2007–08 Colorado Avalanche season

2007–08 Colorado Avalanche
Division	2nd Northwest
Conference	6th Western
2007–08 record	44–31–7
Home record	27–12–2
Road record	17–19–5
Goals for	231
Goals against	219
Team information
General Manager	Francois Giguere
Coach	Joel Quenneville
Captain	Joe Sakic
Alternate captains	Andrew Brunette Ian Laperriere
Arena	Pepsi Center
Average attendance	16,843 (93.5%)
Team leaders
Goals	Milan Hejduk (29)
Assists	Paul Stastny (47)
Points	Paul Stastny (71)
Penalties in minutes	Ian Laperriere (140)
Plus/minus	Paul Stastny (+22)
Wins	Jose Theodore (28)
Goals against average	Jose Theodore (2.44)
<2006–07 2008–09>

The 2007–08 Colorado Avalanche season began on October 3, 2007, and ended on May 3, 2008. It was the franchise's 36th season, 29th in the National Hockey League, and 13th as the Colorado Avalanche.

Regular season

The Avalanche were the most disciplined team during the regular season, with only 301 power-play opportunities against. They also scored the fewest shorthanded goals of all 30 teams, with 2.^[1]

The Avalanche warming up before a game against the Calgary Flames.

Divisional standings

Northwest Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	y – Minnesota Wild	82	44	28	10	223	218	98
2	Colorado Avalanche	82	44	31	7	231	219	95
3	Calgary Flames	82	42	30	10	229	227	94
4	Edmonton Oilers	82	41	35	6	235	251	88
5	Vancouver Canucks	82	39	33	10	213	215	88

Conference standings

Western Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Detroit Red Wings	CE	82	54	21	7	257	184	115
2	y – San Jose Sharks	PA	82	49	23	10	222	193	108
3	y – Minnesota Wild	NW	82	44	28	10	223	218	98
4	Anaheim Ducks	PA	82	47	27	8	205	191	102
5	Dallas Stars	PA	82	45	30	7	242	207	97
6	Colorado Avalanche	NW	82	44	31	7	231	219	95
7	Calgary Flames	NW	82	42	30	10	229	227	94
8	Nashville Predators	CE	82	41	32	9	230	229	91
8.5
9	Edmonton Oilers	NW	82	41	35	6	235	251	88
10	Chicago Blackhawks	CE	82	40	34	8	239	235	88
11	Vancouver Canucks	NW	82	39	33	10	213	215	88
12	Phoenix Coyotes	PA	82	38	37	7	214	231	83
13	Columbus Blue Jackets	CE	82	34	36	12	193	218	80
14	St. Louis Blues	CE	82	33	36	13	205	237	79
15	Los Angeles Kings	PA	82	32	43	7	231	266	71

Divisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner

Schedule and results

2007–08 Game log
Preseason: 4–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record 1 September 17 Colorado 4 – 3 Phoenix OT Weiman 8,392 1–0 2 September 19 Los Angeles 3 – 6 Colorado Budaj 2–0 3 September 20 Colorado 6 – 3 Dallas Wall 14,895 3–0 4 September 22 Colorado 2 – 3 Los Angeles† SO Weiman 3–1 5 September 25 Dallas 5 – 4 Colorado OT Budaj 3–2 6 September 29 Phoenix 2 – 3 Colorado Budaj 4–2 † In Las Vegas
October: 7–4–0 (home: 5–0–0; road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 October 3 Dallas 3 – 4 Colorado Budaj 17,487 1–0–0 2 2 October 4 Colorado 0 – 4 Nashville Budaj 16,363 1–1–0 2 3 October 7 San Jose 2 – 6 Colorado Budaj 15,876 2–1–0 4 4 October 12 Colorado 1 – 4 St. Louis Theodore 19,150 2–2–0 4 5 October 13 Columbus 1 – 5 Colorado Budaj 16,153 3–2–0 6 6 October 16 Calgary 4 – 5 Colorado SO Theodore 16,722 4–2–0 8 7 October 19 Colorado 3 – 5 Chicago Theodore 13,519 4–3–0 8 8 October 21 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota Budaj 18,568 4–4–0 8 9 October 23 Colorado 4 – 2 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 5–4–0 10 10 October 26 Colorado 3 – 2 Calgary OT Theodore 19,289 6–4–0 12 11 October 28 Minnesota 1 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,041 7–4–0 14
November: 6–6–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 12 November 1 Pittsburgh 2 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 8–4–0 16 13 November 3 Vancouver 4 – 3 Colorado Budaj 18,007 8–5–0 16 14 November 5 Calgary 1 – 4 Colorado Theodore 15,655 9–5–0 18 15 November 7 Edmonton 3 – 4 Colorado SO Budaj 15,877 10–5–0 20 16 November 9 Colorado 1 – 2 Vancouver OT Theodore 18,630 10–5–1 21 17 November 11 Minnesota 2 – 4 Colorado Budaj 15,434 11–5–1 23 18 November 16 Colorado 1 – 6 Dallas Theodore 18,019 11–6–1 23 19 November 18 Colorado 1 – 4 Minnesota Budaj 18,568 11–7–1 23 20 November 20 Colorado 1 – 4 Calgary Theodore 19,289 11–8–1 23 21 November 22 Colorado 3 – 2 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 12–8–1 25 22 November 24 Calgary 5 – 2 Colorado Theodore 18,007 12–9–1 25 23 November 28 Edmonton 2 – 4 Colorado Budaj 15,128 13–9–1 27 24 November 30 Colorado 2 – 3 San Jose Budaj 17,496 13–10–1 27
December: 8–5–2 (home: 5–3–0; road: 3–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 25 December 1 Colorado 5 – 2 Los Angeles Theodore 17,297 14–10–1 29 26 December 3 San Jose 3 – 2 Colorado Theodore 15,213 14–11–1 29 27 December 5 Colorado 4 – 5 Columbus Budaj 12,851 14–12–1 29 28 December 7 Philadelphia 1 – 2 Colorado Theodore 16,312 15–12–1 31 29 December 9 St. Louis 5 – 9 Colorado Theodore 15,476 16–12–1 33 30 December 12 Colorado 1 – 4 Columbus Theodore 13,150 16–13–1 33 31 December 13 Colorado 2 – 1 Nashville Budaj 12,456 17–13–1 35 32 December 15 Nashville 1 – 3 Colorado Budaj 16,582 18–13–1 37 33 December 17 Colorado 4 – 2 Los Angeles Budaj 16,647 19–13–1 39 34 December 19 Colorado 1 – 2 Anaheim OT Budaj 17,197 19–13–2 40 35 December 21 NY Rangers 3 – 4 Colorado OT Budaj 16,612 20–13–2 42 36 December 23 Vancouver 1 – 3 Colorado Budaj 17,186 21–13–2 44 37 December 27 Detroit 4 – 2 Colorado Budaj 18,007 21–14–2 44 38 December 29 Los Angeles 3 – 1 Colorado Theodore 17,256 21–15–2 44 39 December 31 Colorado 3 – 4 Phoenix SO Budaj 12,973 21–15–3 45
January: 6–5–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 3–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 40 January 2 Phoenix 5 – 2 Colorado Budaj 15,232 21–16–3 45 41 January 5 NY Islanders 1 – 2 Colorado OT Theodore 17,154 22–16–3 47 42 January 8 Colorado 0 – 1 Detroit Theodore 19,160 22–17–3 47 43 January 9 Colorado 1 – 2 Washington Theodore 16,168 22–18–3 47 44 January 12 Colorado 5 – 4 Carolina Theodore 18,680 23–18–3 49 45 January 13 Colorado 4 – 3 Florida SO Theodore 13,854 24–18–3 51 46 January 15 Colorado 3 – 0 Tampa Bay Theodore 17,222 25–18–3 53 47 January 18 Chicago 2 – 1 Colorado SO Theodore 18,007 25–18–4 54 48 January 20 Columbus 1 – 3 Colorado Theodore 17,197 26–18–4 56 49 January 22 Nashville 4 – 0 Colorado Theodore 15,235 26–19–4 56 50 January 24 Minnesota 3 – 2 Colorado Theodore 15,321 26–20–4 56 51 January 30 Chicago 3 – 6 Colorado Theodore 15,348 27–20–4 58
February: 6–6–2 (home: 0–3–1; road: 6–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 52 February 1 Colorado 0 – 2 Detroit Budaj 20,066 27–21–4 58 53 February 2 Colorado 6 – 4 St. Louis Budaj 19,150 28–21–4 60 55 February 4 Phoenix 4 – 3 Colorado OT Budaj 14,381 28–21–5 61 55 February 6 Colorado 3 – 1 San Jose Theodore 17,087 29–21–5 63 56 February 9 Colorado 6 – 2 Vancouver Theodore 18,630 30–21–5 65 57 February 12 Anaheim 2 – 1 Colorado Theodore 16,257 30–22–5 65 58 February 14 St. Louis 4 – 1 Colorado Theodore 17,131 30–23–5 65 59 February 17 Colorado 1 – 2 Chicago Theodore 21,715 30–24–5 65 60 February 18 Detroit 4 – 0 Colorado Theodore 18,007 30–25–5 65 61 February 20 Colorado 2 – 3 Anaheim SO Budaj 17,174 30–25–6 66 62 February 22 Colorado 3 – 2 Phoenix SO Theodore 15,882 31–25–6 68 63 February 24 Colorado 2 – 3 Edmonton Theodore 16,839 31–26–6 68 64 February 26 Colorado 3 – 2 Calgary OT Theodore 19,289 32–26–6 70 65 February 27 Colorado 3 – 2 Vancouver SO Theodore 18,630 33–26–6 72
March: 9–5–1 (home: 8–1–0; road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 66 March 1 Los Angeles 2 – 5 Colorado Theodore 18,007 34–26–6 74 67 March 4 Vancouver 1 – 2 Colorado Theodore 17,621 35–26–6 76 68 March 6 Anaheim 0 – 1 Colorado Theodore 18,007 36–26–6 78 69 March 8 Dallas 1 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 37–26–6 80 70 March 9 Colorado 0 – 3 Dallas Theodore 18,532 37–27–6 80 71 March 11 Colorado 5 – 2 Atlanta Theodore 14,089 38–27–6 82 72 March 13 Edmonton 1 – 5 Colorado Budaj 18,007 39–27–6 84 73 March 15 New Jersey 4 – 2 Colorado Theodore 18,007 39–28–6 84 74 March 17 Colorado 1 – 3 Minnesota Theodore 18,568 39–29–6 84 75 March 20 Colorado 1 – 2 Calgary Theodore 19,289 39–30–6 84 76 March 22 Colorado 5 – 7 Edmonton Budaj 16,839 39–31–6 84 77 March 24 Calgary 0 – 2 Colorado Theodore 18,007 40–31–6 86 78 March 26 Vancouver 3 – 6 Colorado Theodore 17,728 41–31–6 88 79 March 28 Edmonton 4 – 5 Colorado SO Theodore 17,846 42–31–6 90 80 March 30 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota OT Theodore 18,568 42–31–7 91
April: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 81 April 1 Colorado 4 – 2 Vancouver Theodore 18,630 43–31–7 93 82 April 6 Minnesota 3 – 4 Colorado SO Theodore 18,007 44–31–7 95

