X Factor: Holik's near heroics
By Joe Lago
ESPN.com
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bobby Holik sat on the bench with his head down trying to hide his disgust. His wrist shot had just missed a wide-open net and would've given the New Jersey Devils a 1-0 lead in the second period.
Little did Holik know, but one goal would've been good enough to put an end
to the 2000 Stanley Cup finals on Thursday night.
|  | | Holik, left, played the aggressor all night, but since he didn't connect on any of his chances, will be used as a Game 5 goat for Devils critics. |
Little did Holik know, but his night of frustration was just beginning and would end in utter disappointment early Friday morning when Dallas won 1-0 in the third overtime.
The weight of bringing the Cup back to the Meadowlands sat on Holik's stick
not once but more times than he, his teammates and New Jersey's fans would care to count in a gut-wrenching Game 5. On the verge of playing the hero, Holik
found himself cast in an unfavorable role in goaltender Ed Belfour's
highlight reel.
"We had opportunities to put them away," Holik said of the Devils' 48 shots on Belfour. "We didn't take advantage of them and we made some mistakes where Marty (Brodeur) just saved us."
Holik had four shots on goal in the second period alone. He had three more
in the first overtime and finished with a game-high eight shots.
How could Holik miss so many scoring chances? Devils fans, cover your eyes -- here's how:
Near the end of the first period, Holik whiffed while trying to finish
a 2-on-1 rush. Making matters worse, he cost New Jersey 1:19 of power-play
time earlier when he was called for interference on the Devils' first
man-advantage of the game.
Early in the second period, his shot from the left corner bounced off
defenseman Richard Matvichuk and trickled just wide of the net.
At the end of the second, Holik set up on the right side of the net for
an uncontested one-timer on New Jersey's second power play. His shot hit
twine, but it was the side of the net.
And, with just over three minutes left in regulation, Holik gathered the
ricochet off the backboards from his own centering pass. Belfour snuffed out
both of his stuff attempts.
"I've got nothing to show for it," Holik said of his missed opportunities. "That's unfortunate."
To Holik's credit, he didn't sulk. His screen in front of the net almost
allowed Vladimir Malakhov's shot from the point to sneak in with nine minutes remaining in the first overtime. With less than three minutes left, he put the puck on net to set up Lemieux for a tip attempt.
Holik would not get another shot or redemption. Dallas' Mike Modano was the game's hero, thereby cementing Holik as its goat.
"We have to put it behind us," Holik said of the loss. "There's nothing else we can do about it now. We can't dwell on it too much because it's going to drain you. We just have to look forward to the next game." |
