Colorado Avalanche News

Avalanche defeats Blues 5-2 to pull even with Canucks in points
Comment
February 9
Denver Post
 
"Some nights, a goaltender can look completely out of control, yet manage to get in front of all the shots and lead to considerable consternation among the frustrated shooters. That was the case Saturday, when Edmonton's Jeff Deslauriers had 39 saves in a heroic — but ultimately losing — effort against the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Then there are the times when the other goalie has such an off night, and the goals are so "soft," skaters can see the red light flash and ask themselves, "That went in?" That was the scenario for the Avalanche on Monday night, when St. Louis starter Chris Mason — usually far more solid and reliable — was shaky before being yanked in what turned out to be ..."
David Koci suffers break in right hand
Comment
February 9
Denver Post
 (scroll down)
"Stewart's goal was his 18th of the season, tying him for the team lead with Matt Duchene, and although his role is as a physical power forward, it raises the question of whether it's wise for him to be fighting. It's even more pertinent now that Avalanche enforcer David Koci will be out for a while with a broken right hand suffered in a first-period fight with the Blues' D.J. King. "It's nice to get a goal and a couple of assists," Stewart said, "but anytime you get in a physical altercation and it's been awhile, you can be a little rusty.""
Avalanche goalie Anderson stays in game after arm numbness in second period
Comment
February 9
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson stayed down on the ice and seemed shaken after a shot from St. Louis' Alexander Steen caromed off Anderson midway through the second period of Colorado's 5-2 win over the Blues. After some nervous moments for the Colorado coaching staff, though, Anderson remained in the game and finished with 32 saves while earning his 29th victory of the season. "It got me right in the shoulder, and my whole arm went numb," Anderson said. "It was just one of those spots. Once the feeling comes back, it's just a bruise." Anderson, who was making his 13th consecutive start and his 50th of the season, had some sympathy for Blues starter Chris Mason, who allowed five goals on ..."
Bruised foot will keep Avs' O'Reilly out vs. Blues tonight
Comment
February 8
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche rookie center Ryan O'Reilly will miss tonight's game against the St. Louis Blues because of a bruised foot, Colorado coach Joe Sacco said today after the morning skate at the Pepsi Center. Sacco said X rays of O'Reilly's foot were negative. "We'll just re-evaluate him tomorrow morning," Sacco said. "He's day to day right now." O'Reilly suffered the injury against Edmonton on Saturday, and didn't play beyond early in the third period."
Even Wolski's parents have a say in Avalanche forward's inconsistency
Comment
February 8
Denver Post
 
"Shoot! Avalanche winger Wojtek Wolski got a bit tired of hearing that . . . from his parents, Zofia and Wieslaw. "Even my mom's been calling me and telling me to shoot," Wolski, the Polish- born Avalanche winger said with a laugh Saturday night after he had a goal in Colorado's 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. "Then my dad will call me the next morning and say it. It seems so simple when you're watching the games, and they want to help you get through the tough times." Wolski's inconsistency — with streaks of strong play that seem to be hints he is on the verge of breaking through to the NHL's elite level, followed by runs of games when he seems to have disappeared — can be ..."
John-Michael Liles a "healthy scratch" again
Comment
February 7
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles is slated to be a healthy scratch for the second time in four Colorado games and for the fifth time this season tonight against the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center. "We have seven healthy defensemen and pretty soon, we'll probably have eight healthy defensemen," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco after today's morning skate. "It's a situation where it's going to bring some competitiveness ... for guys to stay in the lineup. Johnny knows that he has to be a better player for us. He knows that we expect more of him.""
Liles again Odd man out on list of defensemen
Comment
February 7
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche veteran defenseman John-Michael Liles was the odd defenseman out again Saturday against Edmonton, when he was a healthy scratch for the second time in four games and for the fifth time this season. "Johnny knows that he has to be a better player for us," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. "He knows that we expect more of him." Brett Clark was the healthy scratch among the defensemen at Nashville on Thursday. Before that, Liles sat out the Jan. 31 game against the Rangers, and then Sacco went with seven defensemen in the lineup against Columbus on Tuesday. Liles is Colorado's third-highest paid player, and is in the second season of a four-year, $16.8 million deal. He has four goals ..."
Wolski, Wilson aid Avs' shutout victory
Comment
February 7
Denver Post
 
