| 14 February 2010
We’re at the Olympic break and the Avs are still where they started this 20 game stretch - in 1st place in the Northwest. (Ok, so technically the Canucks are in first, but both teams have played 61 games and both teams have 76 points.) They’ve been able to keep pace with Vancouver and build a 7 point lead over 8th place Calgary. Oh, and the already have 7 more points less last year’s team in 21less games. Let’s find out who played well, who didn’t and what the numbers say about Colorado over games 41-61.
ADB’s 3 Stars:
1. Matt Duchene - Matt Duchene was the Avs best center over these 20 games. He outscored Stastny for the first time over this 20 game stretch. Screw the so-called "rookie wall" (you know, the one that John Tavares hit) - as the season has gone on, #9 has just gotten better and better. Just looks at Matt’s progression over the 20 game stretches:
- Games 1-20: 2 goals, -7
- Games 21-40: 8 goals, Even
- Games 41-61: 10 goals, +6
2. Brandon Yip - The surprising 24-year old rookie came out of nowhere to have a very special 20 games. Just look at the numbers: Yip had 10 goals (tied with Duchene for 1st on the team) and 17 points (tied with Stewart for 2nd). More on Yip below...
3. Craig Anderson - The workhorse played in 20 of 21 games and came away with 13 wins and 3 shutouts. Nuff said.
ABD’s 3 Goats:
1. Wojtek Wolski - No one had a better 21-40 game stretch - Wolski had 22 points and 6 goals. Well, unfortunately he was ice cold over the last 20. 9 points and 2 goals (1 of which was a gift empty netter from Stewey.) That's more than a 50% drop in production.
2. Marek Svatos - Svatos saw action in 9 games and a mere 1 point and 2 PIM in show for it. Ouch.
3. Cody McLeod - Cody Mac was a difference maker in a couple of games (the Rangers game immediately comes to mind) but the bottom line is #55 only had 4 points and was a team worst -8.
Most surprising thing:
Brandon Yip - Just look at Brandon’s number. Nothing says “We don’t expect you to make this team” like assigning a player #59. Add to that already stacked deck a broken hand suffered during a fight in the Avs first preseason game in Sept that kept him from playing hockey until December. Yip was called up after 6 games in Lake Erie and his play has simply made it impossible from keep #59 out of the lineup.
Most expected thing:
Craig Anderson’s steady play - Anderson has been a top 5 goaltender in the NHL season. He rarely has a bad period, let alone a bad game. After 53 games, this elite play is now expected from Andy. What a difference a season makes, huh Avs fans?
Team Stats:
Record: 13-8-0
Standings: tied for 1st in division, 6th in the Western Conference
Points: 26 (of 42)
Average points per game: 1.24* (+0.09) - the italicized number is the difference from games 21-40.
*As a baseline – San Jose (last year’s President’s Cup winners) averaged 1.42 points a game and Anaheim (lowest point total who made the playoffs) averaged 1.11 points a game – anything above 1.20 is going to get you into the playoffs.
Home record: 9-3-0
Points: 18 (of 24)
Average points per game: 1.50 (+0.25)
Road record: 4-5-0
Points: 8 (of 18)
Average points per game: 0.89 (-0.21)
Goal differential: +16 (Avs: 59 - Opponents: 43) (+18)
*includes goals awarded for winning a shootout
Special Teams:
Power Play: 17.1%, 20th in the NHL (-3 places)
Penalty Kill: 83.2%, tied for 10th in the NHL (+5 places)
*percentage includes games 1 – 40.
Shootout Record:
2-0 (1-2)
Individual Stats:
Points Leaders:
1. Matt Duchene - 18
2. Chris Stewart / Brandon Yip -17
Goal Leaders:
1. Matt Duchene / Brandon Yip - 10
3. Chris Stewart - 8
Assists Leaders:
1. Paul Stastny - 12
2. John Michael Liles / Chris Stewart - 9
Plus / Minus:
Plus leader: Brett Clark / Brandon Yip (+10)
Minus leader: Cody McLeod (- 8)
*Plus / Minus can be a really misleading stat when considered across the NHL as a whole, but I believe plus / minus has value when viewed in the context of the same team.
Goalies:
Anderson – 20 games, 13-7, .936
Budaj – 1 game, 0-1, .900
Final Thought:
The Avs were great at home, but were less than .500 on the road. Two of those wins came in the shootout, which means the Avs could have very easily come away with only 6 points in those 9 games. 10 of the last 21 are on the road - the Avs will need better efforts on the road in order to have a shot at the Northwest crown.
Check back here at the end of the regular season for a look back at games 62-82.
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