Hejduk is catching fire

Winger a key cog if Avalanche is going to make playoffs

Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News

Published March 6, 2007 at midnight

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BOSTON - The "Duke" is back on his game, and that's encouraging for an Avalanche team that needs all the help it can get.

The deficit for a playoff berth is 10 points again with only 16 games remaining, including tonight's contest against the equally desperate Boston Bruins at the TD Bank- north Garden (5 MST, Versus).

But Milan Hejduk is doing his part to keep the Avalanche's slim prospects alive by playing his best hockey since the 2002-03 season, when he scored an NHL-best 50 goals to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and also set career highs for assists (48) and points (98).

Hejduk, now 30 and in his eighth season in the league, won't come close to those numbers this season, but, along with linemate Paul Stastny, is as hot as any player in the NHL.

While Stastny's 15-game points- scoring streak has tied Calgary's Kristian Huselius for the longest streak in the league this season, Hejduk has been on quite a roll, too.

Hejduk has produced at least one point in all but three of the Avalanche's past 17 games, collecting 10 goals and 13 assists; he has three of the team's eight winning goals in that stretch.

"The last month things started going pretty well for us," Hejduk said of the on-ice bond he has formed with Stastny. "I feel really comfortable with him. There's definitely some chemistry there.

"The whole team, I think, is playing pretty decent hockey. Offensively, we're scoring enough goals, I guess. Lately, I feel pretty good."

That wasn't always the case last season, when Hejduk had to wear a knee brace for support after he underwent arthroscopic surgery during training camp that caused him to miss the entire exhibition schedule and the first six regular-season games.

Hejduk seemed a half-step slower for a good portion of the season once he returned, and he lost some confidence in a once accurate shot.

"He missed camp, was off for a while and all of a sudden, coming off that injury, his quickness probably wasn't as good as he's accustomed to," Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said. "Sometimes that relays to your hands. Certainly, he's got a lot more going for him now."

Hejduk finished with 24 goals and 58 points, his worst showing in three seasons, despite NHL rules that were supposed to make life easier for the more skilled players.

"I had to play with the big knee brace, which I didn't like much," he said. "It affects your movement a little bit. I'm glad I don't have to play with it any more. My mobility on the ice was a little bit limited. I definitely have a little bit more motion now."

Hejduk already has scored 25 goals this season, and with 53 points, easily should surpass last season's total.

"I don't really pay attention to the stats, but I feel good physically and our line is playing decent hockey," he said.

Quenneville said Hejduk is "absolutely" playing the best hockey he's seen of him since taking over as Avalanche coach.

"He has the puck a lot more and he has a little more jump in his stride," Quenneville said.

And to think Hejduk's name came up in some trade rumors before the Feb. 27 trading deadline passed.

"I just tried to keep my mind on the games, to do what I can to help us win," he said. "Every point is huge now. If we can put some more wins together, it would be nice. We're going to battle to the end and we'll see what happens."

BUDAJ STARS, STARTS: Peter Budaj, who will start in goal for the Avalanche tonight, was named the NHL's third star for the week that ended Sunday.

Budaj posted a 3-0 record with a 1.97 goals-against average and .926 saves percentage, with wins against Columbus, Chicago and Detroit.

Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen was named the league's first star of the week and Florida Panthers center Olli Jokinen the second star.

The Avalanche hasn't played in Boston since beating the Bruins 3-2 in overtime on Feb. 4, 2003.

Avalanche at Bruins

• When: 5 MST tonight.

• Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston.

• TV/radio: Versus; KKFN-AM (950).

• Leading scorers

Colorado (32-29-5) G A P

C Joe Sakic 27 49 76

RW Andrew Brunette 24 39 63

C Paul Stastny 22 40 62

RW Milan Hejduk 25 28 53

LW Wojtek Wolski 19 23 42

Coach: Joel Quenneville

Boston (32-28-5) G A P

C Marc Savard 21 63 84

C Patrice Bergeron 18 40 58

RW Glen Murray 28 17 45

D Zdeno Chara 10 29 39

LW Marco Sturm 21 15 36

Coach: Dave Lewis

• Injuries: Colorado - D Patrice Brisebois (back surgery), D Jordan Leopold (wrist surgery) and C Pierre Turgeon (calf) are on injured reserve; D Karlis Skrastins (knee) and RW Marek Svatos (groin) are day to day. Boston - RW Chuck Kobasew (fractured elbow) is out.

• Sidelight: Stastny's older brother, Yan, 24, had no goals and two assists in 21 games with the Bruins earlier this season. He also played for the Providence (R.I.) Bruins in the American Hockey League before being traded to the St. Louis Blues in January for a fifth-round draft pick. He's playing for the American Hockey League's Peoria (Ill.) Rivermen.

• Notes: The Avalanche has won three in a row, matching its longest streak of the season. . . . Paul Stastny has a 15-game points-scoring streak, one short of the franchise record for rookies set by his father, Peter, with Quebec in 1980-81 and two behind the NHL rookie record set by Teemu Selanne with Winnipeg in 1992-93. . . . The Bruins are 2-0-1 in their past three games and 4-1-2 against Western Conference teams. . . . Savard has the most assists and points by a Bruins player since Joe Thornton had 65 and 101 in 2002-03.

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com

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