Zach Parise piece can be found here

The Avs had a chance, with a win to move over Minnesota and back into the playoffs.

That would be, unless the Avs failed to show up for the game and lost 6-1.

Ray Whitney, Shane Doan and Keith Yandle all turned in two point performances and Mike Smith only gave up one goal on 38 shots despite some really good chances.

For a team that scores less than three goals a game most times, they sure played defense, against the best defensive club no less, like a team that can score 5.

Peter Mueller, Stefan Elliott and the trio of Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan O'Reilly and Milan Hejduk were the only players to show up consistently on offense while Erik Johnson and Ryan Wilson decided to play defense.

Coach Joe Sacco, for the second game, put Kevin Porter on a scoring line with Paul Stastny and David Jones. Every good scoring chance that line had was ruined by Porter's complete lack of hands. He has good energy but scorers aren't made by effort alone, there has to be skill.

Scorers like Peter Mueller who has been robbed on countless opportunities since coming back from injury. If he were to be put with a sniper and Jones and a passer in Stastny. Now that's something that would be intimidating.

Until Sacco wakes up or Duchene gets back, the Avs are not toing to score so it will be up to "defenseman" Jan Hejda to pick up his game and actually play defense. It will be up to every Avalanche forward to play defense and not open up the goaltender to great shots from the Coyote's best shooters.

Until the Avs do that, they will never be playoff contenders.

Three Stars
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Facepalm of the Game

Jan Hejda wins for his turnover at the Coyote blueline leading to Shane Doan's breakaway goal. Avs were changing, he just had to fire it deep but instead he tried to backhand it by Keith Yandle. When Shane O'Brien comes back he needs to sit.

Bang bang play of the Game

Gotta go with the passing of Ray Whitney, who just put on an exhibition this game.