Hey MHHers.  I know there are a few of you in New York City, and having moved here myself at the end of last season, I haven't really found a good bar to go watch hockey.  Does anyone know of any good hockey bars in the City?  Or even BK or Queens.  Any places you know with the NHL Package that might be chill enough to listen to a request to watch an Avs game maybe?  That's probably a lil much to ask, but it'd be great!

I'm not a huge poster here on MHH, and I don't keep up with all the different threads as well as many of you, but from what I've seen, the mood on this board has gone down with the team's winning ways.  Also, there have been a lot of injuries to the Avalanche this season, and that has got to bring some personal tribulation to not only the injured players but their friends and teammates, too.

So, I'd like to create a place here on MHH where we can be positive.  This isn't a dorky find the silver lining on our last loss thread.  I'm a big believer in the flow of energies in this world and, as hokey as it sounds, I think personal positivity can have a big effect on the world, even if that effect isn't tangible.

We follow this team closely and we get pretty attached to the players, coaches, and other visible figures, to the point where I believe most fans genuinely care about them, even though we have never and probably will never meet them.  So, I'd like to send my positive energy to all the players, not because I'm trying to snap the losing streak (though that would be cool), but because I hope they are able to lead lives of happiness.

Specific thoughts after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

(Written for Avalanche Breakaway but posted here, cuz I was too dumb to do a fanshot.)

Apparently, some dude named Peter Forsberg has been practicing with the Colorado Avalanche.  A few years ago he was allegedly a pretty good player, winning some cardiovascular award in 2003, and also eating out of an apparently very special bowl made by some chap named Stanley a couple times.  If you like him a whole lot, you can call him Faux Pas, which might mean something in Scandinavian, I think.

Mr. Forsberg has been away from the game of hockey for, like, ever, and chances are he's going to die of a broken body before ever playing another NHL game, causing Avalanche fans across the world to ponder suicide, but just in case that doesn't happen, I'd like to take a minute to look at the many options the Avalanche organization has if, indeed, Foppa pries his right foot out of the grave and returns.

Continue reading this post »

if you weren't aware, Beachie, TheIncredibleEdibleYETI, and I all got together for the Avs-Kings game tonight and we set up some rules for a drinking game.  If you read through the re-cap, you'll notice some references to said drinking game, so after the jump, check out the rules that governed out drunkenness.

Continue reading this post »

Now, I know it's never going to happen, but I got to thinking earlier today...what does our lineup look like when everone is healthy?  Here's what we'll have without any line combos predicated (and of course, some players can move around).

Center: Stastny, Duchene, O'Reily, Dupuis.

Left Wing: Jones, Mueller, Galiardi, Fleischman, Mauldin, Van der Gulik.

Right Wing: Stewart, Hejduk, Winnik, Yip, Porter, Koci.

Defense: Liles, Shattenkirk, Wilson, Quincey, Hunwick, O'Byrne, Cumisky.

Goaltender: Anderson, Budaj.

I probably missed someone.  But jump with me for prospective combos!

Continue reading this post »

Avalanche Sophomore GM Greg "The Shermanator" Sherman is finally showing Avs fans that he is a man with a plan, other than "hurry up and wait" for our youth to take us to new heights.  Under Sherman's leadership, the organization is finally cashing in on all those years of great drafting (especially of blue-liners), and though his style may not be that of big trading Pierre Lacroix, under whom the Avs enjoyed constant success, he is certainly crafting a team that's going in the right direction.

Continue reading this post »

Even the common hockey observer knows that a Hat Trick is three goals, but only the enthusiasts know that a Gordie Howe Hat Trick is one goal, one assist, and one fight.  However, only the most enthusiastic of hockey enthusiasts know about an entire list of other specialty hat tricks like the Howe Trick.  MHH members are some of the most enthusiastic (to the point of being deranged, sometimes) hockey fans I've ever met, so I think it's only right that, after the jump, they get in on the loop for some of these unique hockey Tricks.

Continue reading this post »

It's October, and hockey fans across the continent are beaming with excitement for the young and budding NHL hockey season. Fans of both the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils have a lot to look forward to this season.  Devils fans are already looking forward to:

• Ilya Kovalchuk averaging four goals a night.
• On an off night by Kovy, when he only manages a hat trick, Zach Parise picking up the slack and registering at least 5 points.
• Marin Brodeur's 700th win.  Or is it 800?  Who can keep track these days.
• Placing Brian Rolston on Long Term Injured Reserve.

