AVALANCHE REPORT: Wolski has grown up since 2006 debut

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 18, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Photo by Andy King / Associated Press

Avalanche left wing Andrew Brunette, left, is congratulated Thursday night by right wing Milan Hejduk after Brunette's first-period goal put Colorado up 1-0 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Avalanche leads the series 3-2.

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Wojtek Wolski was a wide-eyed 20-year-old rookie when he made his Stanley Cup playoff debut with the Avalanche in 2006 after spending most of the season with his Brampton Battalion junior team in the Ontario Hockey League.

All Wolski did was collect a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win at Dallas in Game 1 of the Avalanche's first-round series, which the team won in five games.

"There was a lot of adrenaline," he said Thursday. "I was really excited. We won that series, so it was a lot of fun to come in that way."

Wolski managed only one assist in seven other playoff games that spring, and the Avalanche didn't make the postseason last year, so he has a different feeling this time around while skating against the Minnesota Wild.

"The big thing is, I feel a little more comfortable in the lineup, more comfortable with the puck," he said. "I know there's more expectations and a larger responsibility for me in this series than back then, when I just kind of came in to help out.

"This time around, they're looking to me to finish checks and to contribute offensively. Last time, they just kind of hoped that I would play well."

Wolski has had a good series so far, with two goals, three assists and a plus-1 rating.

His power-play goal at 5:06 of the third period Thursday, a rocket from the right faceoff circle after a pass from defenseman John-Michael Liles, put the Avalanche ahead for good.

"I just tried to make sure I was open, and Johnny made a really great play with two guys on him and a lot of pressure," Wolski said. "I just tried to make sure that I got it off as quickly as I could. I think it went five hole."

Wolski began the series on a line with Joe Sakic and Andrew Brunette, but he spent most of the past two games on the so-called fourth unit with Ben Guite and Ian Laperriere.

"I've played OK," Wol- ski said. "There are things I'd like to do better. I've been finishing checks and I've been trying to make sure that I'm positionally right and whatnot. Hopefully, it continues and it just gets better as the playoffs go on.

"It's great to get points, but the best part of it is when we're winning and you're playing well defensively. That's probably what's going to win us a championship, if we do win one. I'm excited to get points, and there's recognition that comes with that, but if I don't get those points, I have to make sure that I'm doing all the other things right."

Wolski had 18 goals and 30 assists in 77 regular-season games but spent some time in coach Joel Quenneville's doghouse. He was a healthy scratch five times, but Quenneville seems pleased with Wolski's play against the Wild.

" 'Woolie's been effective. He's one of those guys that's got skill and has some size," Quenneville said. "We feel there's a little more balance with him playing with 'Lappy' and Bennie. He gives us versatility. We can use him in a lot of different ways and with different people."

Laperriere fine after hit

Forward Laperriere needed help to leave the ice midway through the second period after he collided with 260-pound Derek Boogaard, drawing loud cheers from the crowd. But he was able to return a couple of minutes later and played the rest of the game.

"I didn't see him and he didn't see me, and we kind of hit each other," Laperriere said. "It's OK. I'm all right."

McLeod in the spotlight

Rookie Cody McLeod is attracting a lot more media attention in this series than he did during the regular season.

The 23-year-old left wing received plenty of face time Tuesday while exchanging words and gestures with Minnesota's Stephane Veilleux while they sat in their respective penalty boxes.

McLeod seemed a little embarrassed while surrounded by a number of reporters Thursday morning, when he acknowledged having viewed the penalty-box antics on TV after the game.

"I guess it was kind of funny," he said.

McLeod was assessed two roughing minors and a 10-minute misconduct Tuesday. He has 18 penalty minutes (and no points) in the first five games.

"My job is to try and draw penalties and get under their skin," McLeod said.

Numbers game

12 penalty minutes in Thursday's game. The teams combined for 154 penalty minutes in Game 4.

* Offense: Colorado shuffled its lines in the third period and took control of the game. Minnesota pressed in the first 10 minutes and in the second with minimal success.

* Defense: The Avalanche was outshot 40-17, but the defense withstood the pressure to earn the win. The Wild couldn't thwart the Avalanche's aggressive play in the third period.

* Goalies: Jose Theodore attacked, found the puck and had another brilliant game for the Avalanche. Niklas Backstrom couldn't be blamed for the three Colorado goals.

* Special teams: Two power-play goals pushed Colorado into the lead. The Wild collected a power-play goal for the first time in the series. The penalty killing for both teams was shaky.

1 Jose Theodore made tons of big saves, especially in the first two periods.

2 Brian Rolston was the Wild's best player, getting a goal and an assist.

3 Paul Stastny collected his first career playoff point with the winner.

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