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Reactions: Game 1 -- Cup Finals

Avs living up to preseason predictions

The Avalanche dominated Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, easily dismantling the Devils 5-0. What did you think about Game 1? Avs fans responded loud and clear -- they liked what they saw. New Jersey may be down a game, but don't count them out. Here's a sample of the responses we received:

Spanking. A true spanking. You'd think that the Devils would come out and play like the pundits said they would. The Devils better regroup and find an answer. I might just change my prediction of the Avs in seven to the Avs in four.
Jim Herman, Denver

As the old stock market adage goes, past performance is no guarantee of future results. I don't care if 80 percent of Game 1 winners have gone on to win the Cup. The Devils still have the edge. I can't imagine the Devils letting Colorado pummel them again the way they did in Game 1. And God help the Avs if Sakic or Roy gets injured.
Drum Wolf, San Francisco, Calif.

With apologies to our great philosopher, Homer J. Simpson:
Avs: STUPID BUG! YOU GO SQUISH NOW!!!!!
Devils: OW.
But one game does not make a series. This is, by no means, over. The Devils MUST win Game 2 to have a prayer. If not, the best team in the land finally finishes first.
James Boyle, Aurora, Colo

Was anyone watching the Western Conference Finals? St. Louis was supposed to come after the Avs with "wave after wave of gritty performers", much as the Devils will, and yet Colorado is in the finals. Is there a pattern forming here?
Eric, San Jose, Calif.

What else can you say but phenomenal? The Avs totally dominated this game from start to finish. Roy's perfect play held the lead after Sakic beat Brodeur. If the Avalanche keep up this play, I don't think the Devils stand a chance. So much for that good road record Devils, try again next year because this year you won't go to win back-to-back and take the Cup away from this Avalanche team.
John Bertieri, Natrona Heights, Pa.

The Avs came out in Game 1 and demonstrated their superior speed, while matching or out-matching the Devils in overall depth. And again, Patrick Roy showed why he is the best goaltender in the NHL. Furthermore, Colorado was better prepared for this series having come out of the superior Western Conference.
Cal Jillson, Boulder, Colo.

The Avalanche I think have destiny on their side. The Devils can do whatever they want -- change lines, bully players, doesn't matter. This was written at the start of the season, and it doesn't matter what team it is they are facing, the fact is that Bourque will finally get what he is due, and that's good news for the NHL.
Marcus Rose, Las Vegas, Nev.

The Avalanche came out prepared and firing for game one, while the Devils were slow and lazy. After the game the Devils only made excuses for their loss, they did not seem to think they could possibly be responsible for their own lack of effort. The altitude and traveling were a few of the choice phrases. The Avs on the other hand, after a near perfect game, were still looking for ways to improve. The mind set New Jersey had before the Finals started, of this being a cakewalk of a series, was not one you would expect a team ready to defend their title to have. I believe the out come of game two will be the same as Game 1, with the Avs dominating. The Avs are willing to sacrifice everything for their goal, while the Devils are content to think other teams will roll over for them.
Krystal, Denver, Colo.

I think the Avs simply outplayed the perhaps too-cocky Devils in Game 1. Unfortunately for them, it took the Devils too long to revert to their dominant method of play. Another factor was their failure to deliver on the powerplay: the same criticism was leveled at them in the initial stages of the Leafs-Devils series.
Whilst many might take this as a sign of things to come, I have a feeling that the Devils are not going to lie back and take another such beating. Once they wake up to the fact that they are no longer playing Pittsburgh, they can fix the A-Line, and get a grip defensively.
Nick Marceau, Toronto, Ont.

I think this is a sign of things to come. The Avs have set the tempo and I think they will build up on it. Game 2 should be interesting and the Devils should come out with a better game. The Avs in turn should still play with the same intensity and should win come up on top.
Joseph Soliday, Lakewood, Colo.

I'm getting kinda tired of hearing that it was the Devils who lost Game 1 and not the Avs who won it. Why is it that most sportswriters find it so hard to figure that there are other great teams in the league? I think that the Avs should get credit for their checking in the Devil's zone that virtually destroyed any of their attempts to move the puck up the ice. To my belief it was the Avs that made New Jersey look bad, not the other way around. By the way, I don't think Peter Forsberg will play in this series but I still have my money on Colorado clinching the Cup in six games.
Krister Hedren, Falun, Sweden

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