Game Journal for Arizona Coyotes @ Colorado Avalanche plus one
Before we get to the headliner game, I was able to catch some of the Rangers & Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres@ New York Rangers
If I were a fan of the Buffalo Sabres I would be excited for the future. This team plays a steady game of hockey, it just never gets dangerous for long periods of time. It feels like the goals must come from great individual effort rather than a team passing goal or sustained pressure that wears down the opposition’s defense. That said, they have yet to give up a goal and they look competitive on the ice. As a fan, I just want to see competitive play in games that have meaning later in the season.
Side note: Tyson Jost looks weird in the alternate Buffalo jersey.
Near the end of the first period and I’ve not yet been able to identify the Rangers’ playing style. I think that has more to do with the Sabres having more possession and zone time. The Rangers have had fewer minutes in the zone but they’ve had the most dangerous moments during the period. This doesn’t feel like safe hockey either. This feels like hockey being played by two teams familiar with one another being able to counter and get into the standard passing lanes. Steady hockey is good, the first goal in this game is going to mean a lot.
The Rangers are incredible at getting their sticks in the passing lanes. There have been at least 5 instances where a stick got in the way of a pass that would have led to a high danger moment. That doesn’t make a style, but the players are well-coached and prepared on defense.
The period ends with the game tied. The Rangers are 9 points clear of the 9th spot in the east and they have two games in hand. As a Rangers fan I would feel comfortable with where the team sat in the standings. Carolina has the division out of reach. Getting to the playoffs healthy is the main goal.
Arizona Coyotes @ Colorado Avalanche
Didn’t write a pre-game for this one. I had a long day yesterday and this morning was golf. Life had plans for my time, but here we are now. This isn’t a “must-win” but these are the games the Avs really need to win. They have to bank points to secure a playoff spot and they need to get some sustained flow from one game to the next. I trust in Bednar and the players to work to right the ship. I would like to see some crisp passing and sustained pressure during the game. I would like to see an easy win. This is all about looking for a bounce back win against a team you expect to get the victory.
First Period
A ho-hum first couple of minutes where it looks like the Avs are going to be flat against the Coyotes once again……then, GOAL. Dennis Malgin with the drive down the sideboard then a nice flip in for a goal.
Bedsy Five Round One: Colorado, they scored, Avalanche 1-0-0
Score: Avalanche 1-0
This could end up as a very exciting game of hockey. The Avs are pushing for a two-goal lead, then a line change and an unlucky bounce lead to an Arizona goal. The zone entry was absolutely credit to Arizona but the bouncing puck from Georgiev’s pad off Makar’s skate to the wide-open Arizona player into a wide-open net is a tough goal to take especially when the team has been pushing so well for a second goal.
The Coyotes don’t play connected hockey from one zone to another. They seem to be opportunistic, which works sometimes but should not lead to wins against teams like the Avs. I will ignore the most recent head-to-head record between the Coyotes and Avalanche. The Avs player’s are having a good game so far. The flow is good, the passes are good, just one mistake and one bad bounce.
Bedsy Five Round Two: Arizona, they scored, Tied 1-1-0
Score: Tied 1-1
The good news is that the Avs are playing the game they want to play. They are dictating up to this point. The question is, will they outscore the “lurking Arizona goal” they will score on a bounce or a mistake? I don’t think the team is going to commit a mistake.
OMG Georgiev with the HUGE save. The bounce in front and Arizona gets the puck to skate around the pile in front. We’re just waiting for the puck to go in the net then Georgiev makes the incredible save. This is exactly the kind of goal the Avs will give up to this Arizona team.
Bedsy Five Round Three: Tie, The Avs had great pressure but Arizona getting the oportunitic chance at the end of this block, they are playing the game they know how to play. Tied 1-1-1
Score: Tied 1-1
Goal, Arizona. Just terrible zone coverage by the Avs. Keller was allowed to skate into the zone wide open and shoot five-hole. WTF guys? Giving up the goal was bad but the Avs have been pushing for a second goal with good pressure but no goals. Are they trying too hard? Are the bounces really just not in their favor?
Period ends and it’s just not good enough. Play better, what can be said?
Bedsy Five Round Four: Arizona, the score, Coyotes 2-1-1
Score: Arizona 2-1
Second Period
The Avalanche came out in the first minute of the period with good pressure. It helps greatly that Arizona is not sure what to do when they have the puck in the neutral zone. The Avs have drawn a penalty. This goes without saying, but a goal here would be really nice. Welp, I was hoping for a goal and I got what looked like the worst power play the Avs have run all season. They look so out of sorts, what is up with these guys? On the plus side, I like the different zone entry looks I’ve seen from the team.
