The answer is: The St. Louis Blues.
The question?
Many would work, including such queries as: a) Who played in the Checkerdome; and, b) What team gave up the goal that sent Bobby Orr flying through the air in one of hockey’s most famous still pictures?
In this instance, though, the Blues both are the latest team to have beaten the Avalanche and also the only team in the NHL with less success on the power play in 2007-08 than Colorado.
On Saturday, as the Avalanche went through a morning practice at the Family Sports Center before traveling to Chicago for an afternoon game today against the Blackhawks, Colorado’s 14.1-percent success rate on the power play was the second-worst in the 30-team NHL.
That has been one of the major obstacles for the Avalanche as it has attempted to remain in the running for the Northwest Division title, or a playoff position altogether.
Yes, some of the ineptitude with the manpower advantage can be attributed to the Avalanche’s injury problems — including the fact that centers Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny still are out — but Colorado’s lack of success with the man advantage has been a season-long malady.
“Sometimes you have to get back to the basics,” said winger Ryan Smyth, who returned to the lineup against the Blues on Thursday night following a six-week absence with a broken foot. “Get it to the point and get it back to the net,” he said, “and bang and crash. Hopefully, you can chip one in that way and build confidence.
“Maybe we’re pressing too much and we’re thinking too much, instead of going out there and letting the puck do the work and get our opportunities.”
Smyth’s game always has been banging and crashing and blue-collar goals, but he has only two power-play goals — among his total of 11 — this season.
Winger Marek Svatos leads the team in goals, with 25, but has only two on the power play.
“I think we have to pass a little more, instead of skating with the puck,” he said. “We have to get more open and shoot a little more from the point.”
Coach Joel Quenneville said the Avs “have tried several personnel changes” on the power play. “We’ve tried some defense on the point here and there,” he said, “different personnel down low and up front. We usually have Joe (Sakic) on the back end, quarterbacking it, and usually go off of that. . . .
“We had a stretch there where the power play was productive with different personnel, but I just think the best way to get our power play going is simplification. Point shots. Second and third opportunities, tips, screens, as opposed to trying and make plays. There’s not a lot of plays to be made, there’s not a lot of time the way teams pressure and force. When power plays are struggling, they’re going to keep the pressure on.”
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
COLORADO AT CHICAGO
11 a.m. today, ALT, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Jonathan Toews: The rookie forward recently returned from an injury and has sparked the Blackhawks to back-to-back blowout victories. Toews, who scored one of the NHL’s prettiest goals against the Avs earlier this season, has top-quality speed and hands, and figures to be a Chicago fixture for years. He grew up idolizing Joe Sakic and wears No. 19 in his honor.
NOTEBOOK
Avalanche: Jose Theodore will get the start for Colorado. He is coming off a game in which he allowed three goals on seven shots before being lifted. . . . Paul Stastny (groin) and Joe Sakic (hernia surgery) both skated after Avalanche practice Saturday. Coach Joel Quenneville said both players will join the Avs on their upcoming five-game road trip, and might return at some point then. Neither player will play today or Monday against Detroit.
Blackhawks: Chicago became the first NHL team since the 1988 Los Angeles Kings to win road games on successive nights by at least five goals. The Blackhawks scored 13 goals in wins over Columbus and Nashville. . . . Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (sprained knee) was listed as questionable Saturday. If he can’t play, Patrick Lalime will. Khabibulin is 2-0-2 in his past four starts.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
