Alright, new plan: the Colorado Avalanche are moving to the East.
With their 3-2 loss the Avs are 2-10 against their own division and 10-2 against the Eastern Conference.
Playing without their young forwards Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly, the Avs lost their offensive spark and fell to the Wild.
For the entire night, the Avs were determined: they did not like the puck and did not want to go anywhere near it. That is what it seemed as the Avs turned the puck over more times than they did the entire month of January, or so it seemed.
Two Wild goals were scored with the help of a turnover leading to a breakaway. Every time the Avs got near the puck, they gave it right back to the Wild, playing into their famed neutral zone trap like mice to cheese.
Beating the Wild takes speed, tenacity and puck control. Well, Avs, strike three, you're out.
Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was solid again but not as solid has he has. He, and the rest of the team, looked out of sync and a little fatigued. Giguere has played more this week than he has in nearly two years and tonight it showed. He wasn't tracking the puck very well, he was slow getting down and coming back up and left big rebounds, ones he usually swallows.
Message to Joe Sacco: play both goaltenders. Varlamov is too young to be a main guy and Giguere doesn't have the energy to play every day like he used to, especially not three in four nights.
The lone standout to this game was Erik Johnson. Johnson was a force, a bully and a goaltender all at once. His diving poke checks, usually ineffective disrupted three plays that were heading toward the net. He was also physical, fast and exhibited outstanding puck control all night. He didn't have any points but he played the best out of any Av this game.
The Avs have to wait a week to take on the reeling Edmonton Oilers and try to kick off the stretch run strong. They have to just hold out until Matt Duchene is back and the Avs can be more dynamic (effective?) on offense.
Three stars
1. Carson McMillan- scored the breakaway goal that one the game
2. Kyle Brodziak- two assists on the night
3. Erik Johnson- All around outstanding play
Facepalm of the Game
Shane O'Brien with the turnover leading to the game-winning goal. Take care of the puck. Every Av did what O'Brien did tonight (thank you Sacco for adjusting your gameplan) but O'Brien was the one who go burned on it.
Bang bang play of the Game
Erik Johnson's hits really set a tone for the Avs and intimidated the Wild.
For the Wild, none other than the McMillan goal.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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