Playoffs

The Avalanche clinched the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since relocating to Denver in 1995.

2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Quarter-finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series 1 April 9 Colorado 3 – 2 Minnesota 1OT Theodore 19,352 1–0 2 April 11 Colorado 2 – 3 Minnesota 1OT Theodore 19,360 1–1 3 April 14 Minnesota 3 – 2 Colorado 1OT Theodore 18,007 1–2 4 April 15 Minnesota 1 – 5 Colorado Theodore 18,007 2–2 5 April 17 Colorado 3 – 2 Minnesota Theodore 19,364 3–2 6 April 19 Minnesota 1 – 2 Colorado Theodore 18,007 4–2
Semi-finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series 1 April 24 Colorado 3 – 4 Detroit Theodore 20,066 0–1 2 April 26 Colorado 1 – 5 Detroit Theodore 20,066 0–2 3 April 29 Detroit 4 – 3 Colorado Theodore 18,007 0–3 4 May 1 Detroit 8 - 2 Colorado Theodore 18,007 0-4

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
As of 6 April 2008

		Regular season						Playoffs
Player		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Paul Stastny		66	24	47	71	24
Andrew Brunette		82	19	40	59	14
Milan Hejduk		77	29	25	54	36
Wojtek Wolski		77	18	30	48	14
Joe Sakic		44	13	27	40	20
Ryan Smyth		55	14	23	37	50
Marek Svatos		62	26	11	37	32
John-Michael Liles		81	6	26	32	26
Tyler Arnason		70	10	21	31	16
Ruslan Salei		82	6	24	30	98
Jaroslav Hlinka		63	8	20	28	16

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

		Regular season										Playoffs
Player		GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	SO	SV%	GAA		GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Peter Budaj		35	1912	16	10	4	82	0	.903	2.57
Jose Theodore		53	3028	28	21	3	123	3	.910	2.44
Tyler Weiman		1	16	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	0.00

