Today is the Olympic debut for our boy Paul Stastny and the rest of this years US mens hockey team.  While many of you Canadian Avs fans may have no real rooting interest in Team USA, we can all root for Stastny to have a good showing.  The mid-day start time may keep a lot of people from being able to watch but several streams should be available.  NBC will be airing a live stream.  For those with TV access the game will be on USA (right after Curling). 

I don't know what is more obvious, Miller starting in net for USA or Anderson starting in the next (and every) Avalanche game.  Jonas Hiller will be in net for the Swiss team.  Defenseman Mark Streit, along with Hiller, are the only NHLers on the Swiss team.  While this may look like an easy win for Team USA, the NBC preview has a warning.

The Americans are not taking the Swiss lightly. They have scouted the exhibition games the Swiss have played in the run-up to the Olympics, as well as last year's meeting in the World Championships, a 4-3 OT loss in the second round of the tournament.

But, they understand that the Swiss will have the advantage of having played and practiced together as a team for the better part of the past week, while the Americans had a grand total of one practice together.

My prediction:  While Hiller and Streit may keep the game close, the US team has too much firepower to defend.  4-1 US win.

Avs lose a hard fought game in the shootout 4-3.

1.  Defense. 

This team is gradually improving on D.  Far fewer shots allowed in this game.  Also, Foote and Liles were no longer turnover machines this game.  But Clark...

2.  Brett Clark

Awful game.  I know Hopfenkopf predicted you would cause X number of shorthanded goals this year doesn't mean you have to live up to that prediction.  Those kind of mistakes are excusable from the rookies because, well, they're rookies.  You should not be making those mistakes.  Between you and Salei, the Avs lack a 6th D-man.  Pressing maybe?

3.  Matt Duchene

I am itching for that first goal.  So are you I bet.  You need some linemates, badly.

4.  3rd and 4th lines

Bottom two lines were very good tonight.  Darcy Tucker?  What the hell man?  This is the energy guy I thought we were getting last year.  O'Reilly?  Killer game.  Great play on the 5 on 3.  The Avs need more games like this from their bottom lines.  Now only if they had a true 2nd line.

5.  The Shootout

I was wondering how Anderson would do in the shootout.  After a shaky beginning, he seemed to correct himself and gave the Avs a chance to win.  On the shooting side, some strange shooters after Stastny at 5th.  Tucker was a good call since he scored but Stewart?  Hendricks?  Sacco, you have them on the 4th line.  What about Galiardi?  Or a D-man like Liles or Quincey.  This is mostly water under (over?) the bridge since shootouts rarely go this many rounds but this is atleast an insight to your coaching decisions.

6.  Officiating

Many bad calls and non-calls.  Not to mention, Kopecy harrassing Anderson all night.  Bad night for calls.

Great win to start the season.  I am pumped.

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Come October 1st, Avs fans with DirecTV may not be able to see the opening night game.  (Luckily, the Sakic ceremony will be on Altitude.....I think.  It may just be a pre-game thing with the actual raising of #19 to the rafters occurring on Versus).  I have Comcast so I am not worried but I feel for everybody else including DDC.

So here is a run down of your options.

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IGN has posted the NHL09 rankings for all NHL players.  (Just click on the captain to see the teams rankings.)  There are few items that caught my eye though for anyone interested.  

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Since the season is now officially over, teams are allowed to trade again.  Of course, one player on the Avs (And I don't think I am alone on this one) should be prime trade bait.

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