Message to Avs: Don’t mess with octopus, Franzen hat trick leads Wings to 5-1 victory

I have seen a combination of excuses and superstition for the Avs collapse yesterday afternoon. Here are the top three and my response to each:

Peter Forsberg’s absence is notable. TRUE — Forsberg has been playing like his old self. This team does not have much of a chance without his grit and skill. I also think that his motivation to return in a series against the Wings would be high. I think it’s likely the Wings will be busy watching him in Game 3.
Jose Theodore has the flu. FALSE — Theodore can be a terrific goalie at times, but he is not getting much support from his team. The horrible penalties they took in Game 2 should be noted by someone.
Avs player touches Octopus. TRUE — During the warm-up for Game 2, an Avs rookie picked up an Octopus and flung it into the tunnel. A stupid move, likely one that will be replayed over and over should the Wings win this series. It’s something that inexperienced players learn quickly: don’t give your opponent, or their fans, motivation.

Looking forward to Tuesday night, but the 10 p.m. start time does not fit well with the early-to-work corporate culture. I have got to get TIVO.