Piece here by Sadowski of Rocky Mtn News:
"The Avalanche and Sharks combined for 19 goals in the first two games of the series.
"Against L.A., the first two games were pretty much wide open with a lot of scoring chances and a lot of goals," Avalanche right wing Milan Hejuk said. "I don't mind playing these games."
But does he expect the goal-fest to continue?
"Probably not," Hejduk said. "Both teams probably will play better defense. We'll be on the road, so we'll play good defense and hope we can force some offensive chances."
The return of defenseman Rob Blake to the lineup Saturday gave the Avalanche a boost and a completely healthy roster for the second time in a full calendar year. The only other time came in Game 7 against the Kings, a 4-0 Avalanche victory".......................................full article here...........................http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/avalanche/article/0,1299,DRMN_39_1129577,00.html
Will Nobby bounce back? Lopez piece on it here:
"It is difficult to predict how Nabokov will respond because there is no precedent.
Before Saturday, he had not allowed more than three goals in a playoff game, but he surrendered 11 goals in a two-game span during the regular season.
The third game went much better. It was a shutout.
Against the Colorado Avalanche." ............................full article here..................................http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/avalanche/article/0,1299,DRMN_39_1129588,00.html
from Denver Post:
"The Avs conducted an optional practice Sunday, with several players sitting it out. One such player was Rob Blake, but Avs coach Bob Hartley said the all-star defenseman will be in the lineup tonight. Blake, who scored two goals in Game 2, played 14 minutes before leaving early to rest what the Avs have called a leg injury. . . ."
this from faceoff:
San Jose will be in for a long off-season unless Game 2 is forgotten quickly.
Sutter put the responsibility on the Sharks' veterans.
"I've been saying over and over, they're the Stanley Cup champions for a reason," Sutter said. "I think our young players have played extremely well against them. We have some older players that have to start playing extremely well.
"They haven't been factors yet at all in this series, one way or another. They have to elevate their games."
The clearest target of Sutter's disappointment is captain Owen Nolan. His linemates, Vincent Damphousse and Adam Graves, have two goals apiece, but Nolan has been held without a goal in the Sharks' seven playoff games. Two years ago, Nolan carried San Jose to a first-round upset of top-seeded St. Louis. This year, he is playing his usual punishing forechecking game, but isn't getting results around the opponents' net.
"It's just about working hard and continuing to grind at it," Nolan said. "It's going to happen for our line eventually."....................................full article here..........................http://www.faceoff.com/nhl/teams/sharks/news/story.html?f=/news/20020505/020505News219017.html
from statfox:
Colorado as a road underdog of a half goal or pick'em on the puck line this season the O/U is 5-14
Games played at SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 5-1 (+4.0 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 5-1 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
confusing trends from covers:
COLO is 3-1 ATS & SU in the last four meetings.
The under is 5-1 in the Av's last six on the road.
The last three meetings have played over.
SJ is 7-1 ATS in their last eight at home.
The under is 3-1 in the Sharks last four at home.
The over is 4-1 in SJ's last five overall.
"The Avalanche and Sharks combined for 19 goals in the first two games of the series.
"Against L.A., the first two games were pretty much wide open with a lot of scoring chances and a lot of goals," Avalanche right wing Milan Hejuk said. "I don't mind playing these games."
But does he expect the goal-fest to continue?
"Probably not," Hejduk said. "Both teams probably will play better defense. We'll be on the road, so we'll play good defense and hope we can force some offensive chances."
The return of defenseman Rob Blake to the lineup Saturday gave the Avalanche a boost and a completely healthy roster for the second time in a full calendar year. The only other time came in Game 7 against the Kings, a 4-0 Avalanche victory".......................................full article here...........................http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/avalanche/article/0,1299,DRMN_39_1129577,00.html
Will Nobby bounce back? Lopez piece on it here:
"It is difficult to predict how Nabokov will respond because there is no precedent.
Before Saturday, he had not allowed more than three goals in a playoff game, but he surrendered 11 goals in a two-game span during the regular season.
The third game went much better. It was a shutout.
Against the Colorado Avalanche." ............................full article here..................................http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/avalanche/article/0,1299,DRMN_39_1129588,00.html
from Denver Post:
"The Avs conducted an optional practice Sunday, with several players sitting it out. One such player was Rob Blake, but Avs coach Bob Hartley said the all-star defenseman will be in the lineup tonight. Blake, who scored two goals in Game 2, played 14 minutes before leaving early to rest what the Avs have called a leg injury. . . ."
this from faceoff:
San Jose will be in for a long off-season unless Game 2 is forgotten quickly.
Sutter put the responsibility on the Sharks' veterans.
"I've been saying over and over, they're the Stanley Cup champions for a reason," Sutter said. "I think our young players have played extremely well against them. We have some older players that have to start playing extremely well.
"They haven't been factors yet at all in this series, one way or another. They have to elevate their games."
The clearest target of Sutter's disappointment is captain Owen Nolan. His linemates, Vincent Damphousse and Adam Graves, have two goals apiece, but Nolan has been held without a goal in the Sharks' seven playoff games. Two years ago, Nolan carried San Jose to a first-round upset of top-seeded St. Louis. This year, he is playing his usual punishing forechecking game, but isn't getting results around the opponents' net.
"It's just about working hard and continuing to grind at it," Nolan said. "It's going to happen for our line eventually."....................................full article here..........................http://www.faceoff.com/nhl/teams/sharks/news/story.html?f=/news/20020505/020505News219017.html
from statfox:
Colorado as a road underdog of a half goal or pick'em on the puck line this season the O/U is 5-14
Games played at SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 5-1 (+4.0 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 5-1 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
confusing trends from covers:
COLO is 3-1 ATS & SU in the last four meetings.
The under is 5-1 in the Av's last six on the road.
The last three meetings have played over.
SJ is 7-1 ATS in their last eight at home.
The under is 3-1 in the Sharks last four at home.
The over is 4-1 in SJ's last five overall.
