In the Corners: Life without Bourque
By Brian A. Shactman
ESPN.com
The major knock on the Avs last season was that the team was a bit weak on defense. Sandis Ozolinsh took too many chances, and no one else save Adam Foote fortified the space in front of Patrick Roy.
Part of the reason the Avs lost to Dallas in seven games a year ago in the Western Conference finals was due to their 3.29 GAA in that seven-game series. That is a bloated number for the postseason, and it can't all be thrown on Roy's shoulders.
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AVS WITH BOURQUE
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Record
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18-4-1
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Goal For
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3.17
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Goals Against
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1.90
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Power Play
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23.8
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Penalty Kill
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83.5
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Even with the addition of Ray Bourque, the defensive corps isn't as deep as other NHL teams -- especially with long-forgotten Alexei Gusarov out with a broken leg. Obviously, they're still a good team sans Bourque, but there's a reason the 39-year-old garnered more ice time than anyone on the team. They need him. Badly.
It appears Greg de Vries will take Bourque's roster spot, and Aaron Miller or rookie Martin Skoula will partner with Foote.
The first instinct is to view his impact on the power play. Bourque is so rock solid on the blue line and still has one of the game's heaviest shots that Ozolinsh could travel deep in the offensive zone with a free conscience. Without Bourque, Joe Sakic or Foote will man the point, and although both are capable -- Sakic is quite a bit more than just capable -- Ozolinsh will have to be a little more cautious.
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ACTIVE AVG. ICE-TIME LEADERS
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Name
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Ice Time
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Nicklas Lidstrom
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29:19
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Ray Bourque
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28:53
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Derian Hatcher
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27:44
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Eric Desjardins
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27:14
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Richard Matvichuk
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25:59
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But he will be missed even more in the defensive zone and in transition off turnovers. For a man so long in the tooth, Bourque is extremely strong and aggressive in the defensive zone. He is prone to some giveaways, but he is the best defenseman on the team when it comes to coming out of the corner with the puck and putting on the stick of a forward. There's a good chance the Avs will be banking the puck high off the boards just to get the puck out of the zone in Game 4, which will affect the team's offensive flow because there will be fewer rushes up ice -- and more dumping into the offensive zone.
There's no question the Avs can win without Bourque, but they have to adjust a bit. Be more conservative defensively and be sure the forwards are more prepared to help out down low in their own end.
The danger with this is that skill players like Sergei Fedorov and Steve Yzerman could capitalize with more space up high.
Frozen ponderings
It's difficult to watch goals scored this postseason and and not think about whether that goal would have counted last year with the old crease rule. ... Historic rivalries are exciting, but so are geographical ones. First, we had Ottawa-Toronto in the first round, which brought out some good 'ole deep-seated hatred. And now, the Battle of Pennsylvania has fans cranked up in Pittsburgh. ... Whenever you discuss playoff hockey at a bar or at the water cooler, be sure to always be the first person to say that the key (insert game) is to score first, play well on special teams and get good goaltending.
Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor at ESPN.com. |