"Amid the hand-wringing and head-shaking over the Avalanche's struggles in the past 10 days, the degree of its turnaround from a horrific 2008-09 season sometimes seems to have been forgotten - or at least taken for granted. This might bring it back into focus: The Avalanche could go 0-25-0 in the rest of this regular season and still finish with more points than it did in 2008-09. That much was assured Saturday, when Colorado beat the lowly Edmonton Oilers 3-0 at the Pepsi Center. Wojtek Wolski, who had gone eight games without scoring a goal, and Ryan Wilson had the Colorado goals against hard-luck loser Jeff Des-lauriers, who made saves on 39-of-41 shots before Brandon Yip added an ..."
Avs open four game home stand against Oilers
Comment
February 6
InDenverTimes.com
 
"Looking to end their recent slump, the Colorado Avalanche open a four game home stand when they host the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night at the Pepsi Center. Game time is 8 PM, a late start for Hockey Night in Canada on CBC television. Local television is Altitude 2. Radio is 1510 AM. Saturday's contest will be the fifth of six this season between these former World Hockey Association teams. The season series is split with each team winning twice, once at home and once on the road. The final game of the series will be April 7th in Edmonton. For Edmonton, Saturday's game is the second of five consecutive road games. They began the trip by losing 4-2 in Minnesota Thursday. The Oilers have ..."
Sacco draws up new lines for offense
Comment
February 6
Denver Post
 
"Barring a collapse that mirrors what happened down the stretch last season when Colorado ended up last in the Western Conference, this seems destined to go down as a recovery season for the Avalanche. Yet if the final affirmation of that would be a playoff berth, the margin for error in Colorado's final 26 games isn't huge. After losing four of its last five games, the Avalanche went into Friday's NHL games only two points behind Northwest Division-leading Vancouver, yet also only four points ahead of the first "nonplayoff" team in the Western Conference — the Detroit Red Wings. "You try to control what you can control," said Avalanche center Paul Stastny, who hasn't scored a goal in five ..."
Predators pour on goals vs. Colorado Avalanche
Comment
February 5
Tennessean
 
"Drought? What drought? The Predators looked more like an offensive gusher Thursday during their 5-3 win over Colorado. The same team that had scored 15 goals in its previous eight games exploded for its first five-goal game in more than three weeks. The same team that entered with one power-play goal in its past 25 attempts posted three for the first time in more than a year. All that unexpected firepower boosted the Predators to a critical victory in front of an announced sellout crowd at Sommet Center. Nashville crept within two points of the sixth-place Avalanche in the Western Conference standings. "We knew how big this hockey game was," Predators forward Steve Sullivan said. "… We ..."
Sherman prepared to stay the course
Comment
February 5
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche has not been a player in any of the big NHL trades recently. Listening to general manager Greg Sherman on Thursday, it doesn't sound like anything big will happen by the March 3 deadline, either. At least not involving any of the Avs' young players. "The plan that's been in place has been working out very well. My intention is to stay within our plan," Sherman said. "We have a good thing going. We have a good situation with our balance, of veterans with our youth. Given that situation, we'll continue to kind of crank along and see how things play out." Thursday's loss to Nashville, however, was Colorado's fourth in the last five games, and it's no secret some Avs are probably ..."
Avs enforcer Koci spends a surprising amount of time studying film
Comment
February 5
Denver Post
 
