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Wolski out, Forsberg questionable

Avs facing uphill battle in Game 2 at Detroit

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 25, 2008 at 10:10 p.m.

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As if facing the Detroit Red Wings wasn't already enough of a challenge, the Avalanche now has the formidable task of doing it without Wojtek Wolski and probably Peter Forsberg.

Wolski is expected to miss the remainder of the Western Conference semifinal series with an upper body injury, and Forsberg is questionable for Saturday's pivotal match at Joe Louis Arena because of a groin injury.

There was some encouraging medical news Friday: Goalie Jose Theodore's health improved enough for him to take part in the full practice session, after which he declared himself ready for another start.

"Every game throughout the season we've dealt with guys in and out of our lineup and different lines," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think the depth of our team and organization has really progressed. No matter who gets inserted in our lineup, we think they're going to fill the void and welcome the challenge."

Trailing 4-1 early in the second period of Thursday's opener, the Avalanche rallied but dropped a 4-3 decision and can't afford to head back to Colorado in a 2-0 series hole.

"We have to have an attitude that we have to be ready to do something about it and be blanked off about what happened and go forward," Quenneville said. "We let them take it to us pretty well. I don't think we want to find any consolation in losing a close game."

Jaroslav Hlinka, a healthy scratch for the first seven playoff games, skated Friday at left wing on a line with Joe Sakic and rookie David Jones, but that combination is subject to change because Andrew Brunette and Milan Hejduk were among the forwards - along with Forsberg - who didn't practice.

"You'd definitely like to have him in the lineup," Sakic said of Forsberg, "but if he's not, the rest of us have to find a way to win the hockey game. At this time of year, there's no excuses. We're in the playoffs and it's all about winning. You have to find a way to get the job done."

The Avalanche will need the kind of goaltending it received from Theodore down the stretch and against Minnesota in the first round that was missing in Game 1.

Theodore became ill with flu-like symptoms Wednesday night and spent most of Thursday resting at the team hotel. After receiving intravenous fluids, he thought he felt strong enough to play but allowed four goals in 16 shots and was replaced by Peter Budaj at 1:13 of the second period.

"I thought with the IV I would be fine," said Theodore, who didn't permit more than two regulation goals in any of six games against the Wild. "I just tried the best I could. In the playoffs you want to help your team, and I felt I could do that. Things didn't work out the way I wanted to, but it happened to me before, and sometimes it does work out for the best.

"For sure the energy level wasn't there, but still I was trying to rely on my technique and being able to freeze the pucks and everything. They're a good team. You look at the goals, I think some of the goals probably would go in any day. They came out strong. You've got to give them credit."

Theodore went back to the team hotel after the second period, watched the rest of the game on television and went to bed.

"I slept really well and I have much more energy," he said. "I was able to eat. It's just one of those things you have to fight through and turn the page. I'm ready to go. I think the worst is behind."

The same isn't true for Wolski, who suffered what could be a shoulder injury in the first period, or for Forsberg, who was hurt again in the morning skate Thursday.

"I can't be upset. Sometimes you have to skate," Forsberg said. "Of course you're not happy when it happens like that. It is what it is, and I just have to get it healed up as soon as I possibly can so I can get back.

"Definitely it was not a good situation. Of course you feel bad, but I thought the team played well, and we were pretty close to catching up to them in the end. We'll see if I can play or not.

"It's very disappointing. I had a couple of good practice days and not to be able to play in such a big game . . . it's definitely difficult to sit on the side. It's been like this since I came back - real up and down - so I have to try and stay positive. We're working on it and trying to get back as soon as I can."

AVALANCHE AT RED WINGS

* When: 1 p.m. MDT Saturday.

* Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit.

* What: Game 2, best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals; Red Wings lead series 1-0.

* TV/radio: KUSA-Channel 9; KKFN-FM (104.3).

* Leading playoff scorers

Colorado (4-3) G A P

RW Milan Hejduk 3 3 6

C Joe Sakic 2 4 6

RW Andrew Brunette 3 2 5

LW Ryan Smyth 2 3 5

LW Peter Forsberg 1 4 5

C Paul Stastny 2 1 3

Coach: Joel Quenneville

Detroit (5-2) G A Pts.

RW Johan Franzen 4 3 7

C Pavel Datsyuk 3 3 6

C Jiri Hudler 2 4 6

D Brian Rafalski 1 5 6

D Niklas Kronvall 0 6 6

LW Henrik Zetterberg 3 2 5

Coach: Mike Babcock

* Injuries: Colorado - D Brett Clark (shoulder), RW Marek Svatos (knee) and LW Wojtek Wolski (upper body) are out; Forsberg (groin) is questionable. Detroit - C Tomas Kopecky (knee) and LW Kirk Maltby (hamstring) are out.

* Sidelight: The Avalanche has lost the first two games of a series three times since the team has been in Denver and rallied to win once - taking four games in a row against the Red Wings in the 1999 conference semifinals. Colorado was swept by Anaheim in the 2006 con- ference semifinals and lost in six games to San Jose in the 2004 semifinals.

* Notes: Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore's goals-against average rose from 1.88 to 2.38 after allowing four goals on 16 shots in Game 1. . . . The Red Wings are 4-0 at home in the playoffs and have outscored teams 13-7. . . . The Avalanche is 2-2 on the road, has scored 11 goals and allowed 11. . . . Detroit has killed 24 of 26 penalties (92.3 percent). . . . Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart will play after missing Thursday's game to be with his wife for the birth of their second child.

Results, schedule

* Game 1: Red Wings 4, Avalanche 3.

Red Wings lead series 1-0

* Game 2: at Detroit, 1 p.m. Saturday TV: Channel 9

* Game 3: at Colorado, 8 p.m. Tuesday TV: Altitude

* Game 4: at Colorado, 8 p.m. Thursday TV: Versus

* Game 5: at Detroit, 11 a.m. May 3 (if necessary) TV: Channel 9

* Game 6: at Colorado, 8 p.m. May 5 (if necessary) TV: Altitude

* Game 7: at Detroit, TBA May 7 (if necessary) TV: Altitude

Comments

  • April 26, 2008

    8:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    WingNut1967 writes:

    Hello Avs Fans... I sure am looking forward to todays game, it should prove to be a good one... I hope it's as much fun as game one was, that game had something for every fan... It's supposed to be in the low 60's today so we should have good ice, which we usually have anyway... See you at the Joe.

    Good luck to both teams...

    Go Wings!!! Go Wings!!! Go Wings!!!