Avs don't win without Sakic scoring
By Joe Lago
ESPN.com
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SAKIC IN THE PLAYOFFS
|
|
Year
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
Pts.
|
|
2000
|
15
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
|
1999
|
19
|
6
|
13
|
19
|
|
1998
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
5
|
|
1997
|
17
|
8
|
17
|
25
|
|
1996
|
22
|
18
|
16
|
34
|
If the Western Conference finals end tonight -- and they very well could with Dallas taking a 3-2 edge to Colorado for Game 6 (8 ET, ESPN) -- the lasting image of the Avalanche will be of Joe Sakic.
Sakic shooting.
Sakic getting stopped by Ed Belfour.
Sakic skating off the ice and shaking his head in disbelief.
Time and again, Sakic has manufactured quality scoring chances only to be denied by Belfour. The scene is getting old for the Avs, who came up with a new game plan against Belfour for Game 5.
|  | | Sakic has been playing pretty well, but not producing many points. |
"He stopped everything we've shot down low, so maybe we can get the puck up a bit," Sakic explained during the first intermission of Dallas' 3-2 overtime win.
Aiming high didn't work either. After losing 4-1 in Game 4 despite a 39-15 shot advantage, the Avs outshot the Stars again 31-20. Sakic served as the poster boy for Colorado's frustration, coming up empty on two opportunities -- including a breakaway off a Sergei Zubov turnover -- in OT.
Sakic is doing everything but scoring. He's still blowing past defensemen with the puck and setting up linemates Milan Hejduk and Dave Andreychuk, who also isn't scoring. Sakic's just not showing up in the box score with his usual regularity.
Going into this postseason, Sakic averaged 1.24 points per playoff game. So far in the 2000 playoffs, he's averaging 0.47 points a game. The Colorado captain has two assists in this series but has only two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. His last goal came nearly three weeks ago when the Avs eliminated Detroit
Why the scrutiny of Sakic? Because he's one of Colorado's big-money players. Teams with Stanley Cup dreams can't afford to have top guns go goal-less, especially when the entire team is struggling.
"As frustrating as it is, there are a lot of leaders here," Avs defenseman Adam Foote said. "We have to just bounce back."
Any turnaround starts with Sakic. |