"What Avalanche player pays the most attention to detail before he takes the ice? Would you believe David Koci? "He's really picky with things, especially his skates," teammate Darcy Tucker said. "He probably spends more time on his skates than just about anybody I've ever played with." Koci, teammates say, is so fussy with his skates that he ties the laces after every shift. After Koci comes off the ice, he can often be seen reaching down to untie the laces, then tie them again. Koci also spends a lot of time watching video. Being the team's designated enforcer, he spends countless hours dissecting potential opponents' fight techniques."
Effort missing as Avs fall to Predators
Comment
February 5
Denver Post
 
"Everything pointed to an Avalanche road victory around the six-minute mark of the second period Thursday night. The Avs were just about to kill off the second part of a two-man disadvantage, they had a one-goal lead and Nashville Predators fans were starting to boo their team. The next 34 minutes for the Avs was scarier than an Alfred Hitchcock film. Maybe it was all that shower-scene theme music from Hitchcock's classic film "Psycho" that plays before every Predator power play, as three Nashville man-advantage goals helped result in a 5-3 win against Colorado at the Sommet Center. It was the Avs' fourth loss in five games, and the first time since Dec. 15 they allowed five goals in a ..."
Sibling rivalry hits ice
Comment
February 4
Tennessean
 
"Moms always tell the best stories. It's no different for the O'Reilly family, especially when Bonnie recounts the tale of her two sons, Cal and Ryan, coming home from a summer hockey game years ago in the midst of a heated argument. It seems Cal, in the manner of many an older brother, tended at times to enforce the rules at the expense of his younger sibling. "They would always be challenging each other when it came to an offsides call or a penalty or whatever,'' Bonnie O'Reilly said. "So one day, Ryan comes home and he says, 'I can't wait until we play in the NHL one day, and you can't cheat!' '' Well, Ryan, consider today your lucky day. When the Predators play host to the Colorado ..."
Sibling rivalry hits ice
Comment
February 4
Tennessean
 
"Moms always tell the best stories. It's no different for the O'Reilly family, especially when Bonnie recounts the tale of her two sons, Cal and Ryan, coming home from a summer hockey game years ago in the midst of a heated argument. It seems Cal, in the manner of many an older brother, tended at times to enforce the rules at the expense of his younger sibling. "They would always be challenging each other when it came to an offsides call or a penalty or whatever,'' Bonnie O'Reilly said. "So one day, Ryan comes home and he says, 'I can't wait until we play in the NHL one day, and you can't cheat!' '' Well, Ryan, consider today your lucky day. When the Predators play host to the Colorado ..."
How about spot duty for Budaj?
Comment
February 4
Denver Post
 columnist Terry Frei
"Peter Budaj was the only Avalanche goaltender on the ice for practice Wednesday; Craig Anderson had the day off. As he usually does, Budaj stayed out long after the conclusion of the team work, playing the foil for the lingering skaters and a mixture of serious individual work and horseplay. This season, Budaj has started only eight games. The conclusion is unavoidable: Avs coach Joe Sacco, who praises Budaj's attitude and professionalism, has little confidence in him. Anderson has had a remarkable season. Yet there have been many instances when starting Budaj made sense — most notably when Colorado played on back-to-back nights. Still, Sacco has gone with Anderson, hoping he can hold up ..."
A little brotherly shove
Comment
February 4
Denver Post
 
"Ryan and Cal O'Reilly faced off hundreds of times growing up in Ontario. A puck would drop, their sticks would clash and the winner won things as varied as the last doughnut in a Tim Horton's bag or the right to ride "shotgun" in the family car. Tonight at the Sommet Center, the stakes will be higher. "And this time, he can't cheat," said Ryan, the Avs rookie who, barring any lineup changes, will play against his brother for the first time as a pro when Colorado takes on the Nashville Predators. Et tu, Cal? "I'm sure we'll have a couple of laughs about it, but he's just another centerman I'm facing off against and just another player I'll be playing against," Cal O'Reilly said. "We're both ..."
Avs rookie Duchene striking a chord
Comment
February 3
Denver Post
 columnist Dave Krieger
"When an 18-year-old Matt Duchene arrived in Colorado last summer to be a pro hockey star, his first big purchase was a Les Paul electric guitar. "I play a lot of Green Day, I play a lot of different country stuff," he said the other day. "Green Day was kind of the reason I got into playing guitar because I wanted to learn to play their songs. I know probably 10 or 15 of their songs." The kid is a quick learner, a trait that also has him quite suddenly leading all NHL rookies in scoring. That makes him a prime contender to be the Avs' second Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year. Chris Drury won in 1999. If you go back to the organization's days in Quebec, Peter Forsberg was rookie of ..."
Rookies help Avs snap skid, rout Columbus
Comment
February 3
Denver Post
 
