#2 Dallas Stars vs. #7 Colorado Avalanche~~ 1st Round

[Buff_bronc_fan]

All right Avs fans... After what seems like an eternity- it's playoff time again. At one point this was my favorite time of the year, even ahead of football... But the glory days seem to be over here in Colorado. No more 1st round gimmes, no more high payroll/big market dynasties.

Instead we get one of the best teams in the league, Dallas, who has beat the Avs 3/4 times this year. Dallas has always been solid defensively, and they have a great goaltender in Marty Turco.

The Stars are probably the last team I would have like to have seen in the 1st round-- They have had the Avs number in the playoffs in the past. As usual, the series will probably come down to goaltending, which is terrifying for Avs fans. Hopefully Budaj or Theodore can get hot, otherwise it could get ugly.


Either way, :beer: here's to some playoff hockey-- I'll be posting in here throughout the series, since some things can get buried in the NHL thread.

Go Avs! :rockon:

[Medford Bronco]

All right Avs fans... After what seems like an eternity- it's playoff time again. At one point this was my favorite time of the year, even ahead of football... But the glory days seem to be over here in Colorado. No more 1st round gimmes, no more high payroll/big market dynasties.

Instead we get one of the best teams in the league, Dallas, who has beat the Avs 3/4 times this year. Dallas has always been solid defensively, and they have a great goaltender in Marty Turco.

The Stars are probably the last team I would have like to have seen in the 1st round-- They have had the Avs number in the playoffs in the past. As usual, the series will probably come down to goaltending, which is terrifying for Avs fans. Hopefully Budaj or Theodore can get hot, otherwise it could get ugly.


Either way, :beer: here's to some playoff hockey-- I'll be posting in here throughout the series, since some things can get buried in the NHL thread.

Go Avs! :rockon:

Buff

If Jose Theodore can recapture the goaltending of 4 years ago when he won the Hart trophy anything is possible. For you guys I will root for the Avs.

However in the East my Canes are struggling and have a tough matchup with the Canadiens. I just hope they can get back to winning hockey. we shall see. :D

[Buff_bronc_fan]

Buff

If Jose Theodore can recapture the goaltending of 4 years ago when he won the Hart trophy anything is possible. For you guys I will root for the Avs.

However in the East my Canes are struggling and have a tough matchup with the Canadiens. I just hope they can get back to winning hockey. we shall see. :D


Well that's a big IF in regard to Theofore Med, but you're right, if he can regain his Hart trophy form he will be tough-- That's why Pierre Laqioux brought him in. I just don't know though, coming off an injury and having his time limited this season, I can't see him just being able to jump into playoff form, but I hope I'm wrong...

In regard to your series, it should be a good one. Most of the experts like the 'Canes, but I'm interested to see how that rookie goalie is gonna hold up under playoff pressure. I'll be rooting for Carolina though. I could lie and say I'm doing it on your account ;) but really I just have a strict 'root against canada' policy. That especially includes The Habs. (Although I actually don't mind the Maple Leafs, so I guess they're the exception to my Canada rule.)

[underrated29]

go avs..

i love the leafs too. but not much other canadian fan.

personally i think the avs are screwed against dallas. I hope hope hope hope not, but i just dont see the power we used to have.

our scoring has been in a huge slump, we always take it outside and never try to split the defense or go up the middle, and our defense make too many mistakes in our zone, its what kills us every game,

goaltending, yeah it sucks for now, unfortunately, but ina few years i think we have got something going for us.

budaj for a rookie has been doing pretty well i think- especially considering his supporting cast. but well see.

i have been out for a while when do the playoffs start? is it next fri? or am i imagining?

oh well :beer: to the defeat of the stars

[underrated29]

my team just lost in the playoffs 9-3. lets hope the avs play better then we did.

[NameUsedBefore]

5-2 Avs

Avalanche dominated in almost every aspect. What's a bonus is that one of the goal's against Theodore was a really bad play by our defense and the other one was just an awesome shot (that went over his glove hand of all things; he needs to improve that) so he played excellent. Turco is collapsing again; he was even doing theatrics in the third period trying to get a penalty called.

[Buff_bronc_fan]

Well it's 3-0 Avs after 1 period in Dallas, so naturally since I am coming to gloat a little bit I'm sure the Stars will mount some ridiculous comeback...

Either way, this series has started pretty much opposite of how I thought it might. I was fearful of the Avs lack of offensive production, their recent power-play woes and goaltending. Thus far, the Avs offense has been off the charts, the powerplay is producing, and Theodore has outperformed Turco hands down.

Now there is plenty of hockey to still be played, but if the Avs can keep this offense going it could be a short series. In any case, I'm enjoying myself thoroughly :D -- Go Avs!

[watchthemiddle]

Well it's 3-0 Avs after 1 period in Dallas, so naturally since I am coming to gloat a little bit I'm sure the Stars will mount some ridiculous comeback...

Either way, this series has started pretty much opposite of how I thought it might. I was fearful of the Avs lack of offensive production, their recent power-play woes and goaltending. Thus far, the Avs offense has been off the charts, the powerplay is producing, and Theodore has outperformed Turco hands down.

Now there is plenty of hockey to still be played, but if the Avs can keep this offense going it could be a short series. In any case, I'm enjoying myself thoroughly :D -- Go Avs!


Dang.....at work and can't watch it...I checked ESPN about 15 minutes ago and there was 15 minutes left in the 1st and it was zip zip....they must have come out firiing tonight..

[Buff_bronc_fan]

Dang.....at work and can't watch it...I checked ESPN about 15 minutes ago and there was 15 minutes left in the 1st and it was zip zip....they must have come out firiing tonight..


Well I knew that my posting here would jinx the Avs... 2 Star goals in 6 minutes since I posted this-- 3-2 Colorado with 14:06 in the 2nd. :ugh:

[underrated29]

i am so F-ING PISSED right now! we better come back and skate in the third, otherwise i might castrate myself!

[Buff_bronc_fan]

i am so F-ING PISSED right now! we better come back and skate in the third, otherwise i might castrate myself!


Haha, well I'm a little pissed myself... But at no point did castrating myself enter my mind as being an option. :heh:

[Buff_bronc_fan]

Wow, what a game... You're seeing the new NHL at its best.

In years past there would have been so much clutching and grabbing that a 3-0 lead woulda been lights out. You have to give the Stars credit for throwing everything in the world at the net and crawling back in it-- But man, what a great comeback by the Avs, and what offensive production from everyone, including the defensemen.

2-0 coming back to Denver, sweet :cheers:

[Southstander]

Accoring to AM950 the fan, Colorado is 12-2 all time when leading a series. So that bodes well for us.

[watchthemiddle]

WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!!

What a great game this 3rd one is......56 seconds left the AVS tie it up...

[Southstander]

Avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!avs Win!!!!

[BVP]

Go AVS! Let's sweep em' and call it a series, sit back, and watch Edmonton beat Detroit.

[Southstander]

I agree BVP, Break out the burgundy brooms.

[Medford Bronco]

I agree BVP, Break out the burgundy brooms.

Nice sig southstander

I would be shocked to see the Avs not win tonight :beer:

Marty Turco and the Stars are done.

For me I hope my Canes square their series at 2 and I also like Buffalo to bounce back tonight and beat the Flyers :coffee:

[Southstander]

Game 5 is a must win for the Avs, We can't let the Stars hang around.

[bcbronc]

Nice sig southstander

I would be shocked to see the Avs not win tonight :beer:

Marty Turco and the Stars are done.

For me I hope my Canes square their series at 2 and I also like Buffalo to bounce back tonight and beat the Flyers :coffee:


well, i guess if you are going to go 1 for 3, you got the important one right. :mad:

i think the canadiens are done. im not throwing in the towel just yet, but i think the canes are starting to wear them down.

dallas actually showed up for a game. most likely too little, too late though, but we will see. i think dallas will win in dallas, and then the pressure will be on for game 6. i just want to remind avs fans how well coach Q did in st louis in the playoffs. i clearly remember the blues under coach Q blowing a 3-1 lead to the canucks (the only playoff series crawford could win in vancouver).

the buffalo series is a tough one to call. i havent watched a full game, but i have watched some of the last 2. buffalo was the better team tonight, but they couldnt score on breakaways (had a ton of them), and philly has some guy in #21 who is pretty good. if one team can have a goalie win a road game for them, that might be the difference.

[NameUsedBefore]

Colorado advances in a game Jose Theodore steals!

[Medford Bronco]

great win by the Avs. Andrew Brunette goal was magic. Joe Sakic looks great and Jose Theordore looked like his 2002 form with Montreal, which is good for Avs fans.

Good luck in the next round :D

[Buff_bronc_fan]

great win by the Avs. Andrew Brunette goal was magic. Joe Sakic looks great and Jose Theordore looked like his 2002 form with Montreal, which is good for Avs fans.

Good luck in the next round :D


Thanks Med... I was definitely surprised about the overall outcome of the series-- but I was prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. It looks like Carolina may be able to pull out the series yet, despite their horrid start. Good luck closing out your series, and let's hope we can continue our banter in round 2. :salute: