DENVER -- Sports fans love a great chase.
Mark McGwire's pursuit of Roger Maris was a boon for flashbulb
makers everywhere. When Walter Payton eclipsed Jim Brown's NFL
rushing record, there was no bigger story in sports.
|  | | Patrick Roy has more appreciation for Terry Sawchuk as he gets set to break his record. |
Patrick Roy's collision with history seems almost anonymous by
comparison.
When Roy won his 447th game to tie Terry Sawchuk's career
victory record Saturday, he was feted mainly by media in Colorado
and received obligatory highlights on ESPN.
Before Roy and the Avalanche left for Washington on Tuesday, he took
part in a national conference call and met with local reporters,
but his milestone week has lacked the media crush typically
associated with a record chase of this magnitude.
It begs the question: Is Roy's accomplishment appreciated
outside the hockey world?
"I hope so," Colorado forward Chris Drury said. "To me it's
right up there with Hank Aaron breaking home-run records. It's
unbelievable. I have all the respect in the world for baseball
players. They play every day, but the physical grind of hockey,
there's nothing like it in the world."
While hockey is treated with religious fervor in Canada, it
remains behind baseball, football and basketball in the United
States. Wayne Gretzky helped narrow the gap, but Roy is not as
widely recognized in America.
"I think definitely in Canada, where hockey's been a sport for a
long time, they definitely recognize what Patty's achieving," Avs
forward Adam Deadmarsh said.
"I think what he's accomplishing is something we may never see
again. It's sports history. Any sports fan that likes hockey or is
involved in any sports definitely acknowledges the fact that this
is a great accomplishment."
Colorado coach Bob Hartley said it's easy to take Roy for
granted as he adds to his victory total, and he believes
recognition will increase once Roy hangs up his pads, glove and
colorful mask.
"I think that's maybe one sad aspect about sports," Hartley
said. "Once they're done, you can really evaluate their career and
see how good they were and how they dominated their era."
For his part, Roy has not allowed himself to become enamored
with his own achievement. He celebrated quietly with his family and
teammate Ray Bourque after Saturday's victory, and he repeatedly
has expressed his respect for Sawchuk, whose 21-year career ended
when he died at 40 in 1970.
"Being (tied) with him and where I am, it's fun and it's
great," Roy said. "It gives you a chance to maybe appreciate more
a player that I probably never saw play."
Roy will have family and friends in attendance when Colorado
(3-0-2) tries to extend its unbeaten streak against the winless
Capitals (0-3-2), but his three children will not make the trip.
If Roy is unable to take sole possession of the record against
Washington, his next chance likely will come Friday at home against
the Florida Panthers. Colorado plays at Columbus on Wednesday
night, giving Hartley a good chance to rest Roy in favor of rookie
David Aebischer.
"We decided to take this situation game by game," Hartley
said. "We're very confident and our mandate right now is to go
into Washington and win it for Patrick and win it for us."
Roy's historic run has been somewhat of a reunion tour. He beat
former protege Marc Denis to tie Sawchuk and could face former
teammate Craig Billington on Tuesday. Billington spent three
seasons as Roy's backup in Colorado.
"I know with Billington in the net, he's going to want to have
a good game against his old team," Deadmarsh said. "We know where
to shoot on Biller from practice, and hopefully he's got the same
holes."
|
|
ALSO SEE
Colorado (3-0-2-0) at Washington (0-3-2-0) 7:00 pm EDT
Looking at quirks in Roy's career
Pang's Goalie Meter: Time for St. Patrick
Power Rankings: Avs top of mountain
Roy needs one more win to top Sawchuk
Roy takes aim at record in D.C.
Patrick Roy timeline
Who was Terry Sawchuk?
AUDIO VIDEO
 On the verge of breaking the career wins record, Patrick Roy talks with ESPN's Bill Clement.
wav: 766 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