"Two short-handed goals by one player on the same power play — you don't see that much. How many times has that happened in NHL history? Nobody was quite sure after the Avalanche's 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it had never been done by an Avs player in team history until Ryan O'Reilly did it Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center. O'Reilly's two "shorties" — during a Columbus four-minute power play midway through the third — helped the Avs snap a three-game losing streak and sweep the four-game season series with the Blue Jackets. O'Reilly's teammates have started to call him "The Factor" after Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" show, and that's exactly what he was in a dominant ..."
Hejduk won't play until after the Olympics
Comment
February 3
Denver Post
 
"Tuesday morning, Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said "not to rule it out" when asked if veteran winger Milan Hejduk could return before the Olympic break. Later in the day, however, it had been ruled out. After consulting with Hejduk, it was decided the Avs would err on the side of caution and wait until the resumption of play, March 1, to get him back in the lineup. Hejduk has been out since Jan. 11 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Hejduk has resumed light skating and doing well in his rehabilitation."
Here's how to brighten Avalanche home games
Comment
February 2
Denver Post
 columnist Adrian Dater
"Let's say, for the sake of argument, I've been asked by Stan Kroenke to improve the game-night hockey experience at the Pepsi Center. Thank you, Stan. Here we go. Some of my first actions? I would buy a much bigger marquee to put out front to replace the one that is way too small and, as of Sunday night, had only two of three sides in working order. This marquee would be big and bright, flashing news about that night's Avs game and future events. I would also replace the dim 40-watt — or so it seems — light bulbs ringing the arena. Get floodlights in there to really lighten up the place. I now have a building that looks alive and inviting to the thousands of potential customers who drive ..."
Avalanche not in panic mode after recent slump
Comment
February 2
Denver Post
 
"The calm, happy-go-lucky attitude among Avalanche players Monday made it seem they are enjoying one of their best stretches of the season. Of course, the opposite is true, as Colorado enters tonight's game against Columbus having gone three games without a victory or a point. "There's no reason for us to panic. We're a good team, and we'll be better (tonight)," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. "It just comes down to hard work. There's no secret to it. It's just hard work, not squeezing the stick (and) being confident." The Avs' recent problem is scoring, particularly from their top line and power-play units. First-line center Paul Stastny and linemates Wojtek Wolski and Chris Stewart are ..."
Young Avs can't escape key questions
Comment
February 1
Denver Post
 
"It has been the feel-good sports story of the Colorado winter — a hockey team cutting payroll and rebuilding with kids somehow hanging around the top of its division through the first four months of the NHL season. But accompanying this pleasant surprise has been a natural sense of dread that it could all come apart at any time for what is now the youngest active roster in the league. After its first three-game pointless streak of the season, that sense of dread is now at the Avalanche's door. Sunday night, after the New York Rangers won in Colorado for the first time in 11 years, I asked Avs coach Joe Sacco if the recent trend concerned him. "I believe it's our first three-game losing ..."
Avs lose third in a row
Comment
February 1
Denver Post
 
"When Avalanche fans heard that Chad Johnson was starting in goal for the New York Rangers on Sunday night, their reaction might have been, "The Bengals receiver?" As the Avs have with Craig Anderson this season, the Rangers have gone almost exclusively with a veteran — Henrik Lundqvist — in net, but a flu bug meant the no-name Rangers backup was pressed into duty against the Avs at the Pepsi Center. Johnson played as if his name were Patrick Roy, frustrating the suddenly listless Avs in a 3-1 New York victory, Colorado's third loss in a row. That is the longest losing streak for the Avs this season. Goals in each of the three periods by star Marian Gaborik were all Johnson needed for his ..."
Gaborik's hat trick lifts rookie goalie Chad Johnson, New York Rangers over Avalanche
Comment
February 1
New York Daily News
 
