Hurtin' Crue

Too many injuries, too many soft goals, too much Johan Franzen. It's becoming pretty clear that if Forsberg doesn't come back for Game 3, this series is going to be over soon. Hate to play the injury card, but it sure doesn't help to have Forsberg, Hannan and Wolski on the shelf to join Svatos and Clark. Actually, it feels kind of good to play the injury card.



Maybe the Nuggets can establish a winning trend for the home teams at the Can this afternoon. Both teams are looking up at a 0-2 homecoming....

Scott Bowman Just Called Me, He's Rooting for the Avs

Hard to believe, but apparently S-Bow has the Avs in 6 in this series. He predicts a lack of octopus on the ice and Forsberg to be the difference. Plus, he says that Osgood is a little pussy that listens to Boyz II Men. Thanks for the insight, dude.

Seriously, while the Avs have a very uphill battle against a team that they have flailed against as of late, I kind of like their chances. This Avs team doesn't resemble the team that got completely smoked by the Wings in the Can like some dirt weed in a junior high parking lot recently. I like Theo over Osgood and I like Forsberg over McCarty. Let's Rumble!!!

I don't like Guite?

An extremely rare shorty from an Avs player....Ben Guite, no less. 1-0 after a period of play...let's close this deal.

Theodores Gone Wild

You'll want to buy this video. It features Jose Theodore videotaped while completely demoralizing would-be Minnesota Wild scorers. Even though the Avs looked timid and afraid during good portions of the 1st and 2nd periods, they did not get a dog or to go to church. Instead, they let Theo put them on his shoulders and carry them into the 3rd. Two early Avs 3rd period goals later and this was in the books. The Avs have a series lead at 3-2, but make no mistake, this team does not want to return to St. Paul. TD will be at the Can on Sat night hoping I can reverse my Game 3 fortunes. The Avs need to play much better and cannot expect another performance from Jose like he had last night. I'll take care of the multiple stadium beers thank you very much.........

The Timing is Bad, This Picture is Great

What the hell AI is doing in this pic? Melo screwed up and I'm glad AI has his back, but does AI really need to be sitting on the sidelines looking like Kid Rock's former sidekick and now deceased midget? Get a driver or a sober entourage, dude. Seems like somebody else should have had your back to drive your car the other night....Now let's get focused to take the Lakers to at least a 5 game series.

I'm sorry Mr. Schroeder, but you will never sing again....

Is there any chance of attending an Avs game without having to endure the Jake Schroeder National Anthem? Or hearing the red-neck contingent scream "our flag was still there!"? I hate that. Makes me embarrassed to be in the same building.

I've really got to make sure I stay down on the concourse, and time my initial entry to the 350 with better accuracy.

Tyler Mania!!!

Not that Arnason was solely responsible for the onslaught that is currently happening as the 2nd period winds down, but I wanted to invent some new, incredibly stupid-sounding phrase. This was exactly the type of game the Avs needed tonight. This could change the complexion of the rest of the series in the Avs' favor. While that remains to be seen, you can be sure that this is the type of game that Jacques Lemaire absolutely can't stand. Let's hope the Wild come unraveled (without totally gooning it up in the 3rd period) and Backstrom loses all of the confidence he built in Games 1-3. Enjoy this victory Avs, but come with the same fire on Thursday night........

I Like the Idea of No-Touch Icing

Well, rather than bitch about how the nhl should initiate no-touch icing (just ask Patrick Marleau after last night's game), this game probably boils down to a bad night for the power play and getting outworked in OT. Still, it stings to lose on a blatant icing that takes a strange bounce and sets up a game winner. Feel bad to waste such a good game by Theo. This series is being decided by bounces and tipped pucks and is as tight as a pair of 80's designer jeans. The Avs simply need to work harder tomorrow and get a crucial victory. Is every game going to end in OT? I suggest ST and DT bring a back up flask for tomorrow night's game. I sure wish I had one tonight when the beer sales ended....

Rough Night for 'Melo

Well, the Nugs get the win last night, but Carmelo has what I believe was his worst game of the year statistically. He followed that up with his worst driving night of the year statistically as well. Getting pulled over and arrested on I-25 for DUI...

Sounded like a pretty uneventful, peaceful, roadside scene which is about the only good thing to come from this news. Not exactly a distraction that the Nuggets need at this point in the season.

Anyways, 'twas in the Can for last night's game, and JR, AI, and Linas were picking up the slack, in a game that felt pretty securely in hand before halftime.

Loved the bewildered looks from my daughter, when some people in our section were referring to Iverson by the nickname "Ivey", and offering up some shouts of "C'mon Ivey!" The kid (Ivey) didn't know what to do with those requests, a 3 year old can only eat Dippin' Dots so fast, you know?

The Greatest Question Facing Mankind

Hypothesis: Yes, it's time to take one step back from a semi-heartbreaking loss tonight. Yes, the Avs lose and the excitement that was mounting after the tying goal with the goalie pulled was squashed within a minute of OT, but KTH was not only paying attention to the scoreboard, we were also carrying out critical science experiments. A question that has plagued the upright, walking primate since the early days of heavy metal has been what beer is best. I'm not talking about Michelob or Lowenbrau. This is the grandaddy of all cage matches: Miller High Life Light vs. Pabst Blue Ribbon Light. (Notice, I didn't use the over-cliched "PBR" reference. Unless you are uttering the slick line of "PBR me ASAP", please say Pabst to your bartender. Maybe the trendiness of this beer will die down and it won't cost $4.00 in a can some time soon.)

Results: I like Miller High Life Light better. Steve and SonicTooth like Pabst (BRL) better. Everyone agreed both beers offer quality taste and the promise of terrible beer farts the next day.

