Stars-Avs rematch has been far from boring
Associated Press
DENVER -- Who says reruns are boring?
One year after playing an entertaining seven-game series in the
Western Conference finals, the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas
Stars are traveling an identical path this season, tied 1-1 heading
into Game 3 at the Pepsi Center on Friday night.
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Fri., May
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I think the future of Colorado hinges on the Adam Foote injury. If Foote is out for a long
period of time, I don't think Colorado can win the series.
Dallas won't make any adjustments because they won Game 2, and Mike Modano's line
was unbelievable. Colorado knows it has to stop Modano's line.
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"You look at the Eastern Conference finals, you look at our
finals. It's two wars," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said Thursday.
"I don't think the intensity will be going down. I think it's
going to keep picking up. It's two physical teams, two teams with
lots of speed and lots of great assets. It's going to be a long
test of endurance."
Because of a quirk in the playoff schedule, this week has been a
test of patience for the Stars and Avalanche, who last played
Monday night in Dallas. Each team has played only twice in the last
11 days.
"We're like Colorado. We'd really like to get playing again,"
Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "It seems like a long time away.
It feels like you're starting over again. I've got a feeling you're
going to see a lot of fired up emotion on both sides."
The Avalanche, who are 6-0 at home in the postseason, would like
to fire a few more shots at Dallas goalie Eddie Belfour. Stymied in
part by the Stars' trapping style, Colorado has been outshot 58-40
in the first two games.
An improved offensive attack would take some of the pressure off
Colorado's defense, which will be without Adam Foote as he recovers
from an eye injury sustained in Game 2. Foote's partner, Ray
Bourque, is set to return after missing four games with a sprained
left knee.
|  | | Milan Hejduk and the Avs hope to get back to celebrating at home. |
"Offense is your best defense," said Peter Forsberg, who leads
Colorado with six goals in the playoffs. "If we spend more time in
their zone, of course it's going to be easier for our defense, but
it's easier said than done. They have a good team and they're
standing at the blue line real well."
After being shut out in Game 1, the Stars got an offensive boost
from its top line of Mike Modano, Brett Hull and Jere Lehtinen as
the three combined for three goals and three assists. It will be up
to Bourque and Aaron Miller to chase the eclectic trio Friday
night.
"You have three different players," Hitchcock said. "You have
one player tilted on the offensive side (Modano), one guy on both
sides (Hull) and the other one who is a defensive specialist. They
blend, but they all sacrifice for the good of the group.
"You see all three guys able to do the dirty work. They all can
make a play and score, but each guy has a different personality in
his game and for whatever reason, when they go together it
clicks."
Colorado is still seeking more production from its line of Joe
Sakic, Milan Hejduk and Dave Andreychuk. Hejduk scored in Game 1,
but the three were unable to keep up with Modano's line in Monday's
3-2 loss.
"We didn't do a very good job last game," Sakic said. "Game
1, we got the lead and in the third period, we sat back a bit, but
we've got to generate more shots. They do a good job of blocking
shots. We've got to do a better job of just getting through."
As they did last year, the Stars will be seeking to win at least
one game in Colorado before the series returns to Dallas for Game
5. The outcome could depend on Belfour, who has allowed 14 goals in
four road games compared to just eight in eight home games.
"First period is huge," Stars center Kirk Muller said.
"There's no sense of playing really good in the second and third
if you are down a couple of goals. You've got to try to take the
crowd out of the game and come in with a good, solid first period
and slow things down and go from there." |