"Marian Gaborik has exactly twice as many hat tricks as Chad Johnson has games of NHL experience. But the superstar and the rookie will be happy to share credit for the crucial two points the Rangers earned Sunday night. Gaborik staged a sublime performance and Johnson one he will never forget, a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche that snapped the Rangers' five-game skid and gave the rookie goaltender his first NHL victory. Pressed into action for a second straight night because of Henrik Lundqvist's flu bug, Johnson barely missed a shutout - Cody McLeod broke that up with the Avs swarming 7:21 from the end - but he rebounded from an uneven performance in Phoenix the night before to ..."
Avs host Gaborik, Rangers Sunday
Comment
January 31
InDenverTimes.com
 
"The Colorado Avalanche will be looking to continue their dominance of Eastern Conference opponents when they host the New York Rangers Sunday night at the Pepsi Center. Game time is 6PM. Altitude will televise the game. The radio broadcast will be on 1510 AM. Sunday's contest will be the only one between these teams this season. The Rangers won the single game last year, 6-1 in New York. The Rangers haven't won in Denver since 1998. New York Rangers 24-24-7 55 points Last 10 games 2-7-1 4th in Atlantic Division 12th in Eastern Conference This is the second game of a three game trip for the Broadway Blueshirts. They will visit Phoenix, Colorado and end the trip Tuesday in Los Angeles. The ..."
Modano finds his old touch (two goals) in Dallas Stars' 3-2 victory
Comment
January 30
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"It's been two years since Mike Modano scored two goals in a game.It's been a decade since he last had a hat trick.So when the 39-year-old Dallas Stars center came up with two big goals Friday in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, it clearly was cause for celebration."I've been feeling much better lately," Modano said. "I think it's just a combination of some valuable time off that [coach] Marc [Crawford] has given me, and just being able to rest up and primarily focus on the games."The Stars pushed their home surge to 13-2-2, including five consecutive victories at American Airlines Center. They moved to 24-19-11 (59 points), just two points behind eighth-place Detroit in the Western ..."
Botched faceoff irritates Duchene
Comment
January 30
Denver Post
 
"The Matt Duchene-centered "Nine Line" had both goals - by Duchene and winger T.J. Galiardi - in the Avalanche's 3-2 loss to Dallas on Friday night, but the NHL's rookie scoring leader wasn't inclined to harp on that. Instead, Duchene talked about another "rookie" lesson learned on the faceoff and its ensuing sequence that culminated in Dallas veteran center Mike Modano's second goal of the game, the one that broke a 2-2 tie at 7:01 of the third period. "I wasn't able to get to (Modano) in time and get a stick on him," Duchene said. "I know he's a great player, and he came up big for them tonight. But you never want to be on for the winning goal against." Duchene said the problem began on ..."
Stars edge Avs 3-2
Comment
January 30
Denver Post
 
