settled in.

I understand two of those, I don't get the Selanne booing at all. He was just a free agent that didn't resign.
He had a player option to play for 6.5 million with SJ this year, which he turned down to play for 5.8 million here.

Cody pushed around a SJ player before changing. Parker skated over to the Avs bench and pointed his stick at Cody.


Er, Cody. Stay on the bench for a bit...

I missed the goal, but SJ scored to go up 1-0.

Korolyuk goes in on a breakaway and Liles apparently pulls him down. Korolyuk scores on the penalty shot; 2-0 San Jose.

2-0 San Jose.

First was a rebound goal, don't know who.

Second was a goal by "koriuk?" on a penalty shot after being dragged down by Liles..

McCauley scored the first SJ goal.

Ouch......come on Aeb!

A fight between McCormick and Rob Davison; only a few punches thrown, not much of a scrap.

Davison and Damphousse are credited with the assists on the McCauley goal.

davidson vs. McCormick in a fight.

They are tied up, McCormick loses helmet...."according to the avs broadcasters" Davidson missed with his punches and McCormick didn't get free to throw any punches.

Avs got work to do....

Period over.

End of period one....2-0 SJ

Col outshot SJ 10-8

McCauley and Korolyuk (PS) with the goals.

No PP opportunities for either team.

On the 2nd goal, any idea why the guy got a breakaway? Liles or Skoula's mistake??

Apparently Liles pinched in when Korolyuk got his breakaway opportunity that lead to his penalty shot. Liles isn't helping himself right now.

ouch! sounds like a bad time to pinch in.. Where was Skoula?

I don't think we can blame Skoula on this one as he was on the bench :joker:

I know its tempting.

Svatos has been creative tonight; Nabby seems to be on his game tonight.

I don't think we can blame Skoula on this one as he was on the bench :joker:

I know its tempting.

where is he when we need him :dunno:

good catch. I just checked the shift chart and it looks like Liles and Morris are paired together. 3 shifts each, for a total of 2:33 each in the 1st period.

Tanguay in the box for holding the stick.

Svatos picks up a puck at center ice and draws a tripping penalty, the Avs will go on their first power play. Svatos has definately been active tonight and Granato hasn't been afraid to use him in all situations, including the penalty kill.

Svatos picks up a puck at center ice and draws a tripping penalty, the Avs will go on their first power play. Svatos has definately been active tonight and Granato hasn't been afraid to use him in all situations, including the penalty kill.

*sends out a prayer ot hte hockey gods*

Rob Blake gets one on the PP through the five hole of Nabokov; 2-1 SJ.

Top of the circle, long shot with traffic (defender in front). 5 hole shot.

One goal down, one more to go....

Selanne into locker room for suspected equipment fix...

Sakic and everybody's favorite whipping boy Martin Skoula with the assists.

The Avs will go back on the PP as Kariya was slashed.

Colorado now 1-2 on the PP.

Uh oh...Haynes just called Liles a mini-Ozolinsh :joker:

Aebischer has had to have been sharp. Since the Colorado goal the ice has been tilted towards the Avalanche end.

Is that mini-Oz comment a compliment or a detraction?

Avs are having trouble keeping the play out of their zone right now.

They need to start tilting the play into the neutral zone at least...

Is that mini-Oz comment a compliment or a detraction?

I think he meant it as a compliment :joker:

Liles is really jumping up into the play. I wonder if he is trying to do too much after his mistake lead to the PS opportunity for San Jose; less than two minutes remaining in the period.

Avs get a late PP opportunity.

End of the second period.

2-1 SJ

Each team had 11 shots during the period.

The Avs have a 21-19 advantage in shots.

Colorado will have some PP time remaining to start the third period.

No, Battaglia is playing, just don't nothing as usual.

Third period action ongoing....

The Avs weren't able to take advantage of their latest PP opportunity and they are now 1-3.

woo hoo, Sakic, Kariy and Selanne continue to click.

The Avs tie it up at two. It sounds as if Sakic touched it last, with Selanne getting the primary assist. A little poetic justice as SJ fans are taking after their LA brethren.

I kinow Forsberg isn't in the lineup tongiht, but Hejduk, Tanguay, and him have been non-existent on the scoreboards.

