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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Hockeytown gets super matchup
By John Davidson
Special to ABC Sports Online
To have the Colorado-Detroit series go seven is appropriate because they are the two best teams in the league. Both have worked hard, neither team has an ounce of quit in them, and they are both very tenacious, proud teams.
|  | | The Red Wings are hoping Dominik Hasek can steal one more game for them. |
I don't think we have seen a game yet where the teams have played their offensive best. But that may not be possible with all the very skilled defensive players, as well. Peter Forsberg, Sergei Fedorov, Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman could all win a scoring race, but they could also win the Selke Trophy.
Colorado has won four straight Game 7s over the past two seasons, but this is the Avalanche's first Game 7 on the road since they lost to Dallas in the Western Conference finals in 2000. Beating San Jose and Los Angeles this year were earned Game 7 wins, but they were at home. Detroit hasn't played in a Game 7 since the 1996 Western Conference semifinals, and hasn't lost one since 1994. Traditionally, the home teams have had great success in seventh games.
It's an overused cliché, but this is truly one of those cases where you don't want to have to see one of them lose. I have enjoyed watching the tenacity and the fine-tuned play away from the puck. If someone is on a 2-on-1, it's all of a sudden broken up. Everything in this series has been earned.
Here are a few things to look for on Friday night (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).
Patience and smarts
The series has been played so well defensively that patience is critical.
In Game 6, Patrick Roy thought he had the puck in his glove and it cost him a goal. You've had goals that were scored on line changes. Those are the types of things that are creating the scoring. It's error here, error there and that's it. It's not really score-on-the-rush type of goals, but more from mistakes away from the puck. When something like this happens, these teams are taking advantage. You can't force the issue and get caught doing something silly.
Goaltending
This series has had great goaltending. Look at how close these games have been. There have been highs and lows, but that is hockey. We have seen some great saves. You have to really battle to score on these two guys.
When you have a Patrick Roy or a Dominik Hasek, anything is possible. They have been pretty even. Dominik had a great Game 6. That is why this series is going to a seventh game.
Injuries
Both teams are banged up, but Colorado now has to deal with forward injures. Colorado has more injuries to its secondary players than Detroit.
It's also obvious that Chris Chelios and Rob Blake are hurting. But they continue to show their determination.
Coaching
I expect the coaching staffs to shorten their benches. They are going to play their best players. And you are going to see Sakic and Forsberg together a few times.
Will it come down to a role player being the hero? I feel in a big game like this, it will come down to a goalie or a star player that is the hero.
This is one for the ages. It has the possibility for overtime. These are two of the best teams we've seen in a long period of time. This is what the playoffs should be about -- the two best teams going to a seventh game. These are some of the world's greatest players. The will of these two teams is extraordinary. This could be a classic.
I don't see a runaway at all. This is something I will tape and look back five, 10 years from now, and be able to see what happened again. If you want to watch really skilled players on both sides of the puck, this is really something to watch. And it has demonstrated the determination of these great players.
John Davidson is ABC's NHL analyst and contributes regularly to ABC Sports Online throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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 Darren McCarty lines up the shot and rips it past Patrick Roy.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Brendan Shanahan finds the net after Patrick Roy loses control of the puck.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Peter Forsberg beats Dominik Hasek for the game-winner in OT.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Peter Forsberg feeds Steve Reinprecht, who scores the wrap-around goal.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Chris Drury redirects the saucer pass from Peter Forsberg for the eventual game-winning goal.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Sergei Fedorov skates in clean and beats Patrick Roy five-hole for a short-handed goal.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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