Avs as Ugly as a Great White

That was about the ugliest game I’ve seen this team play.  As an Avs fan I’m tempted to think that the Avs made the Sharks look good.

If I’m a Sharks fan I’ve got to be thinking, “Finally, a dominating performance!”

Realistically it’s in between.  The Avs really let the Sharks take it to them and were soon playing a reactionary game.  That rarely goes well.

Let’s look at why this went to H. E. double-hockey-sticks in a hand-basket and my advice for Joe Sacco.  And no, I’m not an expert…but I did see the replay.

With Duchene playing on a second line with Tucker and Svatos, it’s unlikely that good things are going to happen.  I think Sacco is missing an obvious fact: This season, Svatos has done nothing well.  But one thing he used to do well is play the sniper.  The only place he could remotely have a chance of playing that role again is on the top line.  Put him with Stastny and move either Galiardi or Stewart down to the second line.

Stewart offers the advantage of creating some room with his size and his attitude.  Though I’m not sure where that attitude has been for a couple weeks.

Galiardi has been able to do everything this team could ask of him.  He can play either wing and he and Duchene had some good chemistry together earlier in the season.

Also, I think Sacco is overdue to break up the top line of Galiardi, Stastny and Stewart.  They have a combined total of ONE POINT in the last three games.  That’s bad people!

That’s Joe Thornton bad.

Ok, that was low, but then Avs fans are feeling pretty low today.

Then again, if you are a Sharks fan you’ve got to be wondering about Jumbo Joe.  Thursday night the Sharks score five goals and Thornton has zero points.  Wow.  Zero points against an Avs team that was completely off their game and even had the back up goalie in for nearly 10 minutes.

The Colorado Avalanche can skate and compete with the Sharks but they have to be very, very good.  And confident.  I think as much as anything we saw a team that got knocked on their collective butts and didn’t have the confidence to get up and fight.  Young teams ride high and low and it can change in a second.  They have to play the game that Sacco has been preaching all season long, and then they will have a chance.

Saturday night when these two teams meet again the Avs can’t dwell on their injuries, can’t worry about the officiating, can’t depend on Craig Anderson to bail them out.

It’s a confidence game.