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

Fasth Gets the Start in Colorado and Smith-Pelly Sent Back to Norfolk

February 6, 2013, 7:14 PM ET [4 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It looks like Bruce Boudreau has decided to go with the hot hand and start Viktor Fasth tonight against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Fasth has started two of Anaheim last three games, winning both, allowing just two goals on 53 total shots. Monday night, Fasth was exceptional in the Ducks 2-1 win against the previously undefeated (in regulation) San Jose Sharks.

The 30-year-old Swedish goalie is 3-0 with a minuscule 1.30 GAA and .946 save percentage. After the win against San Jose you could almost feel this coming. Ducks regular starter Jonas Hiller has been a bit rough between the pipes so far (3-1-1, 18 GA, 3.52 GAA, .871 sv%) and his play hasn't warranted keeping Fasth on the bench.

If Fasth plays well again tonight and picks up another "W" than we have ourselves a real old-fashioned goalie controversy. (It may also help that Colorado is still without captain Gabriel Ladeskog who is out with a 'head injury.")

Anaheim is on a bit of a roll( thanks in part to the play of Fasth.) They head into Colorado having won three in a row and are 6-1-1 on the season. Tonight's game in the first of lengthy six-game in 11 day road trip that includes two back-to-back sets.

- This is the first meeting of the season between these two clubs. The Avalanche were 3-1-0 against the Anaheim in 2011-12 after having lost six straight and 15 of 17 to the Ducks. Colorado is just 4-5-0, but have played well at home. Monday's 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars was their first at the Pepsi Center this season. They had been 3-0-0 with a 10-2 goal differential before suffering the set-back.

***
Anaheim also announced that right winger Devante Smith-Pelly has been sent back to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. Smith-Pelly, struggled a bit in the five games he's played this season, going scoreless while averaging 7:59 time-on-ice.

It's a good move. He'll get more ice time in Norfolk and hopefully he'll regain some of that confidence we saw at the end of last season.

***

Follow me on Twitter! @StevePalumboHTW


On Facebook at StevePalumboNHL

Email me at [email protected]
Join the Discussion: » 4 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Steve Palumbo
» Sharks offense in heating up; have they turned a corner?
» Radim Simek's return will help, but San Jose's issues run deep
» The Last Place Sharks; Should We Get Used To It?
» Evander Kane helping Sharks get back on track
» Patrick Marleau's big return masks Sharks woes