Hejduk rescues Avs' division hopes

[Shell]

Hejduk rescues Avs' division hopes
By Adrian Dater
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Pursuit of History was 10 seconds away from being history.

If the Colorado Avalanche didn't score a goal in the final 10 seconds of overtime on Friday night, the Vancouver Canucks could officially pop the champagne corks to celebrate the Northwest Division championship - and end the Avalanche's dream of a record nine straight division titles.

Hold the bubbly.

Milan Hejduk came to the rescue for the Avalanche, scoring his second goal of the game at 4 minutes, 50 seconds of overtime to give Colorado a 4-3 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the Arrowhead Pond.

Hejduk's dramatic goal not only put him into the NHL goal-scoring lead with 49, it kept alive Colorado's hope of still winning the division. For that to happen, it all comes down to Sunday: If the Avs beat the St. Louis Blues and the Canucks lose in regulation at home to the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado is the champ. Any other scenario, and the Avs come up short.

The Avs did clinch at least fourth place in the Western Conference, and will have the home-ice advantage in the first round.

"There's still a chance. Who knows?" said Hejduk, who moved one goal ahead of Vancouver's Markus Naslund in the race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. "We'll see what happens Sunday."

Hejduk won the game by chipping a Rob Blake centering pass over the stick of Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. With the Avs appearing to be out of chances, Blake grabbed a loose puck on the right side and came down into the Anaheim zone on an odd-man rush, with Hejduk coming up the middle. Blake made a nice pass onto Hejduk's stick, and that was that.

"Great play by Blake," Hejduk said. "He made the whole thing. We were desperate, and he made a big play."

The Avs blew a 3-1 lead midway through the third period, with Anaheim's Steve Thomas and Niclas Havelid scoring on Patrick Roy to tie it with 7:24 left. The Avs had a power play in overtime, but failed to convert.

"You look at where we were 40-some games ago, to be where we are, in the hunt with one game to go, that says a lot about the guys in the room," Avs coach Tony Granato said. "We battled like crazy tonight. We fought right to the last second and found a way to win."

In overtime on the power play, Roy stood at the blue line to speed up retrieving pucks. The Avs took chances all over the ice, which allowed some dangerous Anaheim chances.

"We were desperate," Roy said. "We needed (two points). Now, we still have a shot. That's all we can ask."

Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote added the other goals for the Avs, with Forsberg still one point short of Naslund for the league scoring crown.

[Shell]

Hejduk rescues Avs' division hopes
By Adrian Dater
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Pursuit of History was 10 seconds away from being history.

If the Colorado Avalanche didn't score a goal in the final 10 seconds of overtime on Friday night, the Vancouver Canucks could officially pop the champagne corks to celebrate the Northwest Division championship - and end the Avalanche's dream of a record nine straight division titles.

Hold the bubbly.

Milan Hejduk came to the rescue for the Avalanche, scoring his second goal of the game at 4 minutes, 50 seconds of overtime to give Colorado a 4-3 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the Arrowhead Pond.

Hejduk's dramatic goal not only put him into the NHL goal-scoring lead with 49, it kept alive Colorado's hope of still winning the division. For that to happen, it all comes down to Sunday: If the Avs beat the St. Louis Blues and the Canucks lose in regulation at home to the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado is the champ. Any other scenario, and the Avs come up short.

The Avs did clinch at least fourth place in the Western Conference, and will have the home-ice advantage in the first round.

"There's still a chance. Who knows?" said Hejduk, who moved one goal ahead of Vancouver's Markus Naslund in the race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. "We'll see what happens Sunday."

Hejduk won the game by chipping a Rob Blake centering pass over the stick of Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. With the Avs appearing to be out of chances, Blake grabbed a loose puck on the right side and came down into the Anaheim zone on an odd-man rush, with Hejduk coming up the middle. Blake made a nice pass onto Hejduk's stick, and that was that.

"Great play by Blake," Hejduk said. "He made the whole thing. We were desperate, and he made a big play."

The Avs blew a 3-1 lead midway through the third period, with Anaheim's Steve Thomas and Niclas Havelid scoring on Patrick Roy to tie it with 7:24 left. The Avs had a power play in overtime, but failed to convert.

"You look at where we were 40-some games ago, to be where we are, in the hunt with one game to go, that says a lot about the guys in the room," Avs coach Tony Granato said. "We battled like crazy tonight. We fought right to the last second and found a way to win."

In overtime on the power play, Roy stood at the blue line to speed up retrieving pucks. The Avs took chances all over the ice, which allowed some dangerous Anaheim chances.

"We were desperate," Roy said. "We needed (two points). Now, we still have a shot. That's all we can ask."

Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote added the other goals for the Avs, with Forsberg still one point short of Naslund for the league scoring crown.

[Shell]

Hejduk rescues Avs' division hopes
By Adrian Dater
ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Pursuit of History was 10 seconds away from being history.

If the Colorado Avalanche didn't score a goal in the final 10 seconds of overtime on Friday night, the Vancouver Canucks could officially pop the champagne corks to celebrate the Northwest Division championship - and end the Avalanche's dream of a record nine straight division titles.

Hold the bubbly.

Milan Hejduk came to the rescue for the Avalanche, scoring his second goal of the game at 4 minutes, 50 seconds of overtime to give Colorado a 4-3 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the Arrowhead Pond.

Hejduk's dramatic goal not only put him into the NHL goal-scoring lead with 49, it kept alive Colorado's hope of still winning the division. For that to happen, it all comes down to Sunday: If the Avs beat the St. Louis Blues and the Canucks lose in regulation at home to the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado is the champ. Any other scenario, and the Avs come up short.

