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Tanguay: Avs ‘keep finding ways to lose’

Colorado Avalanche v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Alex Tanguay #40 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 8, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

Alex Tanguay’s highlight reel goal turned some heads on Thursday, but that wasn’t the replay on the minds of the Colorado Avalanche.

Instead, more than a few Avalanche members were unhappy about a disallowed Daniel Briere power-play goal in what ultimately became a 5-4 loss to the Calgary Flames, as the Denver Post reports.

“Apparently Sportsnet has an angle … the angle we had it was impossible whether it touched the glove or not,” Patrick Roy said.

Here’s video of the disallowed tally:

The NHL laid out its explanation in its Situation Room Blog:

At 3:49 of the second period in the Colorado Avalanche/Calgary Flames game, video review determined that Avalanche forward Daniel Briere used his left hand to bat the puck into the Flames net. According to Rule 67.6 “a goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who bats or directs the puck with his hand into the net”. No goal Colorado.

Ultimately, it counts as a loss. A disenfranchised Tanguay told the Denver Post that “we are finding ways to lose” while Jarome Iginla lamented the team’s many close losses.

A few bits to consider, then:


  • They have a .444 winning percentage when scoring first, tying them with the Edmonton Oilers for third-worst in the NHL. Their .822 mark in 2013-14 tied Montreal for the fourth-best percentage.
  • Conversely, they were the third-best at coming back from behind (40.5 percent) in 2013-14, but they’re middle of-the-pack in that area now.
  • They’ve only won a third of the one-goal games they’ve been in so far. Last season, they were the best in the league, winning 70 percent of their one-goal games.

Some might think it’s too simplistic, yet it really does seem like the Avalanche are rarely getting the bounces they enjoyed to an almost ridiculous extent last season. The team needs to find a way to force their luck to improve or their many critics will feel vindicated.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins