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Avs Game Analysis

“We Have Huge Two Points” – Pavel Francouz Steals One In Carolina

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Avalanche Hurricanes

Frankie says…relax. Look it up, kids. It’s a song from the 1980s, when people in this country used to have fun. Pavel Francouz was Frankie tonight, and if he didn’t go Hollywood (I won’t give up on this pop culture reference yet, not by a long shot), he at least went full Triangle on the Carolina Hurricanes.



Outshot 48-15, Frankie told Colorado Avalanche fans they could relax in the end, in a 3-2 overtime victory in Raleigh. The Avalanche swept the season series from the Hurricanes, beating them twice in a week.

 

Too many great saves by Frankie tonight to mention individually. Honestly, Frankie stole the hockey game, a game the Avalanche had NO business winning. Best goaltending performance I’ve seen in a long time. Memories that come to mind: Craig Anderson beating San Jose in a playoff game, 2010, Patrick Roy on….numerous occasions.

Also, a great quote from Frankie to Kyle Keefe right after the game:

This was a stagecoach robbery tonight, folks. The Hurricanes had the puck for what seemed the entire hockey game, and the final shot totals reflect that. But somehow the Avalanche won the game, on an overtime goal from Artturi “Mr. Clutch” Lehkonen, off a great pass on a 3-on-2 from J.T. Compher.

Lehkonen one-timed a slapper past Antti Raanta, and that was the hockey game. A great win for the Avs, a great win for Frankie.

When the Hurricanes didn’t score on their power play with 1:49 left in regulation, on an Alex Newhook accidental high stick, I knew the Avalanche would win. Carolina was just jittery all night in the clutch to know they’d blown their last, best chance to beat the defending Stanley Cup champions in their barn.

TAKEAWAYS AND OBSERVATIONS

  • Newhook had a great game, the accidental high-stick notwithstanding. He scored a great mini-breakaway goal, after a great pass from Josh Manson, and almost scored a couple other times.
  • Poor Andreas Englund. The recent call-up from the Eagles bodychecks Frankie late in the game, leading to the tying goal for Carolina. Not sure what kind of blame Jared Bednar will place on No. 88 for that, but no doubt Englund isn’t feeling great about that tonight.

  • OK, now let’s state the obvious: The Avalanche can’t play games like this and expect to win. Frankie bailed his team’s ass out tongiht, but a professional hockey team should never get just 14 shots on goal in an overtime game.
  • Cale Makar played 32:48 in the game.
  • Carolina is a good team. This could have been a Cup Final preview. That said, the Hurricanes have some problems in goal, with Raanta. Freddy Andersen is hurt. Carolina can only hope he comes back soon.
  • Englund’s Corsi tonight: Two events for, 14 against. Not good, Bob.
  • Then again, Andrew Cogliano’s 4-20 Corsi wasn’t too good either.
  • Nor was Erik Johnson’s 4-24.
  • Or Anton Blidh’s 1-9.
  • Or, Logan O’Connor’s 3-19.
  • Makar’s Corsi was 16-17. Along with Newhook and Pavel Francouz, they were the best players for the Avalanche tonight, along with Lehks.
  • By the way, some great analysis in the Altitude studio tonight by Adam Foote. Looking sharp too:

  • Keep in mind, Avalanche playing without five good players right now (Landeskog, Girard, Byram, Nichushkin, Helm).

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