Avalanche's McLean savors taste of playoffs

Rick Sadowski And Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 25, 2006 at midnight

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DALLAS - It took eight seasons of professional hockey before Brett McLean finally could take part in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he is hoping to make the most of the chance.

The 27-year-old forward is one of eight players on the Colorado Avalanche postseason roster who hadn't played in one before this year.

"I definitely appreciate this quite a bit," McLean said Monday after the morning skate at the American Airlines Center.

Goalie Peter Budaj, defenseman Brett Clark and forwards Brad Richardson and Wojtek Wolski also are getting their initial taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs, though Budaj has yet to play while serving as Jose Theodore's backup.

Three other players - goalie Vitaly Kolesnik, defenseman Jeff Finger and forward Cody McCormick - have yet to be in uniform for the Avalanche's first-round series against the Dallas Stars.

McLean, who signed as a free agent with the Avalanche after spending most of the 2003-04 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, played in Sweden during the lockout last season after toiling in three minor leagues with Cincinnati; Johnstown, Pa.; Saint John, New Brunswick; Cleveland; Houston; and Norfolk, Va.

"This is pretty special for me and for my family," said McLean, who scored nine goals and set personal bests for assists (31) and points (40) while playing in all 82 regular-season games.

"To be able to experience this, it's a lot of fun. I'm just trying to have as much fun as I can."

McLean, who got to play in only 30 playoff games in the minors despite all the time he spent at that level, often wondered what it would be like to play for the Stanley Cup.

"Oh, yeah, lots of times," he said. "To be honest, I was wondering if I even was going to get into a regular NHL game."

McLean enjoyed his time with the Blackhawks, but they hardly have been a postseason mainstay in recent years and they didn't show much interest in trying to re-sign him.

"You wondered if a playoff team was ever going to have an interest in you," he said. "It's a lot different playing for a nonplayoff team than it is for a playoff team. It's pretty special being a part of a team like this."

It hasn't taken long for McLean to notice the difference between regular-season games and those in the playoffs.

"Just the intensity and the atmosphere in the building," he said. "Every shift means so much more. I can't change my mentality at all, but I guess the change just makes it a lot more fun."

Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay knows how McLean feels, based on his experiences and those of his teammates.

"It's a different game out there during the playoffs," he said. "When a guy is having a bad day, you can't say, 'I'll play better tomorrow.'

"For us, this is what we've been working for all season. Ever since I've been here, this team has been built for the playoffs. I think we have all the elements this year. We just have to play this round, this game and then we'll see."

BUDDIES: Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere and Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher are the best of friends, but they aren't talking much right now.

"We played juniors against each other, and I played with him nine years ago when I played in L.A.," Laperriere said. "He's a great man and he's a great player, but this is the playoffs. . . . It's playoff time, and you have to hit whoever is out there. You just have to do it.

"You know what hockey players are known for: What's on the ice is on the ice and what's off the ice is off the ice. I can't let him do his things because he's one of my best friends. I have to finish my checks. He's going to do the same."

CLOSE SERIES: Three of the four first-round series in the Western Conference are tied 1-1 and Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville isn't surprised.

"When you looked at how it played out during the playoff drive, I think everybody was just happy to get in. We were," said Quenneville, whose team beat Dallas 5-4 in overtime Monday night to take a 2-0 series lead. "The last 35 games for us were all playoff games. The environment was four-point swings each and every night, even when watching other games when we weren't involved. It was so close.

"You look at our division, and we were fighting tooth and nail forever. Next thing you know, we're out of first place and we have to get into the playoffs. The whole conference was pretty tight. Detroit might have had the best record, but I think anybody can beat anybody on a given night."

COASTING: The Stars had an opportunity to rest some players before the playoffs because Dallas didn't play a meaningful regular-season game after March 26.

The Avalanche had to battle to the end of the season but lost its final three games.

"Every situation is different," Quenneville said. "You get a different feel with your team. Maybe resting guys, you try different things. We got accused a little bit of that the last three or four games.

"Our record going into the playoffs wasn't great, and maybe we left a little gas off the pedal going into the playoffs, but I think everybody gets ratcheted up this time of year going into the playoffs. I'm sure the intensity is going to grow each night."

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