Bourque held out of Avs' practice
Associated Press
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DENVER -- Ray Bourque was not a part of Monday's one-hour
practice as the Colorado Avalanche began preparations for its
upcoming Western Conference finals meeting with the Dallas Stars,
but he could be ready to play by Game 1.
"I hope so," the 21-year veteran defenseman said about the
as-yet-unscheduled first game of the series, which should begin
later this week. "I'll work hard and keep doing the things that we
have been doing, taking treatments and skating."
Bourque, who suffered strained ligaments in his left knee in a
3-1 semifinals loss to the Detroit Red Wings, received treatment
Monday while his teammates practiced. Then he went through a solo
skate for 40 minutes at the team's training facility.
It was the second time in four days that Bourque had skated. He
skated for a similar amount of time Friday.
"I felt pretty good," Bourque said. "I was really happy with
how it went Friday, took the weekend off in terms of ice, had
treatment, worked out and worked out again today and will skate
every day this week."
During his career, Bourque has recorded 36 goals and 131 assists
in 188 playoff games. He had a goal and nine assists in 12 playoff
games played this year.
He was relegated to the sidelines and admitted being emotionally
stressed out in the last two games against the Red Wings.
"This is the worst spot to be, one you can't do anything about
anything," Bourque said. "I was a big cheerleader for a couple of
games and hopefully that is all it is going to be."
Reports out of Boston, which traded Bourque and Dave Andreychuk
for Brian Rolston, two prospects and a first round draft choice,
had Bourque finished for the season.
"Initially, they (Colorado's training staff) said it wasn't
anything major and I was hoping by the end of the week to be back
on the ice," Bourque said. "I was real happy to get back on the
ice on Friday and I couldn't ask for anything better in terms of
what we thought it was and where I am right now."
"The guys did a real good job of taking care of the series to
give me some extra time," Bourque said. "Hopefully it will be
enough."
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