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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Discipline the key to survival
By John Davidson
Special to ABC Sports Online
It took them a while to get going, but the Red Wings are playing well right now. When you cruise down the stretch like they did, it’s not always easy to find your game. But boy have they found their game.
They can play physical and tough. They can play a finesse game. They can play a game of penalty killing, or a game of power plays. They can just play the game.
|  | | The Blues are 0-for-9 on the power play against Detroit.after scoring five PPG against Chicago. |
I have been very impressed with their discipline. They pick up for each other. They play tough if they have to. Most importantly, they know how to win. That’s Scotty. He lives for this time of the year. So does Dominik Hasek, who is now in a groove.
The single player who turned their playoffs around was Steve Yzerman. He’s a world-class leader. You have to appreciate the way he plays.
In order to get back in the series, St. Louis needs to find its power play and play like it did in the third period of Game 2. The Blues have had slow starts in the first two games. They need fast starts and a power play. That’s what worked so well for them in the Chicago series. They have to go out and be aggressive early in the games.
Avalanche need history lesson
It was almost a freak of nature how Colorado lost Game 3 to San Jose with bad penalties. The Avalanche usually take very few penalties. The emotion of the building caught up with them. It’s a great arena. It gets loud and juicy there. Patrick Roy got caught out of the net for a goal. San Jose had one disallowed, but kept persevering.
Finally, the Sharks’ big guys did some damage. Teemu Selanne and Owen Nolan keyed San Jose’s comeback, and the Sharks got past a great performance by Rob Blake.
The turning point in Game 3 was Colorado’s penalties and Evgeni Nabakov’s save on Joe Sakic’s shorthanded breakaway. If he scores there, it would have made it 5-3. Instead, Selanne scored a power-play goal 21 seconds later to tie it 4-4. Needless to say, it was a big play.
I don’t expect much to change in Game 4. Colorado knows it must play smarter. Last year during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals, the Avs turned up the intelligence level of their game. In Game 5, most people thought they would win. Instead, they were terrible all over the ice. They did what they had to do in order to win the Cup. Knowing how big this game is -- and it is huge -- and that they can’t afford to go back to Denver down 3-1 because they took a lot of bad penalties, discipline will be the biggest factor.
Who does not play intelligently will lose the next game.
Theodore giving Montreal an unfair advantage
He’s not in the class of Ken Dryden or Roy just yet, but Jose Theodore has been pretty darn good. People are coming to that realization. The Canadiens have been outshot 162-77 in their last four games, and they have won three of the four games. That’s not fair.
|  | | The Habs' Jose Theodore made 45 saves in Game 2. |
In Game 2, Saku Koivu and a couple of others played really well for 10 minutes in the first period, and that was enough for them because Theodore and the defense clearing the rebounds were unbelievable. That was a game that without Jeff O’Neill in the lineup (suspension) maybe makes a big difference. He’s a good hockey player, who can get to the net and has quick hands.
You have to admire their heart and admiration, but the Canadiens have to play much better to win the series. The Canadiens are getting dominated on key draws, and if O’Neill, Ron Francis and Sami Kapanen get some scoring chances, the ‘Canes will be tough.
Early in the playoffs, Boston was beating Theodore through him -- between his legs, between his arms and body. He’s closed that off completely. He’s a dangerous weapon right now because he’s completely confident. At one point down the stretch, he played 17 consecutive games. The pressure of playing every night won’t get to him. He won’t tire. He seems to be one of those guys who plays with a lot of stamina. It’s a very simple thing in hockey: You can’t stop if you don’t see it unless it hits you or you’re in great position.
Montreal’s defense also deserves a lot of credit. Sheldon Souray and Stephane Quintal do a good job of blocking rebounds and getting rid of rebounds. Carolina has to get to the net. If you can’t beat Theodore on the first shot, maybe you can get him on the second or third.
The big question for the Hurricanes is who should be playing goal. Kevin Weekes has been so good and has lost just one goal, it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be given the boot. He’s a terrific goaltender. Arturs Irbe will be ready if they go to him.
Montreal also has to be able to deal with the speed of Carolina. The Hurricanes are awfully fast. In Game 2, the Canadiens changed their lineup to put in more speed to stay with them. It’s been a fast series.
Senators winning the little battles
Ottawa’s No. 1 priority is discipline, and it is working. It doesn’t mean just staying away from retaliation penalties, but it also means intelligent play on the ice. In Game 3, Toronto never had a power play in the final two periods.
If you beat the Senators, you have to earn it. That’s how the Maple Leafs won Game 2 -- they earned it. They had to rely on the moxie of Curtis Joseph and the leadership of Gary Roberts. When you look the series, Toronto is an underdog; Ottawa is the better hockey club right now. The Senators are healthier and more disciplined.
In previous years, the Senators had stage fright and a lack of goaltending. Now these kids have all grown up. They are all on the same page right now. When you get goaltending like Patrick Lalime is providing, everybody’s confidence just grows. He’s been really steady. He hasn’t been overworked, and has made timely saves.
The “controversial goal” that led to Ottawa’s 3-2 win in Game 3 was not controversial. It was a legitimate goal. People are overreacting to it. If you watch the replays, see the overhead view, and slow it down with your VCR, you will see that there was no contact.
John Davidson is ABC’s NHL analyst and will contribute regularly to ABC Sports Online during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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