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Who ordered Wings? Avs rivalry resumes

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 23, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated April 23, 2008 at 3:49 p.m.

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Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood makes a save during a game in February at the Pepsi Center.

Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood makes a save during a game in February at the Pepsi Center.

Colorado's Ian Laperriere, left, has words with Detroit's Brett Lebda during a game in February at the Pepsi Center.

Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky

Colorado's Ian Laperriere, left, has words with Detroit's Brett Lebda during a game in February at the Pepsi Center.

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It might not be just like old times, but the Avalanche will renew its once bitter playoff rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Joe Louis Arena.

Hard to believe, but the teams haven't met in the postseason since 2002, when the Avalanche squandered a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference finals with 2-0 and 7-0 losses.

Speaking of shutouts, the Avalanche lost all four meetings with the Red Wings this season and was blanked three times.

"Any time you get to the playoffs, teams are better than they were in the regular season," Avalanche captain Joe Sakic said Tuesday. "You have to be better to advance every round. As long as we're playing well, playing our game, we're confident."

Led by forwards Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and perennial Norris Trophy favorite Nicklas Lidstrom, the Red Wings rolled to a 54-21-7 regular-season record to capture the Presidents' Trophy before dispatching the Nashville Predators in six games in the first round.

"Detroit is a puck-possession team," Sakic said. "They love to handle it and control the neutral zone."

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has tabbed Chris Osgood to start Game 1, and with good reason. Osgood replaced Dominik Hasek midway through the fourth game against the Predators, won both of his decisions and stopped 53 of 54 shots overall for a 0.39 goals-against average and .981 save percentage.

Osgood made 20 saves in Sunday's series-clinching 3-0 win.

" 'Ozzie's obviously got the net right now, and it's his job to make sure 'Dom' doesn't get back in it," Babcock told Detroit reporters. "But 'Dom's going to do everything he can to be ready."

HAPPY, HEALING

Peter Forsberg doesn't mind getting some time off between playoff series after battling a few nagging injuries, most notably to his groin and perhaps involving his foot or ankle.

"Rest is a weapon," he said after practicing Tuesday. "I never mind rest."

Forsberg was in good spirits after his first on-ice workout since Saturday's first-round series-clinching win against Minnesota, sounding happier than ever about his decision to sign with the Avalanche.

"It's been going much better than I thought," he said. "We were four points out (of the playoffs) when I came here and now we're through the first round. On the other hand, you can't be satisfied. But it's just great to be back in Denver. I'm just happy every day when I get up, so it's been great.

"I'm just having fun. It's great to be back playing. I had such a long time being back in Sweden. I didn't know if I was going to play for I don't know how many months, just going back and forth (on the ice) trying to come back and it didn't work, then finally to be back here playing. I don't think I'm playing my best hockey, to be honest with you, but it's just fun to be back."

CENTERED AT WING

Forsberg, a natural center, said the move to left wing on a line with Sakic or Paul Stastny made it easier for him to get readjusted to the NHL game after sitting out for 101/2 months.

Forsberg always has been a strong two-way player, but he hasn't had to deal with the defensive responsibility that goes with playing center.

"I think it's great for me to play wing," said Forsberg, who had one goal and 13 assists in nine regular- season games and one goal and four assists in six playoff games against the Wild. "To come in the middle of the season and to start playing center, I think that might be a lot. I've been very happy to play on the wing with both Joe and Stastny. I'm real comfortable there and I get to play with two great centermen.

"It's definitely easier to play wing than playing center. I just look at Paul and say, 'You skate, I'm not going back there.' He goes with it, so it's great. It's a little harder with Joe, though. He's got the age thing on me, so sometimes I have to backcheck," Forsberg said, laughing.

Sakic is 38, four years older than Forsberg.

SPRING IN SAKIC'S STEP

After Colorado missed the playoffs last year for the first time since the Avalanche has been in Denver, Sakic might have a greater appreciation for what it takes to get to the postseason than he did before.

"This is the time of year when you want to be playing," he said.

"Springtime playoffs, there's no more fun than this time of year. We're excited to get going."

FOOTE LIKES TIME OFF

Defenseman Adam Foote figures a few days off between playoff series can only help to heal some of the bumps and bruises incurred against the Wild.

"Three or four days after the first round is good because we did have a battle down the stretch," he said. "It was tough mentally and physically, not just for our team, but for a lot of teams in the league. It's good to get guys healed up."

But too many days off can be too much of a good thing.

"Sometimes you see teams with too much rest get in trouble early in the first game, but I think, with an experienced team, it shouldn't affect you as much as a younger team," he said. "We're all going to have to adjust quickly. That's playoffs, that's the fun part about it. We have an older team here, so we should be all right."

Comments

  • April 23, 2008

    12:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wilson writes:

    Win or lose, I hope we dish out some punishment. They deserve it.

  • April 23, 2008

    8:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    octopus writes:

    I am so happy, the rivalry is finally being renewed! Lot of the old faces, especially now that Floppa, Foote and D-Mac are back where they belong.

    It's going to be a great series. Wings in 6.

    Let's flashback to golden days of yesteryear, shall we?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9wGOM...

