What happens when a young speed-based team doesn't move their feet? They get burned by Marian Gaborik for three goals.

All night long the Avs were dogging it up and down the ice. It seemed that they figured a team on the second of a back-to-back with their rookie backup goaltender in Chad Johnson (no he does not wear 85) that they could come with a half-effort and still walk away.

What happened to the Avs that would attack teams with their speed, push defenses back and wear them down? Sure, five penalties in the first six minutes would throw off their momentum but the Avs have got to find ways around the trap.

When the Avs are confronted with a trap intended to slow them down, they tend to slow down instead of dumping the puck and skating to it, making defenses turn around and chasing them. Instead, they try and get the perfect play into the zone.

Fallout of their wonderful 6-game winning streak is that the Avs have stopped working the same way. They aren't using their speed the same way, nor are they attacking the game. They are also shooting different.

When the Avs were scoring at will, they were pretty much shooting from the middle out instead of the corners in. When a team shoots from the corner in, they try to pick a corner instead of just putting the puck toward the net and digging for rebounds. Two guys that do that, McLeod and Stewart, saw success with their shots and even a goal for McLeod.

It's a rule in this NHL: work hard and you shall prosper. Don't work and you don't win. Avs need to get back to work on Monday to be ready when the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town.

Three Stars

1. Marian Gaborik- Hatty for Gabby
2. Chad Johnson- First career win
3. Craig Anderson- Kept trying to keep the Avs in the game

Facepalm of the Game

So much to do here but Brandon Yip gets it tonight. He was jumping the line too often, taking bad penalties and wasn't skating the way he can. Though he did have a great shift with Galiardi and O'Reilly. Maybe when Hejduk is back and the Avs trade for a solid left winger, that will be the new third line with McLeod-Hendricks-Tucker on the fourth line.

Aaey of the Game

Gabby's hatty gets it for the Rangers. McLeod gets this one for his work that got him a goal. Way to go Highlander.

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