Records and milestones

Milestones

• On October 7, Joe Sakic scored twice to move past Phil Esposito into 8th place all-time in scoring.
• On October 26, Joel Quenneville won his 400th game as a head coach, to move him into 7th place on the all-time list. Joe Sakic also picked up his 1,600th career point by providing the primary assist to Ryan Smyth's OT winner against the Flames, and Andrew Brunette picked up his 500th career point with a secondary assist to Joe Sakic's goal that put the Avs up 1–0 in the first period.
• With a 4–2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center on November 28, the Avalanche won their 500th regular season game since their move from Quebec in 1995.
• With a 9–5 win over St. Louis on December 9, the Avalanche reached 1,000 wins in their franchise history.
• In a game against the Edmonton Oilers on March 22, Joe Sakic assisted on a Tyler Arnason goal for his 1,000th career assist, becoming just the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 assists.

Transactions

The Avalanche were involved in the following transactions during the season:

Trades

November 8, 2007	To Colorado Avalanche ----Jason Bacashihua	To St. Louis Blues ----7th round pick in 2008 Entry Draft
January 22, 2008	To Colorado Avalanche ---- Darcy Campbell Philippe Dupuis	To Columbus Blue Jackets ---- Mark Rycroft
February 26, 2008	To Colorado Avalanche ---- Ruslan Salei	To Florida Panthers ---- Karlis Skrastins 3rd round pick in 2008
February 26, 2008	To Colorado Avalanche ---- Adam Foote	To Columbus Blue Jackets ---- conditional 1st round pick in 2008 or 2009

Free agents

Player Former team Contract terms Scott Hannan San Jose Sharks 4 years, $18 million Ryan Smyth New York Islanders 5 years, $31.25 million Matt Hussey Detroit Red Wings 1 year, $475,000 Wyatt Smith Minnesota Wild 1 year, $500,000 Peter Forsberg Nashville Predators 1 year, $1.1 million

Player New team Brett McLean Florida Panthers Ken Klee Atlanta Thrashers Patrice Brisebois Montreal Canadiens

Draft picks

Colorado had nine picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.^[2] The Avalanche picked 14th overall.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1	14	Kevin Shattenkirk	Defenseman	United States	US National Team Development Program (NAHL)
2	45	Colby Cohen	Defenseman	United States	Lincoln Stars (USHL)
2	49	Trevor Cann	Goalie	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
2	55	TJ Galiardi	Wing	Canada	Dartmouth College (ECAC)
4	105	Brad Malone	Center/Left Wing	Canada	Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
4	113	Kent Patterson	Goalie	United States	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
5	135	Paul Carey	Center	United States	Boston College Eagles (Hockey East)
6	155	Jens Hellgren	Defenseman	Sweden	Frölunda Jr. (SEL)
7	195	Johan Alcen	Wing	Sweden	Brynäs IF (SEL)

Farm teams

Lake Erie Monsters

The Avalanche had a new American Hockey League affiliate in the Lake Erie Monsters, based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team is a revival of the Utah Grizzlies franchise that had been dormant since 2005.

Johnstown Chiefs

The Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL were the Avalanche's second-tier affiliate.

Roster

Colorado Avalanche
Goaltenders 1 – Michael Wall  31 – Peter Budaj  35 – Tyler Weiman  60 – Jose Theodore  Injured reserve Currently vacant		Defensemen 4 – John-Michael Liles  5 – Brett Clark  6 – Jeff Finger  7 – Johnny Boychuk  22 – Scott Hannan  24 – Ruslan Salei  29 – Jeff Jillson  34 – Kurt Sauer  44 – Jordan Leopold  48 – Kyle Cumiskey  52 – Adam Foote		Wingers 8 – Wojtek Wolski  10 – Wyatt Smith  15 – Andrew Brunette - A 23 – Milan Hejduk  27 – Scott Parker  28 – Ben Guite  37 – T. J. Hensick  40 – Marek Svatos  54 – David Jones  55 – Cody McLeod  94 – Ryan Smyth		Centers 11 – Cody McCormick  12 – Brad Richardson  14 – Ian Laperriere  - A 19 – Joe Sakic  - C 21 – Peter Forsberg  26 – Paul Stastny  39 – Tyler Arnason  GM: Francois Giguere Coach: Tony Granato

See also

• 2006–07 NHL season
• 2007–08 NHL season

References

• Player stats: Colorado Avalanche player stats on espn.com
• Game log: Colorado Avalanche game log on espn.com
• Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com

1. http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2008.html
2. 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com Archived May 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.