Hejduk did have that one game...but other than that :dunno:

Anything happen to Morris? I notice he only has about 12 minutes total icetime. Skoula already has 18 minutes.

SJ scores on a 2 on 1. Michalek gets the goal from Scott Parker.

SJ scores on a 2 on 1. Michalek gets the goal from Scott Parker.

Who was out on D?

Foote was the defender back on the 2 on 1, don't know who his defensive partner was on the ice during the sequence. Three minutes left in the third period.

C'mon boys, still enough time to tie it up.

Empty net for Colorado, one minute left.

*waits for the 1 minute post rule to end*

The Avs couldn't get the tying goal and they fall 3-2 to the SJ Sharks and finish 4-2-1 for the preseason.

another goal given up at the end.....I know its not Aeb's fault for the odd-man rush, but its disheartening nonetheless.

unbelievable....this team won't win squat this year!

J/K ;) :joker:

At the end the Avs did get a scramble and the puck sat on the goalline of San Jose before Nabokov covered it. Can't wait to actually watch the games soon.

Aebischer wasn't bad, but I don't think he played as well as he did earlier in the preseason. Nabakov was the better of the two goaltenders despite the sloppy defensive play from Colorado.

After these last two games, I wonder about Liles chances. What he has going for him is that Smith is recovering from an eye injury. Yet, only just over 13 minutes of ice time tonight. I don't think his position on this team is very concrete at this point.

We should know sometime tomorrow the roster that will start the season. Let the <i>real</i> games begin.

OK - who gets cut tomorrow?

Here is the order, IMO:

Smith
McCormick
Svatos
Liles

Now we get ready for the regular season opener on October 10th at home against Chicago. :bow::rolly::bow::rolly::bow:

I think McCormick gets cut. Either him or Svatos, although I think they both have earned a spot.

I think McCormick gets cut. Either him or Svatos, although I think they both have earned a spot.

The Avs are going to cut a defenseman. They already have 14 forwards, but they are currently carrying eight defenders. Though there is the question of the severity of Worrell's knee injury. Yet it looks as though its Smith versus Liles concerning the last roster spot.

I know, but my logic is this. WHy keep them on the roster unless they both get a roster spot and will play each night...

The Avs are going to cut a defenseman. They already have 14 forwards, but they are currently carrying eight defenders. Though there is the question of the severity of Worrell's knee injury. Yet it looks as though its Smith versus Liles concerning the last roster spot.

it completely depends on what the do with mcallister. the way they've been playing him, he could be the 15th forward, which makes smith the 7th d and a FORWARD(mccormick)getting cut.

Well maybe the Avs will go with a 22 man roster, but I think Aubin's departure changed their plans. If Worrell can't go in the early going than both of the rookies will get playing time.

Somebody was asking as to who Foote's defensive partner was on the 2 on 1 sequence that lead to the SJ goal...it was Skrastins.

it completely depends on what the do with mcallister. the way they've been playing him, he could be the 15th forward, which makes smith the 7th d and a FORWARD(mccormick)getting cut.

I still think they will go the 14/7/2 route. I don't think McAllister is going to play several games at forward. I could see the experiment continue if the Avs have a rash of injuries. McAllister has the team made. I don't think they will keep both Liles and Smith, I think the final cut comes between those two. Losing Aubin changed their plans as I felt he would have made the team and than one of Svatos or McCormick would have been sent down. The waiver draft changed the Avs decision making.

thats EXACTLY what i've been saying. if aubin isn't taken, they can send mccormick down where he belongs ALONG with smith and scratch aubin all they want. svatos has earned his spot on this team and i beleive liles has as well, despite the last 2 games. without aubin, the avs now are going to have to sit mccormick a bunch which will just screw up his development. the kid isn't going to be a top liner, but he does have a pretty decent offensive upside along with decent defense and loves to crash and bang, none of which will be useful in the pressbox. it just screws mccormick out of a roster spot that he has seemed to earn. maybe they'll scratch worrell a bunch and mccormick will get a shot. who knows. i guess we'll see tomorrow who gets scratched.

