After two games of the Western Conference finals between the Red Wings and Avalanche, we know one thing for sure: If the Wings don't find a way to stop Avalanche center
Peter Forsberg, they will not win this series.
In Game 1, Detroit's two-tiered approach to checking Forsberg (with center
Sergei Fedorov and defenseman
Chris Chelios being key players in the plan) worked wonders. Forsberg didn't register a single point as the Wings' grabbed a 1-0 series lead with a 5-3 win.
However, in Game 2 on Monday, Forsberg ruled the ice -- with a bunch of help from linemates
Chris Drury and
Steve Reinprecht -- during most of his 29 shifts (17:24 of ice time). He contributed to each of his team's goals en route to a series-tying 4-3 win in overtime.
Throughout the evening, the Swedish star toyed with Chelios and his young defensive partner,
Jiri Fischer, as well as anyone else who was dressed in home white. Physical enough to battle in the nasty areas of the ice and skilled enough to stickhandle through the entire list of
New York Rangers coaching candidates, Forsberg showed why he's the most complete player in the game.
He served early notice that he would be a factor in Game 2 by setting up
Alex Tanguay for a power-play goal at the 2:59 mark of the first period.
In the second period, with the score tied at 1, Forsberg used his head -- and his foot -- to push the Avs back into the lead. The Colorado star eyed teammate
Martin Skoula teeing up a one-timer from the blue line. At the same time, he was locked in a slot scrum with Chelios and unable to free his stick. As Skoula's shot approached, Forsberg had the smarts to turn his right skate, redirecting the puck into the cage behind Wings goalie
Dominik Hasek.
A period later, Forsberg got involved again. This time, Reinprecht did most of the work, setting up late-charging defenseman
Greg de Vries for a tie-breaking 3-2 goal. Still, Reinprecht probably wouldn't have had the time to make the pass if Forsberg hadn't tapped the puck to him, then subtly pick off a stick-less Chelios behind the Wings' net.
In overtime, Forsberg completed his tour de force performance.
After batting down a pass in the neutral zone by
Steve Yzerman, Forsberg quickly retrieved the loose puck and slid a back-hand pass right to the tape of a cutting Drury, who attacked the Wings' blue line with speed.
Seeing Drury pull up at the top of the left wing circle, Forsberg filled an open passing lane between the circles and accepted a short pass. Skating across the high slot, Forsberg quickly put the puck on his backhand. His dangerous presence drew two Wings -- Yzerman and
Brendan Shanahan. Cutting corners like a Ferrari; Forsberg wheeled back, a la Gretzky, then ripped a low bullet at Hasek. The Dominator stopped the shot but left a messy rebound. Because both Yzerman and Shanahan were with Forsberg, there was time and space for Reinprecht and Drury (beating Chelios and Fischer) to work a quick play with the loose puck. Game over.
In the short time between games, savvy Detroit coach Scotty Bowman and his staff will try to come up with some new ways to stop Forsberg. And they'd better come up with something good. If they don't, they won't win this series. It's that simple.
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