Game Journal for Colorado Avalanche @ Dallas Stars

I was a bad writer this week and I never wrote a pregame thoughts article for this game. The game against the Devils was closer than it looked like it was going to be, how is the team going to respond today? I hope to see the Avalanche come into the game ready to dominate early. What I’ve seen from the Stars recently suggests they are not a team that scares me, but they are a team that will get up for a game like this. At least it feels that way. My other thought is, how is this game going to leave the Avs for the game they have tomorrow? I cannot express strongly enough how stupid the schedule has been for the Avs. all of these back-to-backs and they are still three games behind in terms of games played. I feel like this is a real failure of the scheduling department to put a team in this position. Sure the Avs could have won the games they “should have” won earlier in the season but that would not change the fact the Avs have three games in hand and never seem to gain ground in that department. HEY! Looks like Cale Makar is playing in the game. That leads me to my last thought, can he get through the game without someone throwing an elbow at his head? Not gonna lie, I’m nervous. The game is about to start, I will catch you in the wrap-up.

First Period

The game had a nice pace for a while, nothing really dangerous feeling, then Dallas gets some zone time. A really nice passing play to the open Robertson and the Stars score. The defense got pulled out of position. Sometimes you have to give credit to the other team for running a good play.

The ESPN zone power play camera is weird. I love it and I hate it all at the same time. I like the different view of the action, I like being able to see how the PK is structured, I don’t like how my brain doesn’t want to adjust to the change in flow.

Bedsy Round One: Dallas, they scored. Dal 1-0-0

Score: Dallas 1-0

Byram is going to be an offensive beast in 2-3 years. He is already but there is something special about him that will only get better over time. I’m so excited for his career. I will take a moment to say that when you have a young world class player on your team, enjoy them. This is for the younger readers. I think about the stars that I didn’t appreciate when they were on the team. I mean, I knew they were good but I didn’t follow them and I didn’t pay special attention when they had the puck or the ball. Enjoy the star players more than you think you should. *steps off soap box*

The Avs killed the penalty and they had more quality chances for scoring than the Stars did. I want to feel good about that but the score bug is keen on reminding me the Stars have already scored.

Bedsy Round Two: Tie, Avs had chances, Dallas got some decent zone time. Dallas 1-0-1

Score: Dallas 1-0

Dallas is one of those teams that has clearly played the Avalanche a lot. They are bigger, they know how to bully the Avs players and it’s hard to feel like the Avs are going to find a flow to their game. It doesn’t help this is on the road and finding a crowd-infused string of hockey.

Dallas scores a second goal on a long shot off the faceoff. Not the kind of shot you want to see go in. As a fan, I think about the fact that Dallas hasn’t been a really threatening team of late. I feel like a comeback is possible with all the time left. However, as I talked about just before this, the Stars just know how to bully the Avs when they play.

Let the ugly hockey begin. I don’t actually “hate” these teams, but when the Stars get into this brand of hockey, I really want to root against them. The rooting against is a lot easier when they don’t have a two-goal lead on your team and when they are losing to teams they should be beating like they have been doing the last couple of weeks. The result of the latest scrum is another power play for the Stars. I’m really just hoping the Avs can get out of the period not down by 3+ goals at this point. Matt Nieto gets a nice little rush up ice and I love his skating and I love to root for the human. Unfortunately, his shot does not scare me at all. The Avs kill the penalty, then promptly ice the puck. I guess there isn’t a grace period of clearing the zone. I feel like the first clear after the penalty is over should be a freebie.

Bedsy Round Three: Dallas, they scored, Dallas 2-0-1

Score: 2-0

The Avs can’t get any sort of zone time this game. They have some early on, but the Stars have been dictating the pace of play and where it is being played. I’m not feeling great about the game they have to play tomorrow, jeebus I hate the back-to-back heavy schedule they are on right now.

What a pass and what a shot. Avs score! Not just that, but Girard gets the goal. I feel like the Avs have another in them before the period is over.

Ugh, what a great passing play by the Stars and they score. That was really pretty hockey. Over commit by the defense, Stars get behind the defense, two passes against the defensive grain, just a lovely play. Sails have lost their wind, but I did say I’d be happy to not be down by 3+ goals this period.

Seeing the puck go in the Stars’ net may be what the team needs to get going in the 2nd period.

Bedsy Round Four: Dallas, both teams scored, but Dallas stopped the Avs good vibes, Dallas 3-0-1

Score: 3-1

Second Period

Avs get some decent zone time to start the period. This is exactly what I want to see, but only one dangerous shot to show for it. What is a bad sign, there is a pass over to a wide open Ellers and he couldn’t get the puck on his forehand. The shot would have been dangerous. This doesn’t bode well for for the rest of the game, just a vibe, we don’t do science here, only fandom.

It’s comical when the Avs try to lay a check on the Dallas players. There is just no movement. I would be worried, but the Avs won the Stanley Cup last year, their model works.

Bedsy Round Five: Avs, they had more zone time and came out strong, Dallas 3-1-1

Score: Dallas 3-1

Dallas scores another pretty goal. The Avs collapse too far on defense and Dallas gets a shot from the high slot and they score. The replay shows it was a wide-open window to the top corner. Dallas came to play. They are running good offensive plays and they are seeing results in the form of goals. This is after the Avs have a good showing the in the Dallas end. How hard should the Avs push for the rest of this game?

They play tomorrow, trying to outscore the Stars over the next 35 minutes of hockey. Feels like the Avs need to close this gap down by two before they get to the third period.

Bedsy Round Six: Dallas, they scored, Dallas 4-1-1

Score: Dallas 4-1

Dallas gets another goal on a puck poorly cleared. Georgeiv is getting pulled for the recently added Kinkaid, who has his Boston Bruins gear. The game feels like it’s over.  Get out without injury and save some legs for the game tomorrow.

Ben Meyers and Arttuir Lehkonen have a nice two-on-one play through the slot, and the shot is just a nothing-shot that didn’t look dangerous at all. I know when it’s not the Avs day and today is one of those days.

Bedsy Round Seven: Dallas, they scored…..again, Dallas 5-1-1

Score: Dallas 5-1

The Avs look different in the last few minutes of the period. They are pushing for a goal and they just can’t get one to go into the net. This is what I’m worried about the most. They can push for the win here, but again, another game tomorrow.

This game is done. The Avs just don’t have it. Mikko takes a really bad slashing penalty, probably out of frustration. Dallas starts the third period on the Power Play. I throw up the white flag.

I’ll watch the rest of the game but I will save you from having to read more about how poorly this game is going for the Avs. If you’re a Dallas fan enjoying the suffering, just sit on the fact that the Star won yet another Bedsy Round. They held off the last real push the Avs will probably bring and kept the 4-goal lead.

Bedsy Round Eight: Dallas 6-1-1

Score: Dallas 5-1

Third Period

Well, the Avs scored two in the third, but so did the Stars. Just not the Avs day. Well played to the Stars. Bad games happen, two games in a row of giving up seven goals? More tomorrow in the post-game wrap-up tomorrow, oh wait, there is another game tomorrow, much writing from these fingers coming at you in the next 24 hours.

Score: Dallas 7-3