Game Journal Colorado Avalanche @ Toronto Maple Leafs

Mar 15

Important game tonight. Another chance to make a statement against the eastern conference. The last time we were here the Avs got trounced by the Devils. Toronto finds a way to get out to early leads against the Avs, Let’s see if that happens again.

First Period

A spirited first minute of the game ends with a shot off the Avalanche crossbar. Matthews did a good job of pulling the defense away from the middle of the zone. This is going to be a tough game. Both teams are playing fast. That means we can expect a good game, but there is a game tomorrow :/

Lars Eller is looking more comfortable out there tonight. That’s great because the Avs are down a certain Arturri Lehkonen. The Avs need everyone to step up for the next few weeks……ugh, so many injuries, they never end.

A classic. The Avs have a few minutes of zone pressure and the other team scores the first goal. Worst of all, it was poor defensive zone coverage that started as good defensive zone coverage. Rielly snuck into the zone after everyone else and found tons of open ice. A nice shot, a nice play. Lots of hockey left but a goal for the Avs before the end of the period would be greatly appreciated

Bedsy Round One: Toronto, they scored. Maple Leafs 1-0-0

Score: Tor 1-0

The Maple Leafs team that looked like they didn’t care last game is NOT here tonight. I’m seeing the Avs push for a goal. They are getting good to great chances but they aren’t converting.

Toronto is playing some good defense tonight. Yes, the Avs are getting their chances but Toronto, when they are there, is blocking the shot. The frustration will continue to build. Can the Maple Leafs keep it up long enough to build confidence? Can the defense hold until the counterattack gets the goal?

Bedsy Round Two: Colorado, they really pushed. Toronto put up the wall, but Colorado has something building, what breaks next, the goal or the counterattack? Tied 1-1-0

Score Tor 1-0

Feels like the game has geared down a little bit in the last 2 minutes. I don’t like this, 7:30 on the clock, and the Avs have pushed for a while now with no goal. Feels like Toronto is one rush away from scoring and making it a two goal lead. .

First Power Play goes to Colorado. A poor start. A lost faceoff, a telegraphed pass and a clear by Toronto. GOAL!!! I will take the lucky bounces all day long. The Avs got to passing the puck through the seam and it led to this goal. What happens now? Does the momentum continue or does Toronto push for their own goal?

BR3 Colorado, they scored. Avalanche 2-1-0

Score Tied 1-1

Newhook has been quiet for too long. I will be looking for him to get going again before the playoffs start. Ugh, that penalty is on me. I wanted to see more of Newhook and well, here we are, on the Penalty Kill. Great no drama kill for the Avs. The clear with eight seconds to go is the kind they sometimes don’t get and the other team gets some good post-Power Play zone time.

BR4 Tie, good pressure from both teams, urgency across the board. This is a good game. Avs 2-1-1

Score Tied 1-1

Second Period

Malgin with an incredible individual effort, just no goal. Toronto needs to get back into this game before the Avs get the locomotive going full steam. I like what I’m seeing from Ellers this game. He is moving on the ice like he has a better handle of where he is supposed to be at any given moment. I also like what I’m seeing from Nieto tonight. He is in the right places at the right times.

Toronto gets another Power Play. Avs get the first good chance on the Power Play. Nichushkin hit the goalies glove. The Avs have been keeping their spacing really well on the PK. Nieto shows up again on the PK this time, joining the rush and while he didn’t get a shot, he killed some time, kept possession in the Toronto zone. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs get called for a bench minor.

Bedsy Round Five: Colorado, Avs had more pressure early and they had equal chances with Toronto on the Power Play Avs 3-1-1

Score Tied 1-1

Sloppy Power Play but the Avs were able to get control for a good portion of the Power Play. That all sounds great, but overall, that was an unimpressive Power Play.

The Avs are really going after this game like these points against Toronto are worth more than the points against Ottawa. Really love the effort. Something else I love is when Mikko remembers he is a large human being and starts pushing guys around.

Bedsy Round Six: Tie neither team stood out more than the other. Avalanche 3-1-2

Score: Tied 1-1

The Avs are playing a really good defensive game tonight. Not just blocking shots but avoiding the over-commit. There is a guy on the backside of the play every time I look. This is very encouraging.

APPRECIATE CALE MAKAR!!! He may not have scored but his drive down the middle of the ice was amazing to watch. A stupid penalty gets called for interference. It’s so dumb. Rodrigues isn’t moving but gets called.

Bedsy Round Seven: Toronto took back the momentum Avs 3-2-2

Score: Tied 1-1

This game feels like we’ve gone back into high gear. The pace is quicker and the teams are pushing to take a lead into the second intermission.

Georgiev has had a couple of big saves in this period.

The period ends with a push from the Avs but no goals. This is great hockey.

Bedsy Round Eight: Tie. Both teams picked up the pace. Colorado had some good chances and a nice push near the end but the value in Toronto getting back into the slow and dictating some play is valuable for them going into the third period. Avs 3-2-3

Score Tied 1-1

Third Period

Not a lot happening in the first part of this period. The Avs get a Power Play but Toronto keeps it to a non-drama Penalty Kill. the maple Leafs are getting a lot of sticks on passes and breaking up the play.

Bedsy Round Nine: Toronto, played frustration hockey but seems like they are in shadow control of this game right now. Tied 3-3-3

Score:

Avs start this section of the game on the Power Play again. It feels like Toronto is storing up the good hockey vibes to score a goal. The kind of goal where the Avs look back on all these Power Plays where they didn’t score and Toronto found a way to play great defense through it all.

Nichushkin had a great tip that hit the goalie and another shot got through the defense. Maybe the Avs are starting to find shooting lanes. It doesn’t feel like Toronto is going to have any sustained offensive pressure but they are so talented on offense, they only need a rush. I hate this kind of hockey. It feels like the team under siege is more likely to score all the time. All it takes is one back bounce or the shot that misses the net completely and wraps around the boards.

Regardless, I like what I’m seeing with some of these shots making it through the bodies in front of the net, more of that please. What did I say, Maple Leafs get a 2-on-2 rush. Georgiev gets the save but that’s exactly what I was scared of.

Bedsy Round Ten: Tie, Colorado had chances, but Toronto had the most dangerous chance. Tied 3-3-4

Score: Tied 1-1

I shouldn’t be thinking this, but I am. How do I feel about one point? The Avs have played so well and it would be a shame to lose in regulation or only get the loser point. What brings down the one-point vibe is the game tomorrow. I don’t want to put this much effort out and come away with one point then have to play tomorrow and be on dead legs to lose 5-2 in Ottawa.

Yet another pass where Toronto gets their stick on the pass. Rodrigues is snake-bit, I’ll say it. There was a scary sequence where Matthews was on a pond skate in the Avs zone. Not comfortable at all, but Georgiev is there, everything is fine. This is a great game.

Bedsy Round Eleven: Tie, great back and forth, both teams with chances. Tied 3-3-5

Score: Tied 1-1

Toronto gets a good cross-ice pass and the shooter goes against the flow, really dangerous chance. This game has a little bit of chippy in it. The thing about one team owning the action for most of the game when the action starts to make it into your end of the ice, everything is scary.

ok, got the point, never a bad thing.

Bedsy Round Twelve: See the previous round, haha. Tie 3-3-6

Score: Tied 1-1

Overtime

What a sloppy over time, from both teams. No one wants to let the other team sneak behind them. Avs are playing tight defense and Toronto is making zone entries tough.

Cale Makar is amazing. The poke check to prevent the odd man rush. So good.

This is an insane last 90 seconds.