Saturday, May 18, 2002
Stars overcome injuries for Red Wings, Avalanche
The Associated Press
DETROIT — Age, teams and nationalities are about the only things that separate Steve Yzerman and Peter Forsberg. Yzerman is 37, plays for the Detroit Red Wings and is Canadian.
Forsberg is 28, plays for the Colorado Avalanche and is Swedish. There are a lot more similarities between the centers, who will meet today in Game1 of the Western Conference finals at Joe Louis Arena.
Yzerman and Forsberg, considered among the best two-way forwards in the world, each have led their teams to two Stanley Cups and their countries to an Olympic gold medal.
Both lead by example, deflecting praise as well as their goaltenders stop shots.
Yzerman has been hailed as a hero in Hockeytown for leading the Red Wings in the playoffs with 13 points on a sore right knee.
Forsberg has been called superhuman. He is the leading scorer in the playoffs with 19 points after missing the regular season following four foot surgeries and having his spleen removed in the past year.
“It's been a little up and down,” Forsberg said. “Some games I don't feel that good, but I think it's going in the right direction.”
While Yzerman noticeably limped down a hallway earlier this week, he insisted he doesn't listen to those who have gushed over his remarkable play.
“Our only goal is to win the Cup,” Yzerman said. “We haven't accomplished that yet, so until we do, we haven't been successful.”
Both Yzerman and Forsberg will be regarded as successes regardless of how this series ends.
Despite not being able to walk without a limp, or skate with grace, Yzerman has proven once again why he's one of the NHL's most respected players.
After he aggravated his right knee while helping Canada win the gold medal in Salt Lake City, Yzerman had surgery to make the best of the ravaged joint.
He then played in only one regular-season game before the playoffs and withstood criticism that he put Olympic dreams over Stanley Cup hopes. Yzerman said he would be ready for the playoffs — and he was.
Vancouver and St.Louis both sent players after him, but he dished out or avoided as much punishment as he took. If he wasn't scoring a key goal or setting one up, he was winning a faceoff or blocking a slap shot by sprawling out his body on the ice.
“I always thought he was an amazing hockey player, and after playing with him this year, those thoughts have only been confirmed,” Detroit's Fredrik Olausson said. “I think anybody that plays hockey, or has played this sport, has a lot of respect for Steve Yzerman.”
Each time Yzerman gets up slowly from a hit, many wonder how much longer he will play.
“This will not be my last year, but I probably won't play into my 40s,” said Yzerman, who has one year left on his contract.
Forsberg, who has been regarded as an elite player, has seen his legend grow even more with his spectacular postseason performance after returning just two days before the playoffs.
He has three game-winning goals and a seven-game point streak.
“He's been unbelievable,” Colorado's Greg de Vries said. “Maybe he should take next year off, too.”
Forsberg wasn't expected to be back with the Avalanche until May after having tendon surgery on his left foot Jan. 10, but he returned nearly a month ahead of schedule to help the Avalanche get past Los Angeles in the first round. He finished with seven points against the Kings, but the series provided only a hint of what was to come.
Forsberg had six goals and six assists against San Jose in the conference semifinals, and was at his best when the Avalanche needed him most.
Colorado trailed the series 3-2 after a loss at home in Game 5 — the only game Forsberg didn't have a goal. Forsberg then had the game-winning goals in Games 6 and 7 to send the Avalanche to the conference finals for the fourth straight year.
“I think right now he's the best player in the world,” San Jose's Vincent Damphousse said.
The Kings and the Sharks tried to rattle Forsberg with physical punishment, but Forsberg gave out as many hits as he received, leading the team with 18 penalty minutes.
“He's probably the best player in the world in the corners or in traffic,” Detroit's Luc Robitaille said. “He's one of those guys you can never let up on him. He's a battler.”
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Stars overcome injuries for Red Wings, Avalanche