"Mike Modano's career is winding down, and the national team veteran wasn't selected for the 2010 U.S. Olympic squad. Yet the Dallas center still has most of his trademark speed and gas left in his tank. Modano was credited with two goals, with the game-winner at 7:01 of the third period, as the Stars beat the Avalanche 3-2 on Friday night at the the American Airlines Center. The game was tied 2-2 entering the final 20 minutes, after Avalanche winger T.J. Galiardi got the only goal of the second period at 10:56. The Stars had taken a 2-1 lead by scoring on two of their first three shots in the game, but the second was a bad break for Colorado goalie Craig Anderson."
Mo-mentum? Modano's two goals key Stars' 3-2 win
Comment
January 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"It's been two years since Mike Modano scored two goals in a game. It's been a decade since he last had a hat trick. So when the 39-year-old center came up with two big goals Friday in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, it clearly was cause for celebration. "I've been feeling much better lately," Modano said. "I think it's just a combination of some valuable time off that [coach] Marc [Crawford] has given me, and just being able to rest up and primarily focus on the games." The Stars pushed their home surge to 13-2-2, including five straight victories. They moved to 24-19-11 (59 points) and are just two points behind Detroit and Nashville, which are tied for seventh in the Western ..."
Foote returns to Av's lineup, Stoa exits it
Comment
January 30
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche captain Adam Foote returned to the lineup in Colorado's 3-2 loss to Dallas on Friday night after missing seven games with a sprained ankle suffered at Carolina on Jan. 8. In part as insurance in case Foote turned out to be unable to play major minutes, the Avalanche suited up seven defenseman and only 11 forwards. Then winger Ryan Stoa suffered a left shoulder injury on his first shift of the game and was done for the night, leaving Colorado two forwards short of the usual complement. Given Colorado coach Joe Sacco's tendency to use his fourth line only sparingly, and winger David Koci virtually not at all in third periods, it didn't cause a major strategic shift beyond spreading ..."
Avs' Anderson in net again, Foote back vs. Dallas
Comment
January 29
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche coach Joe Sacco this morning said he would come back with Craig Anderson in goal tonight against the Dallas Stars, and Colorado captain Adam Foote came off after an extraordinarily lengthy stay on the ice at the morning skate and said he would be in the lineup in the game at the American Airlines Center. Minutes earlier, Sacco said he wasn't sure if Foote would be available, but the veteran defenseman then came off the ice, met with Sacco and then said he would play for the first time since suffering a sprained ankle at Carolina on Jan. 8. He has missed seven games. Foote said of the ankle: "It feels good. It's going to linger for a while. It's a lower one, though, which is ..."
Wild's go-slow strategy pays off
Comment
January 29
Denver Post
 
"The Minnesota Wild — the NHL's version of Ambien on ice — puts everybody to sleep with its style of play. And to everybody who doesn't like it? Too bad, a win's a win. Minnesota would take 82 games just like Thursday's 1-0 shutout of the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center, which stopped Colorado's win streak at six games. "They always seem to play a boring trap game," Avs winger Chris Stewart said. "They just want to keep it close and hope you make a mistake and capitalize. We let that happen tonight." Despite the absence of Wild regular goalie Niklas Backstrom, backup Josh Harding stepped in and pitched a 29-save shutout. It was the second 1-0 home loss in three games against the Wild this ..."
Avs' offense fails to find big shot against Wild
Comment
January 29
Denver Post
 
"No matter who is in net for the Minnesota Wild, the Avalanche just can't put a puck by him at the Pepsi Center, or so it always seems. On a night when Wild No. 1 goalie and Avs killer Niklas Backstrom was out with a bad back, backup Josh Harding stepped in and blanked Colorado 1-0 Thursday night. A scoreless game was changed when Minnesota's Martin Havlat scored with less than five minutes left in the third period to stop Colorado's win streak at six. The Avs lost five of six games to the Wild this season, including all three at home. Havlat scored after a couple of fortunate bounces for the Wild, on the Avalanche's third line. It prevented goalie Craig Anderson from getting a third ..."
Foote's return sparks problem for defensemen
Comment
January 29
Denver Post
 
"Who will sit? It is the question that will hang over the Avalanche's defense corps once captain Adam Foote returns from his ankle injury, which will be soon. The return Thursday night of Ryan Wilson from a concussion brought to six the number of healthy Avs defensemen. Once Foote returns and if no other injuries occur to the defense until then, one of the seven will have to sit out. That won't be much fun for that player, coach Joe Sacco acknowledged, but it could be a good situation for the team. "We've said all along that the guys playing best at the time are going to play," Sacco said. "I think it keeps guys accountable. It's a good problem for a team to have." Said Wilson: "I don't ..."
Rookie O'Reilly earns Avs' trust
Comment
January 28
Denver Post
 
