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Stanley Cup Notebook Arnott still unsure if he'll play Game 6
Updated: Wednesday June 06, 2001 1:42 AM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Jason Arnott's playing status didn't become any clearer on the first of two off days before Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. New Jersey's top-line center missed Monday's Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche because he still wasn't up to par after being struck in the head by a puck two nights earlier. "I just don't feel good. That's about it. That's all I'm going to say," said Arnott, who has felt dizzy and nauseous. "It will be determined on game day whether I feel good or not good enough to play." Now that the Devils are just one victory away from their second straight Stanley Cup, the temptation might be for Arnott to hurry his return. "Well, obviously, I want to be there as much as everybody but I have to consider my health first," Arnott said Tuesday after his second cross-country flight since being injured Saturday night. Arnott took part in the morning skate Monday in Denver before Game 5, but decided to sit out. His condition hasn't changed much since.
"It's about the same right now, but that's to be expected," he said. Arnott was able to return to the ice shortly after he was hit in the left temple on the first shift of Game 4. He played throughout the first period, but was unable continue after intermission.
Three straightThe Avalanche only lost three straight games once in the regular season. If they don't force a seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals, they will have equaled their worst streak at the worst possible time."You don't ever think you're going to lose three in a row, of course," Colorado forward Shjon Podein said Tuesday in Denver. "The bottom line is we've got to win. There's no more sitting back. "We've got to take the game to them. If we do that, hopefully we'll get the results we need." The Avalanche lost at Vancouver and then at home to Washington and Calgary from Feb. 1-9. They stopped four other two-game losing streaks -- including one that forced a seventh game in the second round playoff series against Los Angeles. Colorado led New Jersey 2-1 in the finals, before blowing a third-period advantage in Game 4 and losing 4-1 in Game 5. The Avalanche need to beat the Devils on the road Thursday night to end their latest slump and force a Game 7 at home Saturday.
No inspiration neededThe rallying cry "Win one for Ray" has turned into "Win one at all cost" for the Colorado Avalanche.While Ray Bourque's 22-year Stanley Cup drought has been well-publicized, he dismissed it as secondary to Colorado's 3-2 series deficit heading into Game 6 against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. "If you can't recognize the situation you're in and you need a little extra to get you going, I think there's a problem," he said. "I don't think that's the case here." Unlike last year, Bourque isn't the only veteran seeking his first title. Defenseman Rob Blake came to Colorado in a trade from Los Angeles in hopes of winning his first Stanley Cup in 12 seasons. "Ray Bourque is certainly a big part of this hockey club and we're certainly all pulling for Ray but we're also pulling with Ray," coach Bob Hartley said.
MVP?Now that Patrik Elias has two goals in the Stanley Cup finals, to go along with his already impressive playoff numbers, the Devils forward is being mentioned as a potential playoff MVP.Elias entered the series against the Colorado Avalanche with seven goals and 11 assists in New Jersey's first three playoff rounds. But then he managed just one point in the first three games against the Avalanche. Elias has had a goal in each of the last two contests -- both Devils victories, generating talk of the Conn Smythe Trophy which is awarded to the top player in the postseason. "I have only one goal in my mind and that's to lift the Cup above my head again," Elias said Tuesday after the Devils returned from Denver. Elias isn't thinking about personal accolades, but wouldn't turn them down, either. "If that would happen, it would be great, no question," he said.
Smooth roadNeither the Colorado Avalanche nor the New Jersey Devils have made much of home-ice advantage.The Avalanche earned it with the most points in the NHL, but lost it to the Devils in this series. The teams have combined to go 2-3 at home in the finals. That's no surprise considering Colorado and New Jersey were the league's top two road teams during the regular season, each winning 24 games away from home. "We don't try to be too cute. On the road, you can't," Avalanche captain Joe Sakic said. "We can't open it up or press. We have to play smart and wait for our opportunities."
Playing lateThe last three times a team has had a chance to win the Stanley Cup, the potential clinching game has needed multiple overtimes.In 1999, the Dallas Stars entered Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres with the chance to win their first title. They finally earned it when Brett Hull scored his controversial goal from the crease at 14:51 of the third overtime. The Devils had to work lots of extra minutes to finally wrest the Cup away from the Stars a year ago. New Jersey was leading the series 3-1, but Dallas' Mike Modano spoiled the party in triple overtime when he put in the only goal of the game. The series returned to Dallas for Game 6, but this time the Devils won when Jason Arnott clinched the Cup at 8:20 of the second extra period. Class dismissedA handful of Colorado players skated informally Tuesday in Denver, but coach Bob Hartley did not schedule a practice during the two-day break leading up to Game 6.
"If you go on the ice to learn something at this point, I think
we're in the wrong business," Hartley said. "It's a matter of
making sure the focus is in the right place. Everyone feels good
and recognizes what's ahead of us."
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