Conclusion: This series is going to be as close as any taste test between two of the most stellar swills around. I like the Avs in the long run and this loss hurts a bit, but Theo looks very solid and I'm confident we'll roll these pussies in 7.

Both Teams Need to Win

It goes with out saying that every team in professional sports strive to make their respective postseason. The thrill of winning Lord Stanley’s Cup or playing in the Fall Classic is what stands at the end of an already lucrative “professional rainbow” for pro athletes. It feeds their ultra-competitive ego-centric side and it cements their legacy as a “winner.”

Denver has seen its share of winners. It took a while to be sure, but in the past dozen years, teams and players have become postseason legends in almost all of the major sports.

Last season, Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Tulo, and the Colorado Rockies captivated the city and its hibernating fan base with a thrilling and improbable run to the World Series before falling to the mighty Red Sox buzzsaw.

Countless spring evenings in Denver have been spent following the many Avalanche runs towards hockey’s Holy Grail. On two occasions, players such as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy have become icons and indeed sprouted a legion of followers from a football-crazed populace by winning the ultimate prize.

The dueling Super Bowl titles by the Denver Broncos still fuel pride in today’s Denver sports fan. Although, a decade has gone by since those feats of amazement, the tale of those teams and of John Elway and Terrell Davis are still fresh.

This brings me to my reason for writing. This town needs both of the Pepsi Center residents to make exciting (and even long) runs into the postseason. While neither team is looked at as one that could threaten the leagues’ elites, conference finals shouldn’t be out of the question, either.

The town needs the excitement. The Denver Nuggets organization needs the digits to support their nationwide “street cred.” As one of the country’s most popular teams (watch road games and there are jerseys everywhere) they have also become one of the most scrutinized. They’re like Anna Kournikova, all show, no dough. At some point, they have to start winning and this year is as good as any. They stand to break the 50-win mark (something they haven’t done in 20 years) and would come in with the momentum of simply qualifying. They have proven all year long that they can hang with the NBA’s best and the city is more than ready to throw its arms around a winning team.

Hey, after hitting up the Houston game this weekend, maybe even Sonic Tooth can become an NBA fan!

The game is HUGE....

The Western Conference playoffs have pretty much begun. Golden State/Denver exact same record, tied for the 8th spot....

You look at the remaining 3 games for both teams after tonight's tilt, and this could be a rather decisive game. Each appear to have a couple "easier" games and one that doesn't shape up in their favor. Then again, whoever wins tonight might just take the momentum with them and finish the season off with a bonafide winning streak heading into the playoffs.

I'll be making a rare (non-Avs) Pepsi Center appearance for Sunday's Rockets game...glad that for the Nugs, there remains something to play for.

This One's for Mike!

Some disturbing news surfaced yesterday on the eve of the first Avalanche playoff game. It was announced that Mike Haynes, the very likable TV broadcaster for the Avs, would undergo a major operation to address a brain aneurysm. Some pretty heavy shit to go down for part of the Avalanche family. Remember, Haynes would get into altercations with Red Wing fans at "the Joe" during the height of the Wings rivalry back in the 90's, when Haynes was on the radio. We'll miss your call for the playoffs....get well buddy. Strangely, the Avs' former tv guy, John Kelly, will be filling in for Haynes. Kelly will have no trouble announcing for the familiar names of Forsberg, Sakic, and Foote. It will be interesting to hear Kelly on the call again, but the circumstances are certainly less than ideal. I must make a major complaint though toward the broadcasting setup. Unless I'm interpreting my Comcast guide incorrectly, tonight's game will not be in HD. What hell, this is the playoffs!?!?! If we're stuck with low-def road games on Altitude throughout the playoffs, I'll be pissed. (Really hope I'm wrong about this....)

Puck drops in 10 minutes.....c'mon Super Avs!!

Gimme the Wild tomorrow...and in the 1st round of the playoffs

Nice piece of bedshitting tonight by the Canucks against the Flames. Their season was over before the game began...it did however influence the possible seeding for the Avs.

I'm going to go on the record and say I prefer the Wild matchup, as opposed to the Sharks. Though the Avs have admittedly not had success versus either team lately, the Sharks lineup just seems a bit more fearsome.

I'm not good with math generally, but I think if the Avs win tomorrow (or at least force OT), they will clinch a Wild 1st Round match-up. I like the possible momentum carry-over, as well as my latent Shark fandom from my Bay-Area 90's decade residency not becoming a conflict of sorts.

So Much Sports, My Head Is Spinning

What a night for Denver sports fans. The Rocks open the season with a close road win (see blakestreetbias for more), the Nugs get redemption for last night's "melt down" against the Suns, and the Avs are currently battling the Canucks in Vancouver to secure a playoff spot. At press time, the Avs are looking good up 4-2 in the 3rd. My main man Wojtek put the Avs ahead in the 2nd after the Avs fell behind 2-0 in the 1st period. If you're an Avs fan, try bad mouthing Wolski and witness instant results. Never fails, I swear.

Still a lot of hockey to play....let's make it a trifecta fellas!

Rivalry Monday Night

Packers vs. Vikings and the Broncos vs. Raiders on opening week. Anyone else a little bit stoked with this brilliant scheduling. Though I'm not a big fan of division games in week one (especially since there are only 6 division games in a season) the Monday night factor is just plain huge.

Don't think I'm going to pony up for the Ticket this year. Probably would be a lot healthier on my constitution if I became a little more emotionally detached from the Pack. Seems like Bushwoood CC is already filling the void.

Free extra innings hey?......I'm guessing the Rox have two off days and 3 day games during my free week. Either that or they play the Dodgers in a 4 game set.

"It's going to be a great year"