  • April 23, 2008

    9:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DeimosJB writes:

    Just like old times - lots of familiar faces, lots of talent, and the winner of this series probably takes the Cup. Go Avs.

  • April 23, 2008

    9:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ThomasAVS writes:

    GO AVS GOOOOOOO!!!!

    beat those chicken wings!

  • April 23, 2008

    10:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    crowdsurf writes:

    Let the Cold War begin! Avs Vs Red Wings! Good vs Evil! Traditionally, we do well against the Wings in the 2nd round, although it will be a tough, great series. Avs will win in seven thanks to Peter the Great(aka. the red wings killa). The Wings are the biggest bunch of divers and crybabies in the league. Lidstrom whines about cross checking in the crease when he did it all season against us. Break McCarty's face! Rearrange Draper's jaw!

  • April 23, 2008

    10:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    CaptainObvious writes:

    Hot damn! This will be a great series! Another one! It HAD to be the Wings! Fate...

    Where is Drury when we need him? HE was the WIng Killer. Peter will have to be great in this series, and our D-line will need to continue to put up points. Having said that...Avs in 6.

    BTW has anyone heard any talk about Peter or Foote returning next year?

  • April 23, 2008

    10:57 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    blm69 writes:

    I still remember Claude Lemieux's check of Chris Draper into the boards back in 96. Hope to see some similar punishment inflicted on the evil red wings.

  • April 23, 2008

    11:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    egge writes:

    I moved to Denver a year ago and have adopted it as home.. That being said, I still tell everyone back home that everything is better in Denver EXCEPT the hockey team! WINGS IN SIX!

  • April 23, 2008

    12:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CaptainObvious writes:

    Hey egge, did you move here from Detroit? If so, good choice!

  • April 23, 2008

    1:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Milarso writes:

    Yawn. Wake me up when the Avalanche are a relevant hockey team again. There can't really be a rivalry when your team never wins (0-4 this season with three shutouts). Red Wings take this one easily.

  • April 23, 2008

    1:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    psu96 writes:

    the winner of the cup will come out of the east.

  • April 23, 2008

    2:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    I feel sorry for the Avs because they have to go to Detroit. What a toilet.

  • April 23, 2008

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    psu96 writes:

    they should feel at home, the MS13 are slinging there as well.

  • April 23, 2008

    2:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    vaughn189 writes:

    The Avs are a joke, welcome to HOCKEYTOWN. The good guys in 4.

  • April 23, 2008

    3:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    I'm going to start referring to my toilet as "hockey town". Spencer is sittin' on hockey town he'll be out in a minute.

  • April 23, 2008

    3:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    psu96 writes:

    one minute huh? bet the ladies love to hear that...

  • April 23, 2008

    3:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kathyM writes:

    I also moved to Colorado from Detroit metro a few months ago. Colorado's great...except for the hockey team! Go Red Wings!

  • April 23, 2008

    4:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    InsGuru720 writes:

    It is good to see that most of the major injuries are over for the Avalanche with Smyth, Forsberg, Sakic, Stastny, etc. all healthy. That way there are no excuses when the Avalanche lose the Wings in 5 games.

    And the guy that said this, "Break McCarty's face! Rearrange Draper's jaw!" is really a very sick person and I hope he does not have any children, so the world can weed out these human pieces of trash.

  • April 23, 2008

    4:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ThomasAVS writes:

    AVSWALLOW:

    i love how wings fans just assume the cup should be handed over to them since they have really good regular seasons. OH WAIT! what has happened since '02? its a professional chokejob is what it is.
    what happened in games 3 & 4 last series? was that your beloved "dominator" getting dominated by the preds of all teams? pathetic. 2 goals in 9 seconds? miserable. wanna know ozzy's GAA against the avs in the playoffs? 2.94...wanna know his record? 3-10...
    i guess ozzy swallows now huh!

  • April 23, 2008

    6:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AvalancheSuck writes:

    The Red Wings have been to the Stanley Cup finals twice as many time as the Flabalanche in the same time period. The Wings have 50% more Cups than the Flabs in the same time period.

    The last time we played the Flabs in the playoffs Patricia Wah got chased before the middle of the second period (6 goals!) on the way to a 7-0 smackdown.

  • April 23, 2008

    6:39 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AvalancheSuck writes:

    Thom'ass, choke job? What was your playoff record last year? Oh wait, you didn't make the playoffs! You couldn't even make it out of the regular season before you CHOKED!

  • April 23, 2008

    7:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SDWingNut writes:

    So blm69 you thought the criminal hit on Draper by Claude was cool. Hardly, the man could have been killed by a seriously cheap shot. But if you want to go that route Downey, Drake, and McCarty will gladly accommodate Ian (the Avs new Claude). Bring it baby. The only reason Downey didn't kick his rear 3x is because they finally threw him out after the last fight. I was there at the Pepsi Center. Oh and by the way do your fair-weather Avs fans always leave 6 minutes early when their getting their butt handed to them. Go Wings!!

  • April 23, 2008

    10:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HE5t writes:

    Why did all of you Detroit fans move to Denver in the first place? Maybe to escape with your lives? Show some respect, or move back!

  • April 24, 2008

    6:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Vonmises writes:

    Is Jose Theodore a French Mexican, or a Mexican Frenchman?? Anyway he is swiss cheese!