Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Avs ring in New Year with win in Anaheim

January 1, 2012, 3:02 AM ET [ Comments]
Aaron Musick
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Even without the services of star forward Matt Duchene, the Avs were able to power their way by the flightless Anaheim Ducks.

Milan Hejduk cashed in on two beautiful Ryan O'Reilly passes to break a mini-scoring slump and give the Avs a 4-2 victory in goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere's return to Anaheim for the first time since he was traded.

Chuck Kobasew and Kyle Quincey also scored as the Avs skated to an easy victory over a struggling Ducks team. The win gave the Avs a franchise record of 10 wins in the month of December, moving them within one point of eighth place Dallas Stars heading in to the new year.

While the Avs were adjusting to Duchene's absence from the lineup, Ryan O'Reilly stepped up to fill the void. He set up Hejduk with a pass through two Duck defenders for Hejduk's first goal in 14 games.

Taking Duchene's point position on the powerplay, O'Reilly would also have a wonderful fake shot that he passed to Hejduk in the left circle, giving the Czech sniper a wide open net for the fourth goal of the game, sealing the game for good.

The Avs took advantage of a Ducks team that continues to struggle throughout the season. The team had 29 hits and two goals but their passes were missing, players were being rubbed off the puck by a smaller Avs team and for much of the game, they skated only when they had the puck.

Watching the Ducks was similar to watching the Avalanche in 2009 where the players were just so frustrated they couldn't bring themselves to try their hardest every night.

To their credit the Avs did not take it easy on a team who was struggling. They used their speed to set up plays and drove hard to the net to set screens and used the extra room the Ducks defenders gave them to get their goals.

Giguere had a relatively easy night in net as the only tough chances he faced ended in the back of the net with nothing he could do about them.

Defense will be the key for the Avs during Duchene's tenure on the injury list and the Avalanche must commit, every player, to playing solid defense so they won't get into scoring match without the tools to win it.

A good start for the Avs and a great month of December to put them back in the playoff conversation but now January stars and the scheduling only gets harder from here on out.

Three Stars

1. Ryan O'Reilly- Set up two big Avs goals
2. Milan Hejduk- Scored two goals on the passes from O'Reilly
3. Chuck Kobasew- his 100th goal ended up the game-winning goal

Facepalm of the Game

In his first action back from a groin injury, David Jones took two stupid penalties and also perfectly screen Giguere on the first goal. With his screen, the Avalanche goalie had no chance. Jones continues to play like this, he will find himself traded in no time flat.

Bang Bang play of the Game

This one literally was a bang bang play. O'Reilly's fake shot and pass to Hejduk for the fourth goal was incredibly beautiful.

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Aaron Musick
» Farewell Hockeybuzz
» We are the 18.8 percent
» Joe Sacco fired
» Is Semyon Varlamov the Goalie of the Future?
» Sami Aittokallio to make his NHL debut