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Bourque scratched from Game 1
Posted: Saturday May 13, 2000 07:56 PM
DALLAS (AP) -- Ray Bourque, whose presence and performance helped push the Colorado Avalanche into the Western Conference finals, missed Game 1 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday night because of a lingering left knee injury. "I'm just trying to get over the hump," Bourque said while his teammates went through pregame warmups. "I'm almost there, but I'm not ready to go tonight." He described his status as "day-by-day," adding he hopes to play in Monday's Game 2. If not, he should be available for Game 3 because it's not until Friday night. Bourque missed the last two games of the second round against Detroit after being hurt in Game 3. He looked good skating all week with a brace on his left knee, and even went through a morning skate Saturday. But the decision to hold him out was made in the afternoon. He said Reunion Arena's bad ice was not a factor. "I met with the doctor and the trainer," Bourque said. "It's not 100 percent. I'm skating well, but I have to get over the next hurdle. I don't want to go out there and get hurt." The Avalanche acquired Bourque on March 6 from Boston, where he had spent his entire 21-year career and established himself as one of the NHL's best defensemen ever. About the only thing he hadn't done was win the Stanley Cup. Bourque's arrival sparked a Colorado revival. Including the postseason the team is 20-4-1, with victories in 16 of its last 18 outings, since the trade. The Avalanche have been motivated his personal quest, which also has made Colorado a sentimental favorite for many. Bourque has been a big on-ice contributor, too. He has six assists in his eight playoff games, is a plus-3, and has averaged a team-best 29 minutes per game.
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