Bedsy Five Round Five: Colorado (barely), they draw a penalty and had a good opening minute, Tied 2-2-1
Score: Arizona 2-1
GOAL! but not. The Avs get the puck in the net but it gets called back on a hand pass. The Avs are having a hard enough time scoring in this game, why are we taking goals away from them when they do score? Honestly, where is the spark going to come from? The puck is an egg-shaped pinball out there and the Avs can’t get a helpful bounce of their own. This means they have to talent their way to a goal, which they can, and should do. It just isn’t there…….yet, question mark.
Bedsy Five Round Six: Tie, Avs had more pressure, but Coyotes are not giving up great chances. Coyotes are doing their job. Tied 2-2-2
Score: Arizona 2-1
We’re starting off this round with a power play for the Avs. Please just have a better showing than the last power play. GOAL!!! OMG MacKinnon with the sick snipe off the crossbar and in. This is exactly what the team needs. I mean, teams always need goals, but now the Coyotes will have to start opening up their defense and try to score some goals. I hope that leads to some open ice for the Avs skaters to work with. Also, worth noting, with that goal, Nathan MacKinnon took the franchise lead for consecutive home games with a goal @ 9.
Bedsy Five Round Seven: Colorado, they scored. Avalanche 3-2-2
Score: Tied 2-2
Georgiev makes a huge save on a 2-on-1 as we reach the last five minutes of the period. This was the first real pressure the Coyotes had this period and Georgiev prevented what would have been an awful goal off a blocked shot on the other end of the ice. Seriously, the Avs bad bounces are really looking to hurt the Avs this game.
The Avs get called for holding. The good news, they have killed off 15 penalties is a row. Maybe they can get a short-handed goal here? ALL HAIL GEORGIEV!!!. Arizona has looked dangerous on this power play. A shot off the iron, then a pass to an open forward on an Avs change and they get a 2-on-1 shot, Georgiev gets a HUGE glove save. Penalty killed off!
Bedsy Five Round Eight: Tie, I can’t give this to Colorado even though they were the more dangerous team. Arizona is playing for OT……in the second period. Avs got pressure, Yotes didn’t fall behind. Avalanche 3-2-3
Score: Tied 2-2
Third Period
The fourth line is putting in some work to start the third period. O’Connor had a great chance in the slot and missed. I’m not sure if that was a save of he missed the net completely. Ellers doesn’t quite look settled into the lineup yet. The Coyotes are quite happy to play slug hockey for the rest of the game.
Bedsy Five Round Nine: Tie, Colorado getting pressure but both teams are playing the game they want to be playing right now. Avalanche 3-2-4
Score: Tied 2-2
The Avalanche have spent almost the entire 5 minutes in the Coyotes’ zone. Arizona has no interest in trying to score a goal. They are looking for the counterattack rush goal, but they are playing to get the point, which, fine. It almost, I repeat, ALMOST, feels like the Avs are going to get a goal here in regulation.
Bedsy Five Round Ten: Colorado, to have the puck in the other team’s zone for most of the five minutes, get you the round, but no goals. Avalanche 4-2-4
Score: Tied 2-2
The crowd volume is as noticeable as it ever has been. The Avs just had a sequence where the puck slid through the slot and no one was there. Even when the bounces go their way, there is one piece missing in the equation. Scary sequence for the Coyotes where Byram got stuck out on the ice and had nothing left in his legs. One of those situations where the other team gets the puck and cuts into the slot for a good shot and you hope the bodies in front prevent the shot. The puck got loose in the crease; thankfully Georgiev was able to cover. This is the nervy situation I was hoping to avoid. I mean, it’s the COYOTES. No disrespect, but this should not be a doubtful game, at home. Yet, here we are.
Bedsy Five Round Eleven: Tie, Arizona had a scary sequence and Colorado just needs to score. Avalanche 4-2-5
Score: Tie 2-2
What can I say? The game is still tied and we’re off to overtime. The Avs didn’t do what they needed to and Arizona did what they’ve been trying to do. I can’t give the round to Arizona, they didn’t get a shot the entire period. I can’t give the round to Colorado because they need to be held to a higher standard, beat the Coyotes….in regulation, get it done.
Bedsy Five Round Twelve: Tie, for the reasons written above, Avalanche 4-2-6
Score: Tied 2-2
Overtime
OMG that was sick. CALE MAKAR IS OTHERWORLDLY.
Final Score: Avalanche 3-2
