2007–08 Colorado Avalanche season

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.

2007–08 Colorado Avalanche
Division2nd Northwest
Conference6th Western
2007–08 record44–31–7
Home record27–12–2
Road record17–19–5
Goals for231
Goals against219
Team information
General managerFrancois Giguere
CoachJoel Quenneville
CaptainJoe Sakic
Alternate captainsAndrew Brunette
Ian Laperriere
Milan Hejduk
Ryan Smyth
ArenaPepsi Center
Average attendance16,843 (93.5%)
Team leaders
GoalsMilan Hejduk (29)
AssistsPaul Stastny (47)
PointsPaul Stastny (71)
Penalty minutesIan Laperriere (140)
Plus/minusPaul Stastny (+22)
WinsJose Theodore (28)
Goals against averageJose Theodore (2.44)

Regular season

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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

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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

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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, pPresidents' Trophy winner


Schedule and results

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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

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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

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Skaters

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
As of 6 April 2008 [1]

    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

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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

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Records

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Milestones

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  • 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

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

Trades

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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

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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

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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

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Lake Erie Monsters

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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

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2007-08 NHL Summary".
  2. ^ 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com [dead link]