The Avs did clinch at least fourth place in the Western Conference, and will have the home-ice advantage in the first round.

"There's still a chance. Who knows?" said Hejduk, who moved one goal ahead of Vancouver's Markus Naslund in the race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. "We'll see what happens Sunday."

Hejduk won the game by chipping a Rob Blake centering pass over the stick of Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. With the Avs appearing to be out of chances, Blake grabbed a loose puck on the right side and came down into the Anaheim zone on an odd-man rush, with Hejduk coming up the middle. Blake made a nice pass onto Hejduk's stick, and that was that.

"Great play by Blake," Hejduk said. "He made the whole thing. We were desperate, and he made a big play."

The Avs blew a 3-1 lead midway through the third period, with Anaheim's Steve Thomas and Niclas Havelid scoring on Patrick Roy to tie it with 7:24 left. The Avs had a power play in overtime, but failed to convert.

"You look at where we were 40-some games ago, to be where we are, in the hunt with one game to go, that says a lot about the guys in the room," Avs coach Tony Granato said. "We battled like crazy tonight. We fought right to the last second and found a way to win."

In overtime on the power play, Roy stood at the blue line to speed up retrieving pucks. The Avs took chances all over the ice, which allowed some dangerous Anaheim chances.

"We were desperate," Roy said. "We needed (two points). Now, we still have a shot. That's all we can ask."

Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote added the other goals for the Avs, with Forsberg still one point short of Naslund for the league scoring crown.

[Turbulence]

Don't ya just love late-season hockey? Both Colorado and Vancouver are awesome teams and have a great chance of taking it all...and the scoring title(s) (Naslund vs. Forsberg, Naslund vs. Hejduk) make it even more exciting.
What happens if they tie? Say the Avs win vs. St Louis but Vancouver ties? They'd be tied at 105 pts. Is the tie breaker the # of wins or the head to head record?

[Turbulence]

Don't ya just love late-season hockey? Both Colorado and Vancouver are awesome teams and have a great chance of taking it all...and the scoring title(s) (Naslund vs. Forsberg, Naslund vs. Hejduk) make it even more exciting.
What happens if they tie? Say the Avs win vs. St Louis but Vancouver ties? They'd be tied at 105 pts. Is the tie breaker the # of wins or the head to head record?

[Turbulence]

Don't ya just love late-season hockey? Both Colorado and Vancouver are awesome teams and have a great chance of taking it all...and the scoring title(s) (Naslund vs. Forsberg, Naslund vs. Hejduk) make it even more exciting.
What happens if they tie? Say the Avs win vs. St Louis but Vancouver ties? They'd be tied at 105 pts. Is the tie breaker the # of wins or the head to head record?

[folgersnyourcup]

I believe the first tie-breaker is number of wins. I assume in that scenario (Avs win, Vancouver ties) that the Canucks take the division title. I'd say the Canucks should be able to beat the Kings though....

[folgersnyourcup]

I believe the first tie-breaker is number of wins. I assume in that scenario (Avs win, Vancouver ties) that the Canucks take the division title. I'd say the Canucks should be able to beat the Kings though....

[folgersnyourcup]

I believe the first tie-breaker is number of wins. I assume in that scenario (Avs win, Vancouver ties) that the Canucks take the division title. I'd say the Canucks should be able to beat the Kings though....

[StormShaman]

They SHOULD be able to beat the Kings, but that doesn't mean that they WILL.

*sigh*

[StormShaman]

They SHOULD be able to beat the Kings, but that doesn't mean that they WILL.

*sigh*

[StormShaman]

They SHOULD be able to beat the Kings, but that doesn't mean that they WILL.

*sigh*

[Turbulence]

Last year the Devils should have beaten the 'Canes, the Canadiens should have beaten the 'Canes and the Maple Leafs should have beaten the 'Canes. And we all know what happened. :spin:
I love playoff hockey....but I digress.

[Turbulence]

Last year the Devils should have beaten the 'Canes, the Canadiens should have beaten the 'Canes and the Maple Leafs should have beaten the 'Canes. And we all know what happened. :spin:
I love playoff hockey....but I digress.

[Turbulence]

Last year the Devils should have beaten the 'Canes, the Canadiens should have beaten the 'Canes and the Maple Leafs should have beaten the 'Canes. And we all know what happened. :spin:
I love playoff hockey....but I digress.

[folgersnyourcup]

Hehe true, true. Point taken. I hope Vancouver beats the Kings though and clinches the division title. Go Malik!!!!

[folgersnyourcup]

Hehe true, true. Point taken. I hope Vancouver beats the Kings though and clinches the division title. Go Malik!!!!

[folgersnyourcup]

Hehe true, true. Point taken. I hope Vancouver beats the Kings though and clinches the division title. Go Malik!!!!

[StormShaman]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

[StormShaman]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

[StormShaman]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

[Stormbringer]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

All that and a bag of potato chips...in Lord Stanley's Holy Grail.

*wouldn't mind seeing Malik and Langdon and the Canucks or Bates and the Avs get the aforementioned prize*

:spin:

[Stormbringer]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

All that and a bag of potato chips...in Lord Stanley's Holy Grail.

*wouldn't mind seeing Malik and Langdon and the Canucks or Bates and the Avs get the aforementioned prize*

:spin:

[Stormbringer]

Go Malik!!!!

For great justice! ;)

All that and a bag of potato chips...in Lord Stanley's Holy Grail.

*wouldn't mind seeing Malik and Langdon and the Canucks or Bates and the Avs get the aforementioned prize*

:spin: