Right now, after three straight losses, I'm wondering a little bit about the Colorado Avalanche. As I type, the Avs still lead the Northwest Division, albeit by a single point over the Calgary Flames, who have two games in hand. That order could change Tuesday night when the two clubs face off in Calgary.
So my question is this: Will the Avalanche begin to fade as the season moves into the second quarter?
I think the answer falls squarely against the pads of goalie Craig Anderson. If Anderson can continue to perform at a high level, the surprising Avalanche will remain in the thick of the Western Conference race. If Anderson, who hasn't played more than 31 games in any of his previous five NHL seasons, can't maintain the high standard that he set for himself in the first quarter of the season, Colorado will have a tough time staying in the playoff hunt.
I really like what I've seen from Anderson. I believe this guy is a legit talent and not a flash in the pads. Still, I don't think anyone knows if the skinny stopper (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) will wear down under the weight of 60 or more NHL starts. Time will tell. I'm rooting for him, though. He has probably been the biggest story of the first quarter. And, no doubt, he's getting serious consideration for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
Now, here are a few of your questions.
Hey E.J., do you think Dany Heatley is the answer the San Jose Sharks need to get over their playoff woes? -- Ryan B., San Carlos, Calif.
Ryan, I think Heatley has been a nice addition to their lineup. Last season, in their last 20 games, the San Jose Sharks had trouble scoring. That should be much less of a problem with a natural goal-scorer like Heatley, who's currently on pace for his third 50-goal season.
Still, I don't think his addition alone will be a difference maker for the Sharks in the spring. I think they need to add another quality second-pair defenseman. That's not so easy to do, especially considering their salary cap status.
I think Heatley can help the Sharks (and their fans) get to where they want to go, but he's not the last piece in the puzzle.
To read about why the Rangers are in trouble, Hradek's expectations for Anze Kopitar and whether the Ducks can turn it around, you must be an ESPN Insider.
E.J. Hradek
Senior Writer, ESPN The MagazineABOUT THIS BLOG
E.J. Hradek
E.J. Hradek is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine, joining the staff prior to its launch in 1998. He began covering hockey as a writer/editor for Hockey Illustrated in 1989. The following year, he beat the Stars to Dallas (by three years), taking over as the editor of Beckett Hockey Monthly. When the Stars finally did arrive in Big D, he hosted a weekly hockey radio show and tried (unsuccessfully) to convert ESPN's Skip Bayless to the greatest game on ice.
In 1996, Hradek left Dallas, but not the Stars. Relocating back to the New York area, he became a part-time pro scout for the club, seeing more than 100 NHL/AHL games for each of the next two seasons. The scouting gig was a great learning experience, offering a different view of the game.
Hradek grew up in Tuckahoe, N.Y., about a 40-minute train ride from New York City. Despite the proximity to the Rangers, Hradek embraced the Islanders when the expansion franchise debuted in 1972. Eight years later, he was part of the sellout crowd at the Nassau Coliseum that witnessed the Islanders' first Stanley Cup championship.
