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Denver teams losing 'rarefied' edge?
'Welcome to Denver -- 5,280 feet above sea level.'
There was a time when visiting teams used to shudder at the thought of having their chances to win vanquish in Denver's thin air. Now the fear factor seems to be dropping at a noticeable rate.
What has happened to the 'Mile High Mystique', the one advantage Denver's pro sports teams has held over its opposition?
In recent years, teams have left town breathing a sigh of relief -- especially after postseason wins over Denver teams. In January, the Broncos lost the AFC Championship Game at home for the first time ever. The Denver Nuggets have gone 2-4 in their past six home playoff games.
And the Colorado Avalanche will attempt to stave off elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight at Pepsi Center against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, whose Game 3 hero -- Joffrey Lupul -- scored four goals in between hits on an oxygen mask.
The Avalanche has gone 6-7 in their past 13 postseason games played at home. One thing Colorado can do to help even out that mark tonight is improve on the power play. The club has gone scoreless in its past 28 power-play opportunities. When asked after Tuesday's loss what the Avalanche needs to do on the power play, coach Joel Quenneville answered matter-of-factly, "score."
NOTEWORTHY
On the latest episode of the ESPN Entertainment-produced "Bonds on Bonds" series, the San Francisco Giants outfielder went "Barry on Barry" talking about the all-time home run record held by Henry Aaron. >“755 (home runs) can be reached if Barry Bonds gets back into his character," Bonds said.
Chicago Cubs outfielder (and former Colorado Rockies player) Juan Pierre made the national highlight reel on Tuesday with a catch that took away the home run from Bonds, the home run that would have tied him with Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list. In the eighth inning, Cubs reliever (and former Ponderosa High athlete) Will Ohman avoided infamy -- and sent the fans toward the exits -- when he got Bonds to fly out into right field.
You could say the two Denver sports teams came down with a case of 'Lupu-jols' on Tuesday. That's a combination of Anaheim's Lupul four-goal performance, and the three-run homer by St. Louis Cardinals star first baseman Albert Pujols that cooled off the Rockies.