"Few NHL forwards — particularly an 18-year-old rookie — can be in a two-month scoring slump and still be considered one of his team's most important players. That's what center Ryan O'Reilly is to the Avalanche. O'Reilly, who began his rookie season with 17 points (four goals) in his first 24 games, has just one point (goal) in his past 27 games. Yet he has exceeded his average ice time of 16 minutes, 47 seconds in each of the last six games — all Colorado victories — because he is the type of defensive forward you want on the ice when playing with the lead. "With Ryan, you don't necessarily see the results on the score sheet," Avs coach Joe Sacco said. "You see them in other areas. His ..."
Wilson, Foote could return to face wild
Comment
January 27
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche rookie defenseman Ryan Wilson returned to practice Tuesday and might be available Thursday when Colorado hosts the Minnesota Wild. Wilson, who was wearing an orange no-contact sweater, has missed two games since suffering a concussion Jan. 18 against Edmonton. "I feel pretty good," Wilson said. "My head feels good. My legs don't feel that good, but when you're off the ice a couple days, your legs give out a bit on you. Hopefully, (today) I'll be able to do some contact and be closer to coming back." Defenseman Adam Foote also might return from the injured list Thursday. The Avs' captain has missed the last six games with an ankle injury."
No trades in sight for young Avs team
Comment
January 27
Denver Post
 columnist Adrian Dater
"It's only January, but already NHL teams are making decisions about whether to buy or sell at the league's trading deadline. Why now, when the deadline isn't until March 3? The Olympic break, of course. From Feb. 12-28, teams will be prohibited from making any trades because of the Olympic Games in Vancouver. That leaves only 10 to 12 regular-season games for teams until the deadline (11 for the Avalanche). Most trades happen on deadline day, so there remains plenty of time to decide whether to buy or sell. But hockey's hot stove league is starting earlier because of the Olympic break, and Avalanche fans in particular are wondering what might happen. Here's my prediction: not much. You can ..."
Avalanche turning fortunes around in a hurry
Comment
January 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Joe Sacco could be the NHL's Coach of the Year.It's easy to look at the stats and say Colorado is being outplayed every game and is being saved by its goaltending. But after watching the Stars twice against this team, it's clear the Avalanche is for real.Despite missing key players such as Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos and Ruslan Salei, the Avalanche is playing with skill. Despite icing a lineup with five rookies (including three players 21 or younger), the Avalanche is playing smart. And despite being picked to finish last in the West by many to start the season, the Avalanche is playing hard every game."
Another blank look as Dallas Stars lose at Colorado 4-0
Comment
January 26
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
 
"Momentum is a fickle friend for the Dallas Stars this season.Heading into a game with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, the Stars had a chance to put to rest the talk of their road woes, get on a 4-1-0 run and re-establish Marty Turco as the team's go-to goalie heading into a four-game homestand.Instead, they were both physically and mentally deconstructed by the energetic Avalanche in a 4-0 loss and now are left to ponder their 1-9-2 stretch on the road, the fact Turco was only so-so and could get a seat on the bench again, and that they just can't seem to put together a consistent stretch after a road win in Edmonton on Friday.Colorado dominated every facet of the game, was never close ..."
Avs' goalie Anderson named NHL "star" after posting fifth shutout of season
Comment
January 25
Denver Post
 
"After earning a second shutout in his past three games, Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson on Monday was tabbed one of the NHL's three stars of the week. Anderson went 3-0-0 with a 0.33 goals-against average and a .988 save percentage last week and helped lead the Avs to a sixth consecutive victory Sunday, a season-high streak. Colorado leads the Northwest Division in sole possession of first place. The goalie stopped 24 shots in a 6-0 victory over Edmonton on Jan. 18, the followed with 29 saves in a 2-1 win over Nashville on Friday."
Stastny to carry on family tradition at Winter Games
Comment
January 25
Longmont Times-Call
 