Since McAllister was a healthy scratch, I'd say he is a safe bet to make the team. Before I thought Smith was gonna get cut, but now I think it's gonna be McCormick. I don't think he takes a spot over Svatos, and nobody else deserves to lose a spot. Cummins is the spare foward, and Smith is the spare defensman, with McAllister being able to fill in for both roles depending on who's out, and how much toughness and size they need.(i.e. Worell being out.) I think Liles still makes it despite his slip in play the last couple games. I think Granato has been giving him lots of minutes, along with the other rookies, to see how he can play in every situation. Which is probably why Svatos was out on the penalty kill, and Morris wasn't getting that many minutes tonight, as some of the guys already mentioned. I read somewhere(I forgot where, maybe here) that Granato had been testing all the rookies, and had been putting them in all situations, almost to the extent where they would fail.

Here's how I see it....

Fowards:

Tanguay - Forsberg - Hejduk
Kariya - Sakic - Selane
Battaglia - Nikolishin - Svatos
Worrell - Hahl - Hinote

Ex. Foward - Cummins

Defenseman:

Morris - Foote
Skoula - Blake
Skrastins - Liles

Ex. Defenseman - McAllister, Smith

Those defensive pairings might not be applicable, since it sounds like(from what you guys said during the game) Granato and Cloutier might be carrying over the constant rotating of defensive pairings from last year. Which I'm not so sure is a good idea. I think it has it's bonuses, but the drawbacks in my opinion are too great. It seems to me like having the same partner for most of the season would make it easier on the defensman and their decision making, specifically in regards to their reaction time. For example a guy like Foote has said before that he needs a partner who is predictable so he knows what he is going to do all the time. Which is why he was never paired with Ozo, and was paired with De Vries so much. This applies to a lesser extant to all defensman. If Blakie sees an opportunity to pinch, he has to think for a second who he is with. If he's with Skoula or maybe Liles, it might be a bigger risk than if say, he's with Foote or Skrastins who might hang back more. Now this whole process might only take a split second, but hockey is the fastest game on earth, and it only takes a split second, and a little bit of hesitation for something to go wrong. Hockey players need to react, not think. And if a defensman knows what his partner is going to do, than this makes his decisions easier and quicker, and gives him that much needed confidence in his approach.

thats EXACTLY what i've been saying. if aubin isn't taken, they can send mccormick down where he belongs ALONG with smith and scratch aubin all they want. svatos has earned his spot on this team and i beleive liles has as well, despite the last 2 games. without aubin, the avs now are going to have to sit mccormick a bunch which will just screw up his development. the kid isn't going to be a top liner, but he does have a pretty decent offensive upside along with decent defense and loves to crash and bang, none of which will be useful in the pressbox. it just screws mccormick out of a roster spot that he has seemed to earn. maybe they'll scratch worrell a bunch and mccormick will get a shot. who knows. i guess we'll see tomorrow who gets scratched.


You are under the assumption that McCormick will get benched alot and I don't see it the same way. I don't see Cummins and Worrell playing 82 games. If McCormick performs he will remain in the lineup. I don't see him as a top six forward, but I see him getting quality minutes if he remains with the team and performs.

I can see the Avs starting the season with both McCormick and Svatos, but I don't think it will be a permanent situation. Things have a way of changing very quickly.

Since McAllister was a healthy scratch, I'd say he is a safe bet to make the team. Before I thought Smith was gonna get cut, but now I think it's gonna be McCormick. I don't think he takes a spot over Svatos, and nobody else deserves to lose a spot. Cummins is the spare foward, and Smith is the spare defensman, with McAllister being able to fill in for both roles depending on who's out, and how much toughness and size they need.(i.e. Worell being out.) I think Liles still makes it despite his slip in play the last couple games. I think Granato has been giving him lots of minutes, along with the other rookies, to see how he can play in every situation. Which is probably why Svatos was out on the penalty kill, and Morris wasn't getting that many minutes tonight, as some of the guys already mentioned. I read somewhere(I forgot where, maybe here) that Granato had been testing all the rookies, and had been putting them in all situations, almost to the extent where they would fail.

Here's how I see it....

