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'There's a chance' Forsberg could return to Avs lineup Saturday
Posted: Friday April 14, 2000 06:36 PM
DENVER (AP) -- Peter Forsberg is ready to trade his black sports jacket and trendy dress shoes for a skates and a hockey sweater. After missing the Colorado's playoff-opening victory over Phoenix because of a shoulder injury, Forsberg hopes to return to the ice Saturday for Game 2 between the Avalanche and Coyotes. "There's a chance. There's always a chance," Forsberg said Friday. "We'll see [Saturday] how it feels and how good it is." Forsberg, who separated his right shoulder a week ago, started skating with the team Monday and took part in contract drills Thursday and Friday. The results were good, but Colorado remains cautious about rushing their star forward. "I think it's pretty safe to say we can move him from being indefinite to day-to-day," Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said, "but like we have said all along, we have to act right now in the best interest of our player." Forsberg, who had 14 goals and 37 assists during an injury-plagued season, was relegated to the stands Thursday night as Colorado opened the playoffs with a 6-3 win over the Coyotes. The victory made sitting out a little less agonizing. "It made it easier. The guys played real well, so it was great," Forsberg said. "Of course, it's hard not playing, but I've got to be realistic. It didn't feel good enough to play." Like Hartley, Forsberg insisted he will not rush his return, even if it means having to don street clothes again Saturday. "We're not going to take any chances. If there's any risk to reinjure it, I'm not going to play," he said. "If we're winning [the series] or losing, I don't think it's going to matter at all." Colorado had no trouble generating offense without Forsberg as Chris Drury took his place and recorded two assists in Game 1. Phoenix coach Bob Francis doesn't expect to see Drury in that spot much longer. "We fully expect Forsberg to be in the series. We're not naive to that fact," he said. "He'll be in the series. There's no doubt about that."
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