"With a father in the Hall of Fame and three uncles who also played in the National Hockey League, Paul Stastny has a remarkable hockey pedigree.The 24-year-old Colorado Avalanche forward is building quite a career for himself, however.Next month, Stastny will be a part of the United States hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia - adding to what is already an impressive list of accomplishments."It's something I never imagined," Stastny said last week of playing in the Oly-mpics. "When I got the call, I was absolutely ecstatic."Stastny is a citizen of both Canada (he was born in Quebec City, Quebec) and the United States. Having spent most of his youth in the U.S., ..."
Avalanche's Quincey impresses on defense
Comment
January 25
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche defenseman Kyle Quincey isn't having quite the offensive season he had with the Los Angeles Kings in 2008-09. He hasn't had to. Quincey had 38 points for the Kings last season and has 20 after 51 games with Colorado. But not only is that not too far off last year's pace, Quincey has been playing terrific hockey in his own end all along for the Avs, including in Sunday's 4-0 win over Dallas. "I think my role was a little different last year," Quincey said. "I'm not going to worry about that much. I'm getting chances, and it's up to me to bury them, but my role is to be solid in my own end first, and if the points come, that's a bonus." Quincey, whose contract is up after this ..."
Avalanche back alone in first after shutting out Stars
Comment
January 25
Denver Post
 
"Joe Sacco was so sick Sunday night, he had to keep leaving the Avalanche bench in the third period. It's a wonder former Colorado coach Marc Crawford wasn't made ill from watching his own Dallas Stars for 60 minutes. The Avalanche showed no pity on a banged-up, road-weary Stars team, beating Dallas 4-0 in front of only 11,741 at the Pepsi Center. It was Colorado's sixth win in a row and its second shutout in the last three games. Craig Anderson had a rocking-chair, 27-save shutout for the Avs, who took back the top spot in the Northwest Division. Anderson has allowed only one goal in the last three games, and the Avs got goals from four players. "I think the biggest thing with us right now ..."
Avalanche rebuilds team on the fly
Comment
January 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"Joe Sacco could be your coach of the year. It's easy to look at the stats and say the Colorado Avalanche is being outplayed every game and is getting saved by its goaltending. But after watching the Stars twice against this team, it's clear the Avalanche is for real. Despite missing key players such as Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk, Marek Svatos and Ruslan Salei, the Avalanche is playing with skill. Despite icing a lineup with five rookies (including three players 21 or younger), the Avalanche is playing smart. And despite being picked to finish last in the West by many pundits before the season, the Avalanche is playing hard every game. Credit Sacco and his coaching staff for that. Maybe the ..."
Stars' road woes continue with 4-0 loss at Colorado
Comment
January 25
Dallas Morning News
 
"Momentum is a fickle friend for the Stars this season. Heading into a contest with the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, the Stars had a chance to put to rest talk of their road woes, get on a 4-1-0 run and re-establish Marty Turco as the team's go-to goalie heading into a four-game homestand. Instead, they were both physically and mentally deconstructed by the energetic Avalanche in a 4-0 loss. They're left to ponder their 1-9-2 stretch on the road, that Turco was only so-so and could get a seat on the bench again and the fact that they just can't seem to put together a consistent stretch of solid hockey. Colorado pretty much dominated every facet of the game and rolled to its sixth ..."
Stoa stuck in transition game
Comment
January 24
Denver Post
 
"Ryan Stoa is on the Cleveland-Denver treadmill, the dues-paying part of a young Avalanche player's career. That much was evident just looking at Stoa after an Avs practice Saturday. Over his upper body was a gray practice shirt with the Avs' logo on it. In front of him was a big maroon equipment bag with "Lake Erie Monsters" printed on the sides. The transient nature of his life was also evident when Stoa told of the difficulty of making plans with some Avs teammates after practice. The problem: no car. When you may be living in town only a few days, when you may be handed a plane ticket to Cleveland at any moment, registering with the Colorado DMV doesn't make much sense. "It's still my ..."