Avalanche injuries: Foote out but Bourque is back
ESPN.com news services
DENVER -- Ray Bourque insists he's returning to the Colorado
Avalanche lineup on his own timetable -- not because defensive
partner Adam Foote is out with an eye injury.
"Regardless of whether Adam was there or not, you've got to be
good enough to go," Bourque said Wednesday. "That's why I'm
playing Friday, because I'm well enough."
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Bourque, the Hall of Fame-bound defenseman who has missed the
last four playoff games because of a strained left knee, practiced
hard and, for the first time, took contact in Wednesday's workout.
Afterward, he pronounced himself ready to play in Game 3 of the
Avalanche's Western Conference final series against Dallas, set for
Friday night in Denver, where the Avalanche are 6-0 this
postseason.
The Stars' 3-2 home victory Monday night squared the
best-of-seven series 1-1.
Colorado coach Bob Hartley hinted a day earlier that Bourque
would return for Game 3, and Bourque made it official.
"It felt good," Bourque said. "I went through practice and it
went very well. I'm where I need to be. So it's a go for Friday,
and I'm anxious to get going."
Bourque, injured in the third game of the conference semifinal
series against Detroit on May 1, skated on his own following the
injury and rejoined his teammates during workouts late last week.
Wednesday's workout, featuring his first contact, was a
breakthrough.
"I did everything today," he said. "I did a lot of
one-on-ones, a lot of grinding in the corners. I felt very good. I've kind of turned the corner, and that's what I've waited
for over the last week or so."
He said Colorado's victory in the series opener on Saturday gave
him the luxury of skipping Game 2 and using the three days off
before Game 3 to get ready.
"The first win in the series really bought me some time," he
said. "It allowed me to take these three days and make sure I felt
really good."
Bourque and Foote have been a force in the playoffs. Even
without Bourque, Foote had shut down Dallas' Mike Modano in a 2-0
victory in Game 1. With Foote exiting early in Game 2, Modano found
more room to skate and scored two goals in Dallas' 3-2 win.
Now Bourque will accept the burden.
"Adam is a warrior and he's a big part of this team," Bourque
said. "The good thing is the injury could have been worse, and
he'll be back. When, exactly, we're not sure. But we've just got to
hold the fort.
"We've shown on many occasions in the last month or so how much
heart this team has in picking up the slack whenever somebody has
gone down."
There was much nail-biting, for instance, when Bourque was hurt,
but the Avalanche went 3-1 without him.
Bourque, who will wear a brace on his knee, insisted he expects
to continue getting significant amounts of ice time, just as he did
before the injury.
His teammates were confident they can weather Foote's injury
just as they did Bourque's.
"This is not a one- or two-man team," said defenseman Aaron
Miller, who likely will be paired with Bourque on Friday night.
"Adam is a great player, but there's a lot of talent on this team.
Among 20 guys, you can certainly pick up the slack."
A year ago in the conference finals, Dallas and Colorado also
were tied 1-1 after the first two games in Dallas. The Stars won
that series in seven games en route to capturing the Stanley Cup.
Another Avs defenseman, Sandis Ozolinsh, limped off the ice after
the Stars squared the best-of-seven series Monday night,
but Colorado coach Bob Hartley said Tuesday that precautionary X-rays were
negative and the injury was merely a bruised foot.
Foote was injured when he took an inadvertent stick to the face
from Dallas' Jere Lehtinen. Foote, one of Colorado's best defensemen, was struck in the
right eye by Lehtinen's follow-through on a shot.
The blunt trauma and ensuing bleeding caused blood to flow into
the eye, and four stitches were required to close a wound in his
eyelid. His eye badly swollen, Foote was taken to a Dallas hospital
as a precaution.
Avalanche officials said Foote sustained no permanent damage and
should make a full recovery, but he was ruled out of Friday's game.
"Adam quickly recovered full vision in his eye," Avalanche
trainer Pat Karns said on Tuesday. "He was very fortunate his
injury was not more serious than it is. He will be re-evaluated
periodically later this week."
Foote does not wear a protective visor on his helmet, but team
officials said he will wear a full visor when he returns to the
lineup.
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