Giddyap!

So I’ve gotten behind…oops! That’s bound to happen with school starting and my massive amounts of devoirs francais as well as the reorganization of my department at work... Anyways, here’s all the news that’s fit to print…

DU won their exhibition game against the Dinos in a 6-3 contest on September 30. The Dinos tallied the first score of the game in the first, and then followed in the second with another goal. DU went on to score 6 unanswered goals in the space of 22 minutes. With 10 seconds left the Dinos scored one last time. Both Glenn Fisher and Peter Mannino had great showings, though it seemed the team played better in front of Mannino as all the DU goals were scored while he was in net. The most astonishing thing about this game was the amount of penalties called. DU had 15 penalties for 30 minutes while the Dinos had 21 penalties for 42 minutes.

Other college teams in Colorado also faced the Dinos. CC lost 4-2 on October 1. In one of the most embarrassing losses in recent history, CC put 53 shots on goal and allowed 4 power play goals. CC was down 3-0 before senior Brandon Polich scored with less than 15 seconds left in the second period. The Air Force Academy faced the Dinos on October 2, taking a win in a 4-2 game.

In other DU news, the Pioneers opened their 2006-2007 season in Oxford, Ohio at the Icebreaker Tournament. DU faced the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in the evening game of the tournament. DU really had no chance, this being the first game the Redhawks played in their brand new ice arena. Miami scored 5 goals on 31 shots. Mannino’s play was mediocre at best. The next evening DU faced Colgate in third place game, winning 3-2 with three power play goals in the second period. Glenn Fisher took the win in net.

Last weekend, DU visited the St. Cloud State Huskies. In the first game of the series on Friday night, Glenn Fisher faced a career 50 shots, making a career high 47 saves to help the Pioneers win 4-3 in OT. Bobby Goepfert on the other end of the ice only faced 23 shots for the night. Admittedly, SCSU should have won this game. It was a nice steal for Glenn Fisher, who then started on Saturday night to disastrous results. Fisher allowed 4 goals on a mere 11 shots before he was pulled in favor of Peter Mannino, who then allowed 1 goal on 9 shots. Bobby Goepfert turned in an average performance, allowing 2 goals on 20 shots. Once again, Jon Campion’s personal vendetta against DU reared its ugly head in the 12 penalties called against DU (in contrast, only 7 were called against SCSU) during the weekend…

In other Colorado College news, CC played 4 non-conference (cupcake) games, taking 3 wins and on embarrassing tie. CC has faced Air Force (2-1 win for CC), Alabama-Huntsville (8-1 win for CC), Nebraska-Omaha (2-2 tie……), and Merrimack (5-0 win for CC). Now some people might be getting the mistaken impression that CC is actually going to do alright this year after losing their top 4 scorers, however taking a look at the teams CC has faced thus far doesn’t really who how they will match-up against Championship caliber teams…just give it time. I think this coming weekend’s match-up versus New Hampshire will be a much better measure of what to expect from the Tigers this season.

The Avs dropped their first two games of the season on October 4 and 5. Both were lost by the score of 3-2 in overtime though each game had a very different feel to it. In the home/season opener on October 4, the Avs were up 2-0 against the Dallas Stars going into the third period after Joe Sakic and Wojtek Wolski each scored 46 seconds apart in the first period. Former Stars captain Mike “prettiest hair in the NHL” Modano scored against Jose Theodore on a pass from Eric “where the hell am I” Lindros. 28 seconds later newcomer Loui “I’m too cool to have an S in my first name but I got two in my last name to over compensate” Eriksson scored to tie the game. It appeared the Avs were going to be able to win when Daryl “Mr. right place at the right time” Sydor was called for slashing at the 20 minute mark of the third period. However the Avs were only able to muster 3 shots on Marty “I’ve the fattest ass in the NHL and I love Modano” Turco in the OT period before he cleared the puck at the exact moment Sydor was exiting the penalty box, Sydor then went on the score the game winning goal. On a side note, would like to know who Eriksson was rewarded? He was sent to the AHL…gotta love the Stars…

In the second of the Avs overtime loses, the Wild scored the first two goals of the game. Both tallies came from quite possibly the scariest line in the NHL, Branko “I’ve got too many letters in my last name” Radivojevic, Marian “isn’t my Mohawk pretty?” Gaborik, and Pavol “I finally get to play with my lover in the NHL even though it’s for a team that sucks just as bad as the team I just came from” Demitra. This all-Slovak line moves like they were always meant to be a line and they score beautiful goals. Sophomore Brad Richardson was the best player for the Avs scoring twice for the Avs, once shorthand and unassisted, and again assisted by Ian Laperriere. He was such a rock star! Unfortunately, the Avs couldn’t pull the win out in the OT period as Todd “I look like an accountant” White scored in the first minute. Peter Budaj made a good showing, keeping the Avs in the game several times…

The Avs finally won a game on October 8 when the Vancouver Canucks came to visit. Marek Svatos scored two goals to help the Avalanche beat their Northwestern Division rivals in a 3-2 game. In our first look at Roberto Luongo, we saw glimpses of brilliance…Theodore played his best game yet.

After 6 days rest, the Avalanche faced the Edmonton Oilers on October 14. My favorite Mullet (aka Ryan Smyth) scored twice to lead the Oilers in a 4-3 victory at the Pepsi Center. Theodore let in a few softies on 25 shots on goal for a disappointing performance. Paul Stastny turned in another great performance for the Avs, assisting on 2 of the Avalanche’s three goals and garnering the third star of the game.

On October 16, the Chicago Blackhawks came to town. In another disappointing loss, the silver lining seems to be Tyler Arnason, who appears to have gotten his groove back as he tallied a goal and assist. There have been many questions regarding how Arnason will acquit himself this year and it looks as though he might be just fine.

The Avalanche go on their first road trip of the season this week, visiting Toronto (10/18), Ottawa (10/19), and Montreal (10/21). My best guess is that Propecia Joe (who, let me have an extremely girlie moment here, is way hotter in person than in his pictures….) will play the Toronto and Montreal games, while Budaj covers Ottawa. But it could be the other way or maybe Propecia Joe will play all the games, only time will tell.

On a final note, Senior Forward JD Corbin has broken his leg while in practice and it appears he will be out until March. This is a tough loss for the team, but definitely one that can be borne. This is even harder for JD who seems to have rotten luck with injuries (you may remember he broke his collar bone in the final practice before the CC game in the 2005 Frozen Four). I wish a very speedy recovery!