|
|
|
|
 Friday, December 13, 2002
Colorado-Detroit is a dream series
By John Davidson
Special to ABC Sports Online
As we begin the conference finals, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to re-seed the final four? I think the two best teams are in the West, and most hockey people would agree with me. You have a better chance to show off your Stanley Cup final with your two best teams, and the best way to get your two best teams is to re-seed the final four.
It is cyclical and it goes back and forth, but it still gives you a better chance to have the best two teams. For me at least, an East-West final doesn't mean a thing. I don't care if it's Islanders-Rangers or Flames-Oilers.
With Colorado and Detroit, you have the two best teams playing in the Western Conference finals. They are very experienced, battle-hardened hockey clubs. The biggest selling point is the will of the two teams. Who has more will than Steve Yzerman? Who has more will than Peter Forsberg, Adam Foote, Chris Chelios, Patrick Roy or Dominik Hasek? This is a dream series. A dream series. I just hope people recognize it. This has a chance to be an absolute classic. I am going to tape every one of these games. They have a chance to end up being classics.
Who has the edge in goal?
|  | | Patrick Roy has three shutouts in this year's playoffs, including two in Game 7s. |
It's a fine line there. Dom started slowly in the playoffs, but he's got his game going now, which is very comforting in Detroit. Patrick seems to be able to turn it on. That can be a dangerous thing. Yet, it's almost a sure thing, which is kind of unique.
The two of them are world class. We have seen what Hasek can do, we have seen him in the Olympics. This is his first chance at winning a Stanley Cup on a really good team, whereas Patrick has had the experience of winning Stanley Cups.
Patrick, in winning Cups, has the advantage. But by the slimmest of margins.
Will a week off be a problem for Detroit?
I was in Detroit on Wednesday, and I know Scotty really skated them, knowing that was the day to really get them in the frame of mind and fired up.
This is going to be a series that will take about 15 seconds for the teams to get into it. Sometimes a series takes a full game to figure out who doesn't like who, who is going to play who, and to get the passion level elevated. I think the passion level is already elevated. It won't take much to get this thing fired up.
I think the layoffs help both Carolina and Detroit. If you go seven games, you get nicked up. In winning the seventh games, both Toronto and Colorado were beat up and have to travel. It makes it tough.
How has Peter Forsberg been able to perform so well after missing the entire regular season?
He's a champion. He obviously knows his own body. To play the way he plays, he couldn't show up at training camp and go through it. He couldn't do it. He had to get himself healthy, and with the talent that he has, it's pretty obvious that he's hungry still. Where that gives Colorado an advantage on the ice is that the Avalanche can shorten their bench and put Joe Sakic and Forsberg together. That's pretty tough to defend against.
Will home ice be the deciding factor?
If it goes seven. We just saw Colorado and Toronto win Game 7s at home. That's what you play for. It's not the start of the series, it's the end of the series.
It does have a distinct advantage for Detroit.
How will the teams' recent history play a role?
Everyone was waiting for this. Most people in Detroit and Colorado wanted this. San Jose is a terrific hockey club, but to have a rematch again of these two teams is pretty good.
Toronto vs. Carolina
In the Eastern Conference final, Carolina has to get the advantage early. Toronto is a very courageous hockey club. The Maple Leafs block as many shots as Curtis Joseph. They sacrifice everything they have to win a game.
|  | | Gary Roberts and Bryan McCabe have sparked the Leafs. |
The biggest thing with the Leafs is once they focused in on playing hockey, they played a game. They are smart, they are very physically strong in the trenches and they play a team game. You have to admire that. But if they lose their focus, think the whole world is against them, take bad penalties and run around like the movie Slap Shot, they have no chance. But in seeing the change in them midway through the Ottawa series, it shows that they can focus. Shayne Corson started just playing the game. Darcy Tucker is no longer a distraction. The leadership of Gary Roberts and Bryan McCabe, the emergence of Alyn McCauley and the big scoring of Alexander Mogilny showed the courageousness of the team.
Can Carolina continue to use a two-goalie system?
Very seldom do you see two goalies work. If one can carry it, fine. If you have a guy who can come out of the bullpen and be good, that's a different issue. It's worked for them so far. It's different, but it's working. The coaching staff obviously knows what's right for their team.
Arturs Irbe should start Game 1. He is a steady goaltender. Kevin Weekes is learning how to win, and he came up big for the 'Canes when they needed him.
Is Toronto healthy enough to play another seven-game series?
I suspect we will see Mats Sundin sometime in the series, and that will be a big boost for the Leafs. It's probably a six-week injury, so if he can get enough strength and squeeze it under six weeks, it would be a blessing for them. That would help.
They say Tucker can't come back. He could be an asset if he just played the game. If he played hard and played the game within his own capabilities -- which is pretty intense -- he can score. He sometimes goes over the edge. He can be a distraction when he goes over the edge.
The big key is Sundin. He's a strong faceoff guy, and he won't be able to do that. He's a weapon. He's a pure player. He can do a lot with his speed. He's a giant of a man, and has great leadership abilities. He has to be right before he can play.
Can Toronto be disciplined enough to win?
That's the biggest difference in the Leafs' game. They just play the game. The white towel was put back where it belongs. Instead of waving it on the end of a stick, it was put down and used to clean off the visor and wipe away the sweat and go out and play the game. It's a team you can't help but admire for what they have done.
Can Toronto slow the BBC line?
Toronto needs a centerman to go up against Rod Brind'Amour, and that will be either Corson or Travis Green. They are about the same in size. But does Toronto have someone who can handle the speed and size of Erik Cole? Even though he's a rookie, he's real fast for a big guy. That will be interesting to see.
The one thing favorable for Carolina is its home crowd. The atmosphere down in Raleigh, N.C., has been fantastic. That could be beneficial to the Hurricanes. In beating Ottawa, most Toronto fans feel that the Leafs are in the finals. I wouldn't think that way. Carolina is a very fast hockey club that is extremely disciplined.
John Davidson is ABC's NHL analyst and will contribute regularly to ABC Sports Online during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
|
|
|
|
ESPN.com:
HELP |
ADVERTISER INFO |
CONTACT US |
TOOLS |
SITE MAP
Copyright ©2001 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.
|
 |
 Teemu Selanne has a shot at the wide-open goal, but somehow Patrick Roy stops the puck.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Peter Forsberg beats Evgeni Nabokov for the only goal of the game.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Tomas Holmstrom takes advantage of the power play with a goal on Brent Johnson.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jiri Fischer fires the shot through traffic past Brent Johnson.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
|
