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Happy Habs Theodore, Gilmour carrying surprising CanadiensPosted: Wednesday March 27, 2002 2:04 PM
The most remarkable statistic of the season concerns one of the most remarkable teams, the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens, with minimal talent, are in a battle for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference even though they have been outshot in all but 16 of 73 games. The numbers underscore the exemplary play of goalie Jose Theodore , but Montreal also has been buoyed by the work of Doug Gilmour the past three months. After being a cipher on offense and dominated by opposing centers on defense, Gilmour's renewed commitment since Jan. 1 has these Canadiens believing in their chances. Gilmour is not the player he was in 1993 when he practically played himself into a skeleton trying to carry Toronto to the Stanley Cup final, but his effort has been inspirational. Montreal should get a boost when winger Donald Audette returns next week after missing 50 or so games with a lacerated arm and another emotional lift could be the return of cancer-victim Saku Koivu late in the regular season.
Avs could get boost from return of ForsbergPeter Forsberg will skate Thursday for the first time since undergoing foot surgery Jan. 10, good news for an Avalanche team that has been shutout in three of its past six games and is on pace to score a Colorado-franchise low for goals in a season.The problem has been the inabilty of its young, core players to fill in during Forsberg's season-long absence. U.S. Olympian Chris Drury has gone 11 games without a goal and Alex Tanguay , who played himself out of consideration for the Canadian team, hasn't scored in 16. Meanwhile Milan Hejduk , who suffered groin and abdominal injuries Feb. 28, might not be ready until the playoffs. His creativity is sorely missed.
Hasek, Roy tangle an omen for Wings?If you believe in omens, try this. The last two times the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup, their goaltenders -- Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood in 1997 and 1998, respectively -- had fights with Colorado's Patrick Roy . Dominik Hasek nearly made it a hat trick last Saturday in the wild match in Colorado but tripped as he approached Roy and the two never tangled. For the NHL's best team, Hasek's rink-long dash might prove to have been close enough.Sports Illustrated senior writer Michael Farber covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
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