ROCKIES EXCELLENT PLAY CONTINUES, DEFENCE SHUTS IT DOWN

 

Denver

 

Don’t look now, but the high powered Colorado Rockies roster is starting to play some defence too. The majority of Rockies' talk this season has been surrounding their ability to fill the net. It should be the headline considering they are doing so at a record pace and have all five of the league's best producers in their line up. 

 

GM Mike Smith said, “We knew we were going to lose (Peter) Stastny. That’s one of the best scorers to ever play the game. The coaching staff stressed to the club that everyone would need to pick up some slack. But if they all took a small step forward, as a group, that we would be fine. The Boys are making it happen”.

 

Colorado appeared to ride their offensive dominance each game throwing defence to the back burner and just letting it fly. The Rockies have recently found their complete game and are no longer trading scoring chances. They’ve still managed to score almost 6 goals a game and have trimmed down their goals allowed to a cunny hair above 3. Kelly Hrudey has appreciated the focus on keeping the game from being a track meet.

 

He said, “I believe I am capable of making one more save than the guy at the other end. But it does get a little taxing with the odd man rushes. It’s my job with whatever is in front of me. I get that. I think this week we really focused on keeping structured through the neutral zone. That helped the team all around.” 

 

The numbers don’t lie. Hrudey capped off his week with a shutout against the visiting Oilers where he was named 2nd Star after stopping all of Edmonton’s 21 shots on net. Hrudey was also crowd the Goalie of the Week with his 5-0 record and a .931 save percentage.

 

Head Coach Andre Savard tipped his hat to Hrudey saying, “Kelly earned this one for sure. Maybe I’ve been too hot on pushing the offence with the boys. Look at what the focus on playing a touch more defensive has produced? I’m happy Kelly was recognized. He has hung in there all year and just managed the game as best he could. If we can find this game during the playoffs there’s no team in the league that touches us.”