NHL - Game Notes

Colorado Avalanche

Head Coach

Tony Granato
Notes: Tony Granato is in his second tenure as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, being named to his position on May 22, 2008. Granato previously served as the team's head coach from 2002-2004. Granato owns a 103-82-19 career record for a .551 winning percentage as an NHL head coach. He posted his 100th career victory on Feb. 20 at Washington, becoming just the 10th American-born coach in NHL history to reach 100 wins. Granato coached his 200th NHL game on March 10 vs. Atlanta. Granato completed his fifth season behind the Avalanche bench in 2007-08, his sixth year overall with the organization. After joining the club as an assistant coach on June 18, 2002, Granato was introduced as the 11th head coach in franchise history on Dec. 18, 2002. He compiled a record of 72-33-17-11, which included a 32-11-4-4 stretch to close out the 2002-03 season with the franchise’s ninth consecutive division title. Granato reached the 50-win mark in 87 games, the 11th fastest mark in NHL history. He returned to his position as assistant coach in 2005-06 and spent the last three years in that capacity. Regarded as a feisty, two-way winger, Granato enjoyed a playing career that spanned 13 seasons in the National Hockey League. He skated in 773 regular season games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. During his time in the NHL, he posted 248 goals and 244 assists with 1,425 penalty minutes. Off the ice, Tony was the Avalanche's 2006 recipient of the Chopper Travaglini Award for community service. A native of Downer's Grove, Illinois, Granato and his wife, Linda, have four children: Michael, Dominic, Nicholas and Gabriella. Tony's sister, Cammi, served as captain of the gold medal winning U.S. Women's National Hockey Team at the 1998 Olympics and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. His brother, Don, is head coach of the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Tony Granato

Notes:
Tony Granato is in his second tenure as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, being named to his position on May 22, 2008. Granato previously served as the team's head coach from 2002-2004.

Granato owns a 103-82-19 career record for a .551 winning percentage as an NHL head coach. He posted his 100th career victory on Feb. 20 at Washington, becoming just the 10th American-born coach in NHL history to reach 100 wins. Granato coached his 200th NHL game on March 10 vs. Atlanta.

Granato completed his fifth season behind the Avalanche bench in 2007-08, his sixth year overall with the organization. After joining the club as an assistant coach on June 18, 2002, Granato was introduced as the 11th head coach in franchise history on Dec. 18, 2002. He compiled a record of 72-33-17-11, which included a 32-11-4-4 stretch to close out the 2002-03 season with the franchise’s ninth consecutive division title. Granato reached the 50-win mark in 87 games, the 11th fastest mark in NHL history.

He returned to his position as assistant coach in 2005-06 and spent the last three years in that capacity.

Regarded as a feisty, two-way winger, Granato enjoyed a playing career that spanned 13 seasons in the National Hockey League. He skated in 773 regular season games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. During his time in the NHL, he posted 248 goals and 244 assists with 1,425 penalty minutes.

Off the ice, Tony was the Avalanche's 2006 recipient of the Chopper Travaglini Award for community service.

A native of Downer's Grove, Illinois, Granato and his wife, Linda, have four children: Michael, Dominic, Nicholas and Gabriella. Tony's sister, Cammi, served as captain of the gold medal winning U.S. Women's National Hockey Team at the 1998 Olympics and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. His brother, Don, is head coach of the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

Goaltenders

1 Andrew Raycroft G
RAY-kroft

6'0'', 185 05/04/1980 ( 28 ), Belleville, ON, CAN

8th NHL / 1st COL Season

Last Win: FEB 20, 2009 @ WASHINGTON (6)

Last Shutout: NOV 9, 2007 @ BUFFALO (38)

How Acquired: Signed by Colorado as a free agent, July 1, 2008.

Notes:

THIS SEASON
- Has started 23 games this year and appeared three times in relief.
- Started seven of nine games from Feb. 15 - March 4.
- Made 40 saves and stopped 4-of-5 shootout attempts to snap a personal six-game losing streak on Feb. 15 at Detroit.
- Posted a career-high seven-game winning streak from Nov. 29 to Jan. 10.
- First Avalanche goaltender to win seven straight games since David Aebischer from Jan. 3-17, 2006.
- Went 7-0 with a 2.11 GAA and .928 Sv% during that stretch (427 mins, 208 shots, 15 GA).
- Posted a 9-1-0 record in his first 10 games, becoming just the second goaltender in franchise history to open a season by winning nine of his first 10 decisions (Stephane Fiset began the 1994-95 campaign 10-1-0 for the Quebec Nordiques).
- Was also just the second netminder to win nine of his first 10 career decisions as a member of the Avalanche/Nordiques (Dan Bouchard, 11-1-0).
- Made a career-high 43 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Blackhawks on Jan. 8 at Pepsi Center.
- Earned the victory in his Avalanche debut on Oct. 16 vs. Philadelphia, making 16 saves in what was his 200th career appearance.

	GPI	Min	W	L	T	OT	SO	GA	GAA	Saves	Sv %
Season	26	1465	12	12	-	0	0	77	3.15	639	.892
Career	225	12591	94	92	10	16	6	609	2.90	5423	.899

31 Peter Budaj G
(BOO-digh)

6'1'', 200 09/18/1982 ( 26 ), Banska Bystrica, SVK

4th NHL / 4th COL Season

Last Win: MAR 14, 2009 @ EDMONTON (1)

Last Shutout: NOV 8, 2008 vs NASHVILLE (37)

How Acquired: Colorado's first choice (second round, 63rd overall) in 2001 Entry Draft.

Notes:

THIS SEASON
- Is 3-1-1 with a 1.55 GAA and .937 Sv% in his last five starts (310 mins, 126 shots, 8 GA).
- Needs one victory to reach the 20-win plateau for the second time in his career (31 in 2006-07).
- Has started 48 of Colorado's 71 games and appeared in 49 of 71.
- Is 7-2 in shootouts this season, allowing only nine goals on 29 attempts (.690 Sv%).
- Only Henrik Lundqvist (8) has more shootout wins in 2008-09.
- Stopped 24 shots to snap a personal five-game losing streak on March 8 at Chicago.
- Made his 30th start of the season on Dec. 31 at Phoenix, becoming the first Avalanche goaltender to start 30 or more games before January 1st since Patrick Roy (31) in 2001-02.
- Started 12 consecutive games, Nov. 2-28.
- Made a career-high 47 saves on Nov. 18 at Calgary (on 50 shots), the third-highest total by a goaltender in Avalanche history.
- Posted his sixth career shutout on Nov. 8 vs. Nashville, stopping 26 shots in a 1-0 victory.
- Was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week for October 20-26 (3-0, 1.62 GAA, .941 Sv%).
- Colorado's Opening Night starter for the second consecutive year.

	GPI	Min	W	L	T	OT	SO	GA	GAA	Saves	Sv %
Season	49	2822	19	26	2	2	1	135	2.87	1197	.899
Career	175	9736	80	62	0	18	6	446	2.75	4098	.902