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Avalanche playoff report: Medical worries haunt Colorado

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 25, 2008 at 1:41 a.m.

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Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote tries to push the Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom clear of the net Thursday night during Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Detroit.

Photo by Dave Reginek / Nhli Via Getty Images

Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote tries to push the Red Wings' Tomas Holmstrom clear of the net Thursday night during Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Detroit.

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The Avalanche hopes to receive positive medical reports on three key players today after losing forwards Peter Forsberg and Wojtek Wolski to injuries and goalie Jose Theodore to illness that affected his play Thursday night.

Forsberg suffered a groin injury during the morning skate and didn't dress in the Avalanche's 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings; Wolski suffered an "upper-body injury" in the first period and didn't return; and Theodore gave up four goals on 16 shots, was replaced by Peter Budaj early in the second period and spent the third period at the team hotel.

Coach Joel Quenneville said he knew about 2 1/2 hours before game time that Forsberg wouldn't be available.

"We were hoping he would be able to go," Quenneville said. "He didn't even have the opportunity to take the warm-up; he knew he wasn't able. Obviously, we miss the talent in Peter. He creates a lot of the attention from the opposition, generates a lot offensively."

Quenneville listed Forsberg's status as day to day.

"We'll see how he progresses (today)," he said. "(Wolski) had an upper-body injury. We're hopeful that he can play going forward."

Theodore became ill Wednesday night and didn't take part in the morning skate but felt a little better when the game started. His status also is day to day.

Rather than use Jaroslav Hlinka as a replacement for Forsberg, Quenneville turned to grinder Cody McCormick, who hadn't played since March 20 against Calgary. McCormick spent most of the game on the fourth line with Ben Guite and Ian Laperriere.

No excuses

The Avalanche wouldn't use injuries or illness as an excuse for the loss, saying they just didn't play well enough from start to finish.

"Unfortunate things happen," Ryan Smyth said. "You got to work on those things as a team. That's why we have guys to step in. Obviously, Forsberg's been a big part of this down the stretch and he'll be a big asset in the series. He's a guy that can turn games around for you so, hopefully, he can play in Game 2."

Time flies for Foote

Adam Foote expressed some surprise when reminded that the Avalanche and Red Wings are meeting in the playoffs for the first time in six years.

"That long? Wow," the Avalanche defenseman said. "That is amazing. It doesn't feel like it's been that long. There's a great history between the two teams and it's good for the game."

Even with blood flying all over the place when the rivalry was at its peak?

"It was fun," Foote said. "It was exciting. It was intense."

Foote is one of four Avalanche players - Joe Sakic, Forsberg and Milan Hejduk are the others - remaining from when the competition was in its heyday. Six Red Wings - Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby, Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood - are still around.

'Bigger . . . more intense'

Quenneville was an assistant for Marc Crawford when the rivalry between the teams began during the 1996 Western Conference final.

"I know when it initially started, and then watching it from afar, it got bigger and bigger and more intense," said Quenneville, who left the Avalanche midway through the 1996-97 season to coach the St. Louis Blues. "The blood seemed to be more . . . almost to a different level. The animosity would grow and the passion of not just beating them, but physically trying to beat each other.

"We've got some guys that have played when it was in its infancy back in the day. It won't take long to recapture that feeling. For the new guys, some guys got their feet wet for their first playoff games, and I think that helped them as they progressed in that series.

"But this is a different animal and it won't take much to rekindle that rivalry early in games. The guys that have been around like Joe Sakic, he's a perfect ambassador for the rest of the group, knowing what it takes in a series like this where being composed and in control could have a factor in the outcome of games."

Liles has Michigan roots

Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles became aware of the rivalry while attending high school in Ann Arbor, Mich., when he played for the U.S. Under-18 Team, followed by four years at Michigan State.

"But all we're concerned with is the Red Wings right now, not the Red Wings of 10 years ago," he said.

Asked if he was a Detroit fan back then, Liles said: "Actually, no, I wasn't. I was a Rangers fan growing up. Brian Leetch was my favorite player. Being from Indiana, we didn't exactly get a lot of hockey on TV. The Rangers were on quite a bit."

Family duty calls

Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart missed Game 1 to be in California with his wife, Melissa, who gave birth to a boy, their second child. Stuart was replaced in the lineup by Andreas Lilja but is expected to play Saturday.

"He's got to be with his wife," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "That's his first priority. We're the second priority."

He said it

"I guess that was as close as you're going to get to things where you don't get into trouble with the law. There was some pretty nasty stuff going on."

Foote, on the early days of the Colorado/Detroit rivalry.

* Offense: Detroit's puck-possession strategy helped it get the puck deep early in the game and during the third period. The Avs finally started to skate in the second period and refused to collapse.

* Defense: Colorado's confidence-building first goal was erased by two costly defensive turnovers. Except for the second period and late in the game, the Wings didn't give the Avs much room.

* Goalies: Jose Theodore wasn't feeling well and was replaced after giving up four goals on 16 shots, although he didn't receive much help. With 20 saves, Peter Budaj was solid in relief. Chris Osgood made some big saves for Detroit after Colorado pulled one goal back.

* Special teams: The Red Wings attacked on the power play, scoring once, and kept the Avs' pass-happy power play scoreless during three short-handed situations.

1 Johan Franzen scored twice and had an assist to help the Red Wings build a three-goal lead.

2 Ryan Smyth had two assists and challenged the Detroit defense the entire game.

3 Henrik Zetterberg scored a goal and he also had five shots on goal.

Seeing red

Red Wings fans aren't happy that the NHL is threatening to fine employees $10,000 every time they swing an octopus overhead while recovering the slimy critters that are thrown onto the ice by fans at Joe Louis Arena. Click on today's Avalanche report to check out links to:

* A fan-made video that mocks commissioner Gary Bettman for messing with a Hockeytown tradition.

* A fan-created petition asking the NHL to back off regarding the ban.

Comments

  • April 25, 2008

    8:45 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    GoMaltby writes:

    WOW, I figured it would take lemon...I mean Forsburg until game 3 to brake a toenail. 2 1/2 hours before game 1 huh...I don't know, sounds like he's just scared to me.

    Boo Forsberg, Go Wings.

  • April 25, 2008

    8:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    wingsfan1 writes:

    Excuses excuses. I just want to let everyone know that if you are a good team, you will have good enough tools to win no matter what. There are no excuses. You should win regardless of a good bounce or bad bounce, good refs or bad refs, 100% healthy or 75% healthy. If Theodore was sick, why did he play? Excuses mean nothing.

    GO WINGS!!

  • April 25, 2008

    9:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    delanch writes:

    Excuses, excuses - if you are a good team you don't bow out of the playoffs four years in row to inferior teams. I'm sure Red Wings fans had no excuses for those embarrasments to the Ducks (twice), Calgary, and Edmonton..... That's why the Red Wings suck - no heart - better teams talent wise but no heart.

  • April 25, 2008

    1:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    zicknak writes:

    The Ducks went to the Stanley Cup Finals both times, and won once. Calgary and Edmonton went to the Finals both times. Our excuse? They were better teams then the Red Wings... Just as the Wings are a better team then the Avs.

  • April 26, 2008

    6:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bobbyoshea writes:

    And again thanks for nothing ICE PRINCESS!!!

  • April 26, 2008

    6:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bobbyoshea writes:

    At least now I can stop wasting my time watching a bunch of poorly coached morons (wait I'm talking about the Av's right? Or Nugget's? Same dif) and get back to earning my pathetic salary again. I'd gladly take HALF of what you guy's get, TO LOOK LIKE A MORON ON SKATE'S!!! WTF!!!