Avs 1 - Sharks 0: Scoring Chances, Game Three

26:48.  That's how long the Colorado Avalanche went without a scoring chance last night.  With 5:57 to go in the second period, the Avs had their last chance of the night, after which the Sharks reeled off 14 chances in a row before Steve Smithing themselves in overtime.  Colorado didn't have a single scoring chance in the third period and, in fact, were rarely in the San Jose zone.

The story of the night was obviously Craig Anderson, but the true story of this series is just how badly the Avalanche have played.  Three nights ago, Evgeni Nabokov couldn't stop anything thrown his way, yet the Avalanche couldn't win against a goaltender with a .780 save percentage.  Last night, the Avs were stuck in their own end for most of the night and but for the insanity that is Craig Anderson, they should have lost by 4. 

Remember, this was a game in Denver, so the Avs had the advantage of the matchups, and the results were still awful.

San Jose outchanced Colorado 19-5 at even strength and 26-5 overall.  I don't recall ever seeing a game that was this lopsided in the chances department.  The Avs had zero chances in the third period and only four shots on goal.

The Corsi totals tell the same story.  The Avs were once again shelled at even strength, ending the game at a ridiculous -39, meaning that their Corsi total is -69 over the last two games.  The last two games of this series have seen the Avalanche outchanced 33 - 15 at even strength and 60-21 overall and yet they have a win. 

Scoring Chances for NHL Game Number 30153

Perhaps I should have rated this 'R' for adult viewing as the numbers themselves are gruesome and probably not fit for children.  Avs coach Joe Sacco is limited by his weak roster and chose to go with a power-versus-power matchup - Paul Stastny on Joe Thornton.  The results weren't good as Stastny posted a -11 on the Corsi meter and -8 on the scoring chances chart.  That matchup meant that Joe Pavelski got to see Matt Duchene on a regular basis.  The results were slightly better as Duchene posted a -10 Corsi and a -4 in scoring chances.

In reality, Colorado is going to have to get all-universe goaltending the rest of the way to win this series.  There's just not enough talent, and not enough two-way players on the Avalanche to hang with the Sharks.