Colorado Avalanche: Playoff Bound

To all the critics who said Peter Forsberg would have no impact when he came back, apology statements can be sent to:

Attention: Peter Forsberg
Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club
Pepsi Center
1000 Chopper Circle
Denver, CO 80204

Forsberg scored a flawless breakaway goal in the third period and assisted on Milan Hejduk's game-tying goal in the second period to give him eight points in his last three games. Since re-joining the Avalanche, he has averaged nearly 1.4 points per game, and has not failed to impress. The one downfall is the consistency of his name being on the lineup sheet to start a game. He has played only seven games out of the 14 possible since his return, and Avalanche fans may have to get used to his play being sporadic. But no one is going to complain when he is contributing this much.

Many Colorado fans may not remember the way "Peter the Great" played, but he hasn't lost an ounce of his ability since leaving Colorado 4 years ago. Yes, he's older, and may not play quite as much. But when he is playing, he is as physical as ever, and is a force to be reckoned with. Take the breakway goal he scored on Luongo last night. It was effortless. And it looked so easy. Once that puck touched his stick, it was destined to be in the back of the net. Imagine how Vancouver's netminder felt seeing Forsberg breaking in alone on the net. He never had a chance. That goal showed that Forsberg still has "it". It wasn't a lucky bounce, or Luongo's fault. It was just a clean, beautiful goal. And it silenced his critics.

A few other players got in on the action for the Avalanche last night. Hejduk, along with tying the game in the second on a huge wrister he ripped pass Luongo, assisted on John Michael Liles' powerplay goal a few minutes before. Andrew Brunette, easily the Av's most underrated forward, chipped in two assists, along with captain Joe Sakic. The "big guns" for the Avalanche got it done last night, and could savor that achievement with the news that they had clinched a playoff spot with the win. That's big news here in Colorado. The Avalanche never missed a post season since moving to the Mile High City, and last year's stretch run was not worthy of missing the playoffs. Things felt uncannily quiet along the front range with no playoff hockey to be played, and fans were left scratching their heads wondering what kind of damage they could have done if they had gotten in.

But that's all in the past, and now the Avalanche can say they're over that gaffe and back on track. Even this late in the season, the division crown is still up for grabs. Anyone who visits Pepsi Center will see the banners marking Colorado's ownership of the Northwest Division, and Avalanche faithful would like nothing more than to add another to that impressive display. They'll need a little help though. Calgary has to beat Minnesota, but then lose to Vancouver to close out the season. That would set up a decisive battle in Denver on Sunday against the Wild, with the winner taking the crown. (The Avs would have to win in regulation to tie Minnesota for points, and they would hold the tiebreaker to win the division.)

Apart from that, Colorado could wind up in the sixth or seventh seed when the regular season ends on Sunday. No doubt the members of the Avalanche are doing a little scoreboard

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