Sakic delivers in overtime on his only shot of game
By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 07:45 p.m., April 9, 2008
Updated 06:18 a.m., April 10, 2008
Photo by Associated Press
Joe Sakic celebrates his winning goal in overtime as Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom lays on the ice.
Paul Battaglia / Associated Press
Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore, whom Joe Sakic credited with keeping Colorado in the game, prepares to make a save against Eric Belanger of Minnesota during the second period.
One shot. That's all it took for Joe Sakic to make his presence felt Wednesday night.
The Avalanche captain, who scored so many clutch goals late in the regular season to help get his team into the playoffs, did it again in the opening game of the Western Conference quarterfinals before 19,352 roaring fans at the Xcel Energy Center.
Only the sellout crowd grew quiet pretty quick when Sakic, with his only shot of the game, whacked the puck past Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom with a backhander from the slot at 11:11 of overtime to give the Avalanche a 3-2 win.
"Right place at the right time," said Sakic, who has scored a record eight career postseason goals in overtime.
"Ruslan (Salei) made a great shot and there were two of us in front. The puck was laying right there. It came right to me, so I was pretty fortunate to be in the right spot."
Wojtek Wolski passed to Salei, who took a shot that Backstrom stopped before Sakic knocked in the loose puck.
"I just tried to get it to the net and it was a pretty good bounce for Joey," Salei said. "That's what overtime is; it's going in and you're done."
The Avalanche might have been done in if not for goalie Jose Theodore, who continued what has been a remarkable comeback season.
He turned aside all 20 shots he faced through the first 40 minutes when the Avalanche took a 2-0 lead, was victimized by a bad break on the first of the Wild's two third-period goals and made a game-saving stop against Brent Burns at 6:35 of overtime.
Burns carried the puck down right wing, put on the brakes, then skated by sliding Avalanche defenseman Jeff Finger before moving in alone on Theodore.
"Burns made a good play by kind of stopping," Theodore said. "He was all alone and I was able to challenge a little bit. He made a good shot and I was able to get a pad on it."
Despite getting outshot 20-7 through two periods, the Avalanche built a 2-0 lead on goals by defenseman Kurt Sauer and Ryan Smyth, but the Wild stormed back with third-period goals by Mikko Koivu and Todd Fedoruk to tie the score.
"We were fortunate to be up 2-0," Sakic said. "Jose really kept us in and gave us a chance. This win is a credit to the way he kept us in it. We're we fortunate? We'll take the win. We'll take it, but we know we have to be ready (Friday). They're going to be even better next game and we have to step up and have a better start."
The Wild caught a break on its first goal, which was credited to Koivu at 3:02 when his pass from the right circle for Brian Rolston hit Finger's left skate and bounced into the net.
Fedoruk, known more for being a big hitter than a goal-scorer, was left all alone in front of Theodore and made a nifty move to score at 6:13 on the Wild's fifth power play of the game.
With 2:27 remaining in regulation, Smyth was awarded a penalty shot by referee Mike Hasenfratz after Wild defenseman
Keith Carney closed his hand on the puck in the crease.
Smyth, who didn't take part in regular-season shootouts, gathered the puck at center ice, skated down the middle and tried to slip it by the goalie's right pad.
"I failed, but now I have to take Joe out for dinner, I guess. He bailed me out at the end," Smyth said.
The Avalanche grabbed a 1-0 lead at 1:29 of the second period on a rare goal by Sauer during a four-on-four situation and increased the advantage to 2-0 when the snake-bitten Smyth connected for a power-play goal at 13:08.
Sauer, whose forte is playing solid in his own end, skated down the slot, accepted a pass from Sakic and put a shot by Backstrom's glove for his second goal in 34 career playoff games.
Smyth, who failed to deliver a goal in the final 10 regular-season games, deflected Finger's point shot off the left post and into the net with three seconds remaining on a slashing penalty to Bouchard.
"He got off a good shot and I just got lucky on the tip," said Smyth, who had a game-high six shots. "We've been working on that in practice and, obviously, it pays off. When you work on it, you get good hand-eye coordination for it."
Said Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville: " 'Smitty' was great. He did everything that characterizes what he's all around the net - second and third efforts, some nice plays on the rush and he almost got the break on the penalty shot."
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
April 9, 2008
10:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
mtnsrfer writes:
Super Joe does it again!!!
April 9, 2008
10:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
homeradam writes:
Bring on the Detroit Chicken Wings
April 9, 2008
10:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
HollyGoLightly writes:
I gnawed my fingernails to the knuckle on that one.
April 9, 2008
10:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
princess writes:
Good Lord if this is any indication of what's in store then we are in for a long series. This game was for sure a nail biter. Who ever went to the game got their moneys worth because both teams put out a hell of a game. GO AVS
April 10, 2008
6:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Wes writes:
How much fun is it to watch this team again? Clutch goals. Great goaltending. Welcome to playoff hockey.
April 10, 2008
7:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
MarineGrunt writes:
This series is going to be GREAT!!!
GO AVS
April 10, 2008
7:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
This is why I love the game of hockey. It was a terrific game regardless of who won. It had everything you look for when you go to a game. Everyone has been talking about the deadline acquisitions, Salei has been overlooked but is a great asset to this team. Folks offer up a prayer for Mike Haynes today.
April 10, 2008
9:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Kered writes:
"farsidefan" I agree with you 100000000000% What a great game!
April 10, 2008
9:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
jbaker3924 writes:
I'm a Wild fan and live in Minnesota but hats off on the win last night. I thought it was a great game. Intense, but overall pretty clean, with great goaltending on both ends. This should be a tremendous series. I think Joe Sakic very well may be the greatest clutch player in history. I love watching him play. I'm heading to the game Friday night weather permitting, and look forward to another good one. I'd say good luck, but wouldn't really mean it. Here's to a few more games like last night though, with the Wild coming out on top.
April 10, 2008
10:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Keno33 writes:
Cup Cup cup cup Cup cup Cup
April 10, 2008
11 a.m.
Suggest removal
newshound writes:
Great game, playoff hockey is the even better in HD, I know Kroenke will step up when the Avs return to the Can. Prayers to Mike Haynes as well.
April 10, 2008
12:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
gmo80 writes:
What a great game, there is no better sport to watch on the planet. Whats up with no HD? Hockey comes alive in HD and the league should promote the heck out of it. Its 2008 and we still dont have every game in HD, not cool. Pray for Mike and his family.
April 10, 2008
1:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
psu96 writes:
I hope the Avs make it to the finals as does Philly....so I can see my team whoop on you past due old timers....
Good point about the HD,
April 10, 2008
1:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
meatwad writes:
Where'd this philly fan come from? don't you have your own series to worry about before thinking about the finals?
Now for what i came to say, wow. That was onehellofagame. I can't wait til tomorrow to see em go at it again, both sides played great, and gave everyone more than there money's worth. Hopefully they can keep this pace up and move onto the next round.
April 10, 2008
2:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
LamboMan writes:
There is absolutely NOTHING like playoff hockey. And last night's game was a perfect example of what it's all about. I haven't been this jazzed about hockey since before the lockout.
And good-on-ya jbaker3924. Way to show some class! Unlike most fans of other teams that chime in on these message boards, you chose to express your appreciation of an excellent game instead of simply talking smack about our team. Here's wishing the Wild good luck for the remainder of the series, even though I don't mean it : )
Go AV'S!!!!!
April 10, 2008
6:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
52hockey writes:
It was a great game. I was exhausted watching it! I do have to wonder if Lemaire is still happy he drew the Av's in the first round? He seemed to think the Av's would be easy.
Many prayers out to Mike Haynes! Get well soon.