Similarly, Avs fans have a lot of exciting questions to be answered this season, too:

• Who will take Marek Svatos and Darcy Tucker's role at taking a poorly timed 3rd period penalty?
• Approximately how many total team concussions will the Avalanche sustain this year? 5-10, or more like 10-20?
• Will a freak injury take out David Jones for the season or Paul Stastny?  Or both?
• Who will wear a snazier suit in the press box: Jonas Holos or Mark Olver?
• Will Craig Anderson play 80 games, or will he be victim to some Keith Ballard-induced injury, forcing Coach Sacco to give Budaj a few starts?

While these question are pretty damn interesting in their own right, the story lines surrounding tonight's game are even more so!  Jump with me and see why tonight's game is particularly exciting for the Avalanche and their fans.

Continue reading this post »

DENVER - Avalanche beat writer and source of all hockey knowledge Adrian Dater reported in his critically acclaimed blog this morning that the NHL had indeed rejected a deal between the Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes that would have brought Colorado's wayward son Wojtek Wolski back home to the Mile High City.  Dater was forced to delete the blog post minutes later, as hit-men allegedly from Gary Betman's office surrounded his house armed with sharp hockey sticks and Darren McCarty jerseys.

Continue reading this post »

Okay, so I'm too lazy to make a fancy schmancy attachment of the voting charts that Puck Daddy posted after the awards ceremony...but I'm not so lazy that I didn't look at them.  And you should, too!  GO!

Obviously, we're all infuriated that both Ducene and Sacco finished THIRD in their respective categories.  It's crap, we all know it, but obviously no one can see past the shiny lights of the east coast to notice the awesome things that happened in our lowly cow town last season.  Bastards.

Anyway, I noticed a couple other interesting things besides that...in the Lady Byng and Selke categories.  Got your attention...JUMP with me!

Continue reading this post »

Dear Colorado Avalanche of 2009-10,

I am writing this to you because...well, I love you.  There's just no other way to put it.  I have loved hockey since the burgundy and blue moved to Denver in 1995 and shortly thereafter brought the city its first championship.  And I have followed the team loyally ever since.  But this season was special.  This year was really something.

My dearest Avalanche, I will never forget this season.  You have given me hope in the franchise once again, and it came so much quicker than I thought it would.  You were hated from the beginning of the year, picked to finish in the cellar once again.  I'll admit that I even predicted you'd miss the playoffs and make for a long, hard, hockey-less summer.  But you persevered, ignoring expectations, and proved that anyone who predicted a repeat performance of last season was just plain ignorant.

Thoughout the season, phrases like "come down to earth" and "Corsi" and "the slide now begins" were thrown at you all year. Did you listen to them?  Did you let the pressure of expected failure press down on your shoulders and drive you into the ground, into the cellar, out of the playoff picture?  No, dear Colorado Avalanche, you did not.  Indeed, you did quite the opposite.  You fought through the injuries of top and bottom six forwards, important defensemen, and even the starting goalie.  In the face of doubters you skated hard and continued to amass points despite trials and tribulations.  For that, you inspire me, and for that you earn my love.

At this time, my beloved Avalanche, I'd like to take a moment to speak to some of you individually, to share my love an appreciation with some of the men who inspired.

Continue reading this post »

My fellow Avaholics, the time has come for the Avalanche to make their glorious return back to post-season hockey.  Yes, we are a spoiled lot, having seen a playoff appearance by this team in all but two seasons since they arrived in the Mile High City in 1995.  But I don't care.  It seems like forever.  Suck it, Kings fans.

If you're like me, you've been scouring the internet for analysis and predictions for this upcoming series.  And you've probably noticed a common theme: the phrase "best possible match-up" for the Sharks.  Well, fuck that.  If I had enough fingers, I'd make a set of brass knuckles that read "best possible match-up" and then punch Rob Blake in the face.

Instead of assaulting Gentleman Rob, I guess what I'll do instead is lay out the law as far as how the Avs will beat the Sharks this series.  Follow the jump for the Keys to Success!

Continue reading this post »