DENVER -- Peter Forsberg dug the puck out of a scramble to the left of Felix Potvin, then flipped it over the prone Kings goaltender Saturday and began celebrating as if he hadn’t scored a goal in over a year.

Which was the point, of course.

The Avalanche’s Swedish forward -- at least for the time being, a winger and not a center -- finally is back in the lineup.

	“	At least they can’t go for my spleen ”
		— Peter Forsberg jokes about returning to physical play in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After a bizarre year of an emergency spleen removal, double-secret subsequent ankle surgeries in both Colorado and Sweden, a virtual and attempted return, another surgery, a conservative recovery prognosis designed to keep the pressure off, and -- finally -- a first shift in the playoffs, his return initially seems to have re-energized the defending Stanley Cup champions.

It comes at a time when the Red Wings seem in trouble and when the Western Conference seems wide-open -- even more wide-open than at the start of the postseason.

The first two games of a series frequently involves overreaction and excessive analysis, and this might turn out to be no different. In fact, the feeling here is that: a) The Colorado-Los Angeles first-round series will be even at two games apiece after the Kings and Avalanche meet in the Staples Center on Monday and Tuesday; b) Detroit will get back in the series against the Canucks; and, c) If that doesn’t happen, then a certain writer will attempt to excise this paragraph in the archives.

But the comical overreactions to the inevitable swings in momentum aside, the defending champions have been suddenly and very dramatically strengthened. Some of it involves the simple adrenaline boost -- which shouldn’t be a big issue in the high-emotion postseason, but it still can mean something. But it also involves a ripple effect, most notably taking some of the defensive focus off Joe Sakic.

In his first two games back against the Kings, Forsberg played left wing on the second line with Chris Drury at center and Steve Reinprecht on the right side. The biggest question as he took to the ice for the first time this season wasn’t so much whether he would immediately as effective as the old Forsberg; it was whether he would play like the old Forsberg.

His game always has involved sensing the contact coming and often coiling to deliver a hit of his own. Over the years, he has played with a target and a number on his back. Opposing teams know he can be goaded into responding, and even luxuriates in it. He is more prone to be knocked off his game than the more lithe and elusive Sakic, which is why Forsberg's line more often has seen the opposition's top defensive pair over the years.

Yet Forsberg must respond and must be physical to be effective. If he backs off too much, it de-energizes his game. So it wasn't a shock that on his first shift in the opening 4-3 victory over the Kings, he made a point of delivering a hit on Los Angeles defenseman Mattias Norstrom along the boards.

He was getting right back on the horse.

"I was trying to get it going a little bit," he said that night. "Jumping right into the playoffs was tougher than I thought, though."

He had two assists in the opener, then came back with that one-goal, two-assist performance in Game 2, a 5-3 win against the Kings. It prompted Kings coach Andy Murray to say he always has said Forsberg plays like a Canadian. We all know what he means, don’t we? Forsberg plays more like he’s from Mississauga, Ontario, than Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. The stereotype is archaic, but Forsberg completely blasts it away.

“I felt better,” he said Saturday. “My legs were going a little better, so it’s a step in the right direction.

"It's just the second game. I've got a lot of things to work on. It's going to be a long playoffs and we just have to make sure to be ready going to L.A. I can't look back. I have to look forward and make sure I'm better next game.”

As the postseason continues, for however long it continues for the Avalanche, his physical resiliency and his will are going to be tested.

“At least they can’t go for my spleen,” he said jokingly the other day.

The playmaking creativity of the Forsberg-Drury-Reinprecht line has been on display in the first two games. All three are natural centers, and the peril is if they get too caught up in freelancing and forget positional responsibility. On the power play, Forsberg is being used up front with Sakic and Drury, and with Rob Blake and Adam Foote on the points. (The other possibility seemed to be using Sakic on the point.)

Most of the regular season, as Sakic regressed to 26 goals, it was obvious that Forsberg’s absence was effecting the production of last season’s Hart Trophy winner.

Alex Tanguay, who had two goals in Game 7 of last year’s Cup finals against the Devils, seemed to lose his drive for much of this season, and that also was a drain on Sakic’s numbers.

Milan Hejduk, the right wing on Sakic’s line, missed the final 20 games of the regular season with abdominal and groin muscle problems. He took contact for the first time on Friday and is expected back in the lineup soon.

So with Forsberg back, and Hejduk on the verge of returning, a team that had trouble scoring goals this season and was 18th in the league, suddenly seems more formidable offensively.

Yes, the Avalanche won two series without Forsberg to claim the Cup last spring, but they had no chance without him this time around.

Terry Frei of The Denver Post is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. His address for email signed with names and hometowns is freifeedback@hotmail.com.