Fowards:

Tanguay - Forsberg - Hejduk
Kariya - Sakic - Selane
Battaglia - Nikolishin - Svatos
Worrell - Hahl - Hinote

Ex. Foward - Cummins

Defenseman:

Morris - Foote
Skoula - Blake
Skrastins - Liles

Ex. Defenseman - McAllister, Smith

Those defensive pairings might not be applicable, since it sounds like(from what you guys said during the game) Granato and Cloutier might be carrying over the constant rotating of defensive pairings from last year. Which I'm not so sure is a good idea. I think it has it's bonuses, but the drawbacks in my opinion are too great. It seems to me like having the same partner for most of the season would make it easier on the defensman and their decision making, specifically in regards to their reaction time. For example a guy like Foote has said before that he needs a partner who is predictable so he knows what he is going to do all the time. Which is why he was never paired with Ozo, and was paired with De Vries so much. This applies to a lesser extant to all defensman. If Blakie sees an opportunity to pinch, he has to think for a second who he is with. If he's with Skoula or maybe Liles, it might be a bigger risk than if say, he's with Foote or Skrastins who might hang back more. Now this whole process might only take a split second, but hockey is the fastest game on earth, and it only takes a split second, and a little bit of hesitation for something to go wrong. Hockey players need to react, not think. And if a defensman knows what his partner is going to do, than this makes his decisions easier and quicker, and gives him that much needed confidence in his approach.

Interesting lineup. It could happen, but I still think they will carry the two standard extra forwards expecially with Worrell's injury. McAllister does add versitality in the eyes of the coaching staff, but I still think he will play mostly defense. If the Avs feel the necessity to use him at forward, I would imagine it would be a time which the Avs have some injury concerns.

It makes for some interesting conversation as opening night approaches. I personally would prefer to see one of the youngsters sent down. Yet I think initially to start the season, but the youngsters will be in the opening day lineup.

I can see the Avs starting the season with both McCormick and Svatos, but I don't think it will be a permanent situation. Things have a way of changing very quickly.

Good point. Lineups, are almost never the same on opening day as they are at the end of the season. Lots of experimenting goes on early in the season. Even if Granato won't do it anywhere near to the same extent as Hartley did. At least he has kept Tanguay on the same line, that really hurt him last year I think, and contributed to his ongoing slump.

Good point. Lineups, are almost never the same on opening day as they are at the end of the season. Lots of experimenting goes on early in the season. Even if Granato won't do it anywhere near to the same extent as Hartley did. At least he has kept Tanguay on the same line, that really hurt him last year I think, and contributed to his ongoing slump.

Exactly. Remember the Steve Brule situation and how quickly that died last season? What was Hartley thinking on that one though :joker:

Exactly. Remember the Steve Brule situation and how quickly that died last season? What was Hartley thinking on that one though :joker:

Yea that was an enigma. Hartley didn't get the clue either until like a month before he was fired. He was still mixing and matching. I liked Hartley, and was shocked and a bit upset when he got fired(even though I have grown to see it was inevitable, the players just needed a change, still htink he should have been given a shot till the end of the season) but I never figured out why he did that so much. I remember hearing about the line combinations during pre-season last year, and thinking, hey that's a good idea, it builds chemistry for later on in the season when players are forced to play with each other if there's an injury or for some other reason. But then he just kept doing it. I remember seeing Brule penciled in as the left wing on the top line on opening day, and thinking what is the point of this. But I went along with it, because Hartley was, and is great coach, and a great hockey mind. This is why I was disapointed when Hartley was let go. Granato, may be a great motivator, but I just don't see how a guy (no matter how smart, and how much he was a student of the game all those years) with no coaching experience, can be smart enough tactically to make the necesary changes, in say hypothetically, a playoff series against Minnesota. But then again with all the veteran talent we have this year, maybe I could coach them and get the job done. I was actually hoping Barry Melrose would have got the job, I thought he would have been a great fit. He is great with his players, and has won chapionships as a coach before at most all levels, and almost in the NHL too. He's even a proponent of an offensive system like Pierre wants.

I was actually hoping Barry Melrose would have got the job, I thought he would have been a great fit.
Hahah, with the way Melrose talks about the Avs, he woulda been soiling himself at the thought of coaching the Avs :lol:

PL just has these strange ways. Yea, there were a lot of good candidates for the job, but he wanted to keep it internal. Jacques Cloutier, the longtime assistant coach actually got the original nod, but declined it. That in effect, led to Granato's hiring. Kinda weird considering Hartley originally hired Granato as his AC.

