Energized atmosphere returns with Forsberg; he might play Tuesday

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 3, 2008 at 12:21 p.m.

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Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky

Peter Forsberg, shown participatinge Monday in his first full-team practice since his return to the Avalanche, asks that fans have patience in his return to the ice tonight.

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The stands at Family Sports Center were packed with fans, photographers and reporters squeezed against the glass surrounding the ice rink, and media members outnumbered players inside the locker room once the workout was over.

Yup, just another Avalanche practice.

"It's quite the zoo now," defenseman Scott Hannan said.

The atmosphere Monday was considerably more energized than usual with the Avalanche's latest star attraction, Peter Forsberg, taking part in his first full practice since rejoining the team a week ago.

Playing left wing on a line with captain Joe Sakic and right wing Milan Hejduk, Forsberg glided down the ice with ease as he slid trademark passes or launched shots at goalies Jose Theodore and Peter Budaj.

"It feels like it was yesterday that I left here," Forsberg said. "Those guys are still flying around even if they're a couple years older than I am. They looked great out there, and it seems like they haven't missed a beat. We had such a good, long run.

"It's great to be back in this city and to start playing again. I'm looking forward to getting back on the ice."

Now the 34-year-old forward needs to determine if he is ready to play tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center (7:30, Altitude), a decision that will come after this morning's skate. About 2,000 tickets were available as of Monday.

"Hopefully, we can talk him into playing," Sakic said. "I'm excited and I know Milan's excited. Hopefully, we'll benefit from some of his passes."

Forsberg skated several times after arriving in North America from Sweden last week but said he needed at least one practice because he hasn't played in a game since April with Nashville.

"To be honest, I felt like it was going pretty quick out there the first five minutes," Forsberg said. "After the morning skate, we'll make a decision. I realize it's a big game so, hopefully, I can be in.

"I have to be honest with myself. It's going to be tough to sit out, but I have to realize I haven't played a game in (10) months and I've only had one real practice. It's going to be hard."

The Avalanche is battling for its playoff life and certainly could use Forsberg after losing forwards Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos to injuries Saturday.

"Even though I know those two guys went down last game and I want to get back, I have to be honest with myself and when I come back I have to be ready to come back and play 100 percent and not go out and not do what I want to do," he said.

If Forsberg plays, he said it wouldn't be just to help a sputtering power play that is in a 3-for-44 slump.

"I want to come back and play a regular shift and take it as a regular game," he said.

Coach Joel Quenneville said Forsberg "looked good . . . that line was very effective . . . there's a chance he could play."

But Quenneville added: "He hasn't played hockey in a long time and it's a different pace once you get exposed to a game. He's still evaluating his health issues. That's not an issue right now, but I think that's part of the process."

Forsberg has undergone several surgeries and experimented with a number of skates to correct problems with his right foot.

"It's been getting better and I don't think it should be a problem," he said, adding he also has gotten acclimated to the altitude after skating at sea level in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Sweden.

Forsberg said he enjoyed skating alongside Sakic and Hejduk and that playing left wing is a good way for him to ease his way back.

"Let Joe do the heavy work and I'll just stand on the wing there," he joked.

But Forsberg said he can't be sure if he still can play up to his lofty standards and is "pretty nervous" about how the first game will go.

"I have to realize the other guys have been playing for the whole year and they're getting down to their best shape of the year and getting ready for the playoffs. And here I come, just 16 games to go.

"If it doesn't go good in the first game, I just have to keep on working and, hopefully, it will come. I'm definitely very nervous about how it's going to go the first game. I would love to get it out of the way and get going here.

"How the foot and the leg holds up, of course I'm nervous for that. But there's nothing I can do. There's only 16 games to go and I just have to go out there and play, play my heart out and see how it goes."

What they're saying

* Coach Joel Quenneville, on the attention surrounding Forsberg's return: "It's been very noticeable - the attention, the buzz, the hype. Internally, I think there's a little bit of excitement as well. You see it and you feel it. It's nice to see it. Peter's one of those special players that gets a lot of attention."

* Defenseman Scott Hannan, on facing Forsberg when Hannan was with San Jose: "You always knew you were in for a battle. He's a guy that can beat you in so many different ways. You knew after the game you were going to come out tired and with a few extra bumps and bruises. I think it went both ways. Those were fun battles to be in."

* Captain Joe Sakic, on the spotlight shining on the Avalanche: "We haven't had this buzz in a while, and it's nice to see. It was like this every year for a long time and it's great to have it back."

* Second-year center Paul Stastny: "This is one of those surreal moments. It's kind of the same way with Joe (Sakic) while I was growing up. Joe was one of the top guys growing up, and so was Forsberg. Those Avalanche teams were a lot of guys' favorites growing up. You get a chance to watch a player like him, and now you get a chance to learn from him every day now that he's on the team."

* Defenseman Adam Foote, who, like Forsberg, rejoined the Avalanche last week: "Peter makes it look so easy, I couldn't tell you if he's at 110 percent or 50 percent. It obviously comes easy for a guy like that. It doesn't matter where he's at, he's going to help us."

Canucks at Avalanche

* When: 7:30 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

* TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

* Leading scorers

Vancouver (32-23-10) G A Pts.

C Henrik Sedin 12 51 63

LW Daniel Sedin 26 36 62

LW Markus Naslund 22 25 47

LW Taylor Pyatt 13 18 31

C Ryan Kesler 17 12 29

Coach:

Alain Vigneault

Colorado (34-26-6) G A P

C Paul Stastny 19 34 53

LW Milan Hejduk 21 21 42

LW Andrew Brunette 14 28 42

LW Wojtek Wolski 14 25 39

C Tyler Arnason 8 19 27

Coach:

Joel Quenneville * Injuries: Vancouver - D Lukas Krajicek (shoulder) and C Brendan Morrison (wrist) are out. Colorado - D Brett Clark (shoulder surgery), LW Cody McCormick (chest contusion) and RW Marek Svatos (knee)are on injured reserve; D Jeff Finger (hand) and LW Ryan Smyth (concussion, shoulder) are out.

* Sidelight: The Canucks are expected to come out hard tonight after their 4-1 loss Sunday at Chicago. "That was embarrassing, that's what it was," captain Markus Naslund told Vancouver reporters. "I don't even want to analyze this game. We have to change the way we're playing; there's no better time to do it than next game."

* Notes: The Avalanche has won three in a row and is 4-1-1 in the past six games. . . . The power play has gone 3-for-44 in the past 10 games and 0-for-13 in the past four home games. . . . The Avalanche has won the past three games against the Canucks after losing the first two. . . . Vancouver is 0-1-2 in its past three games and 6-2-5 in the past 13. . . . Goalie Roberto Luongo has started 14 games in a row and allowed two goals or fewer in eight of them.

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