Avs knew risks going in with Forsberg

Rick Sadowski and Aaron J. Lopez

Published May 2, 2008 at 12:24 a.m.

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Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Joe Sakic, left, consoles Peter Budaj after being eliminated by the Red Wings on Thursday night. Budaj allowed five goals in the 8-2 loss in Game 4.

When Peter Forsberg returned to the NHL on Feb. 25, his carry-on luggage from Sweden came with a Buyer Beware tag.

The Avalanche management and coaching staff accepted the risks and hoped the $1.2 million investment would pay surprising dividends.

Consider it a break-even deal.

After playing nine of a possible 19 games during the regular season, Forsberg sat out for the third time in 10 playoff games Thursday night as the Avalanche was eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings.

Groin problems prevented Forsberg from being on the ice in the finale, but he said a chronically sore foot was the root of the problem.

"I'd like to continue to play, but it's getting to a point where if it's like this, I go out on the ice and I pull groins," he said. "It's tough to play like that and not play at your best."

Forsberg missed the first two games of the series and did not appear to be at full strength when he returned for Game 3. The Red Wings tried to be as physical as possible against Forsberg, and the lingering beatings from six first-round games took their toll.

Despite the pain and suffering, Forsberg enjoyed his brief return and proved to be productive. In 16 regular-season and playoff games, he had two goals and 17 assists.

"I was just trying to come back and do my best," he said. "During the regular season and the first round, it was great to be back playing with the Avs."

Asked if he would retire if he could not solve the problem with his foot, Forsberg was unequivocal.

"Absolutely," he said. "I tried to come back and it was a little better, but I don't think it was totally solved. It's getting to a point where even if I want to play with (pain), I can't play with it because it (leads to) too many injuries. If it doesn't get solved, that will be it, but we'll see what happens."

Forsberg plans to remain in Denver for treatment. Should he return to the NHL next season, expect to see him in an Avalanche sweater.

"I have a hard time seeing myself anywhere else," he said.

Numbers game

8line combinations used by the Avalanche in the first period. The juggling act came after coach Joe Quenneville decided to have seven defensemen in uniform instead of the usual six. Among the newcomers to the lineup were defenseman Jeff Finger and forward Wyatt Smith.

Mule still kickin'

Red Wings center Johan Franzen became the sixth player in NHL history to collect two hat tricks in one series and the first since Edmonton's Jari Kurri in 1985. Kurri had three hat tricks against Chicago in the conference final.

Franzen's nine goals in the series matched the total for the Avalanche.

"It's not often you see a player score like this," teammate Henrik Zetterberg said. "It's fun to be a part of it. . . . He's been working hard and it's great to see him score."

Franzen has set a team re- cord with 11 postseason goals.

Rookie impressed

Taking part in the Stanley Cup playoffs has been "awesome," Avalanche rookie David Jones said.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound right wing is disappointed he hasn't produced more than one assist in nine playoff games, but the experience has been a good one. At this time a year ago, he was finishing his junior season at Dartmouth, where he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

"I've been getting the puck in good spots at full speed," said Jones, who has registered 14 shots on goal. "I've been able to take the 'D' man on and tried to take it to the net. I haven't been able to put it by (Red Wings goalie Chris) Osgood, but as long as I keep getting chances, it's positive."

Jones began the season with the American Hockey League's Lake Erie (Ohio) Monsters, where he had 14 goals and 16 assists in 30 games. He was recalled by the Avalanche three times and played in the final 18 regular-season games. Overall, he had two goals and four assists in 27 NHL games.

"I don't really have the best hands," he said. "My skating is my biggest asset. . . . Taking guys wide, that's where I got most of my goals (at Dartmouth and with Lake Erie)."

Babcock award finalist

The NHL announced Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award as the league's coach of the year. Babcock guided the Red Wings to a 54-21-7 record and 115 points, earning Detroit the Presidents' Trophy for the best regular-season record.

The other finalists are Washington's Bruce Boudreau and Montreal's Guy Carbonneau.

GAME 4 REPORT CARD

* Offense: The Avalanche again struggled to get enough pucks to the net and had sloppy line changes, while the Red Wings efficiently attacked and counter-attacked.

Avalanche: C

Red Wings: A

* Defense: Colorado was out of position way too many times, allowing costly odd-man rushes, while Detroit's team defense was once again excellent.

Avalanche: F

Red Wings: A

* Goalies: Jose Theodore gave up a bad goal to start the game, then everything collapsed in front of him late in the first period. Peter Budaj relieved him. Chris Osgood wasn't tested much but had a steady game.

Avalanche: C

Red Wings: B

* Special teams: With a makeshift lineup, the Avalanche had to have a great game on special teams but didn't, although both of Colorado's goals were on the power play. Detroit collected two power-play goals and a short-handed score.

Avalanche: C

Red Wings: B

3 STARS OF THE GAME

1 Johan Franzen His hat trick gave him nine goals in the four-game sweep of the Avalanche.

2 Henrik Zetterberg continued to be a spark, scoring two goals and adding two assists.

3 Pavel Datsyuk Three assists; always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Zipping it up

* The loss Thursday was the fourth time the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques have been swept out of the postseason.

Year Outcome Opponent Round

1982* 0-4 N.Y. Islanders Eastern final

1986* 0-3 Hartford Division semifinals

2006 0-4 Anaheim Western semifinals

2008 0-4 Detroit Western semifinals

• May 2, 2008

  10:36 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Avs_Blow writes:

  SWEEP SWEEP....GO WINGS

• May 2, 2008

  12:26 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Marty writes:

  The real tragedy isn't that the Avs lost or got swept; the tragedy is these two teams never got to go head-to-head with their full line-ups.

  Moving forward, the decisions start with Sakic. If he retires, the only veterans on the roster should be Hejduk, Smyth and probably Foote. If Sakic is back we give it another go, Foppa included if he gets his foot taken care of.

  What the club does with Coach Q and Theodore will also be interesting. Theo shows flashes of former brilliance but at 1/6th the cost Budaj is basically a better and more consistant goalie. I wouldn't cry if the coaching staff changes. The Avs are too passive on the PK, too fancy on the PP and too often try to hang on to a lead, trying a 40+ minute PK with a one goal lead. The team has no killer instinct. That said, I don't see any coaching change being made.

  And why was Brad Richardson a scratch when Wyatt Smith was in the line-up? I don't understand why Richardson is planted so firmly in Q's doghouse.

  Many questions and, unfortunately, in liue of hockey, we get to wait for the answers.

• May 3, 2008

  8:36 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  mafoppa writes:

  Time for a Coach change!
  Forsberg & Smyth were roughed up excessively when they were on the ice. Coach should have put a stop to this by having an enforcer out there. I realize Parker was injured, but there were other players willing to step up and some did, but not enough. The refs just turn their heads and allow this, but the Coach should not. I don't feel like the coaches made the adjustments that needed to be made with other teams game plan. We were just out coached!!!

• May 7, 2008

  1:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SE7EN writes:

  "Avs knew the Risk going in with Forsberg" Risk? If you can even call it a Risk. Avs lost no players or draft picks in signing Forsberg. What risk? They risked more with Foote, by giving up 2 top draft picks. How was signing Forsberg a risk?

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