Hahah, what's next? Granato getting fired and Tocchet becoming the coach of the Avs :joker:

Since McAllister was a healthy scratch, I'd say he is a safe bet to make the team. Before I thought Smith was gonna get cut, but now I think it's gonna be McCormick. I don't think he takes a spot over Svatos, and nobody else deserves to lose a spot. Cummins is the spare foward, and Smith is the spare defensman, with McAllister being able to fill in for both roles depending on who's out, and how much toughness and size they need.(i.e. Worell being out.) I think Liles still makes it despite his slip in play the last couple games. I think Granato has been giving him lots of minutes, along with the other rookies, to see how he can play in every situation. Which is probably why Svatos was out on the penalty kill, and Morris wasn't getting that many minutes tonight, as some of the guys already mentioned. I read somewhere(I forgot where, maybe here) that Granato had been testing all the rookies, and had been putting them in all situations, almost to the extent where they would fail.

Here's how I see it....

Fowards:

Tanguay - Forsberg - Hejduk
Kariya - Sakic - Selane
Battaglia - Nikolishin - Svatos
Worrell - Hahl - Hinote

Ex. Foward - Cummins

Defenseman:

Morris - Foote
Skoula - Blake
Skrastins - Liles

Ex. Defenseman - McAllister, Smith

Those defensive pairings might not be applicable, since it sounds like(from what you guys said during the game) Granato and Cloutier might be carrying over the constant rotating of defensive pairings from last year. Which I'm not so sure is a good idea. I think it has it's bonuses, but the drawbacks in my opinion are too great. It seems to me like having the same partner for most of the season would make it easier on the defensman and their decision making, specifically in regards to their reaction time. For example a guy like Foote has said before that he needs a partner who is predictable so he knows what he is going to do all the time. Which is why he was never paired with Ozo, and was paired with De Vries so much. This applies to a lesser extant to all defensman. If Blakie sees an opportunity to pinch, he has to think for a second who he is with. If he's with Skoula or maybe Liles, it might be a bigger risk than if say, he's with Foote or Skrastins who might hang back more. Now this whole process might only take a split second, but hockey is the fastest game on earth, and it only takes a split second, and a little bit of hesitation for something to go wrong. Hockey players need to react, not think. And if a defensman knows what his partner is going to do, than this makes his decisions easier and quicker, and gives him that much needed confidence in his approach.

Foppa 2118 is dead on with his assessment of D-men needing to know what their partners are going to do. I have seen over the past years numerous games where the same guys played together at all levels. When that happens, it is readily apparent even from the stands that the comfort level allows the players to anticipate rather than react. This totally changes the player's opportunities. I can't believe that Granato doesn't understand this. The key issue for him is finding which pairings work the best for his 6 D and leave them there! I believe a great example of this is that Liles seemed to work most of the camp with Foote; when they played together in the intrasquad game, he seemed to anticipate what Foote was going to do or where he was going to be. That certainly didn't happen in the past couple of games paired with Morris.

blake = morris
liles/skoula - foote
skrastins - liles/skoula


i think it has to be this way. We have 4 offensive d-men and two stay at home defensemen. Blake and Morris are good enough to be paired together and they played pretty well together last season.

I guess it really dpends on if Skoula continues to play poorly. Hopefully he can turn it around this season ;/.

Exactly. Remember the Steve Brule situation and how quickly that died last season? What was Hartley thinking on that one though :joker:

Haha, I still remember the lines for the season opener:

Brule - Sakic - Vrbata
Reinprecht - Forsberg - Hejduk
Tanguay - Aubin - Keane
Messier - Shantz - Parker

IR - Hinote, McAmmond

Blake - Morris
Foote - de Vries
Skoula - Muir

Roy
Aebischer

Yuck.

Haha, I still remember the lines for the season opener:

Brule - Sakic - Vrbata
Reinprecht - Forsberg - Hejduk
Tanguay - Aubin - Keane
Messier - Shantz - Parker

IR - Hinote, McAmmond

Blake - Morris
Foote - de Vries
Skoula - Muir

Roy
Aebischer

Yuck.

Looka the bottom two lines. Even with Tanguay down there, this year is a vast improvement from that. Gosh I wonder if Tanguay will lose some confidence playing on the third from the begining of the season, without even deserving it.