Avalanche Has Tight Grip on Cup

The Detroit Red Wings set an NHL record last season by winning 62 games, but the Colorado Avalanche came out on top at the end of the real season--the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Behind the clutch goaltending of Patrick Roy and the emergence of Joe Sakic as the playoff MVP, the Avalanche brought the Cup to Denver in its first season after moving from Quebec. If Colorado fans now expect to win every year, that may not be a problem: The Avalanche is so deep and so effectively blends youth with experience, Coach Marc Crawford and General Manager Pierre Lacroix could be riding in another Cup parade next spring.

In the finals, the Avalanche crushed the Florida Panthers, the NHL’s Cinderella story last season. Born at the same time as the Mighty Ducks, the Panthers surprised even themselves by going so far so fast. They did it the hard way, with an unmatched team work ethic, surprising speed, strong defense and acrobatic goaltending from John Vanbiesbrouck.

This year, however, they won’t sneak up on anybody. And can they keep their character and unity while mixing in some skill players? The slightest falter could open the door for the New York Rangers, who signed Wayne Gretzky and reunited him with his old Edmonton Oiler pal, Mark Messier. There’s also the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will have scoring champion Mario Lemieux back for at least one more season, and the Philadelphia Flyers. Eric Lindros got his first playoff experience last spring as the Flyers lost in the second round to Florida, and winger John LeClair was outstanding for Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey.

Colorado and Detroit are the class of the West, but some traditional powers appear ripe for a fall, which could help the Ducks grab their first playoff berth. Chicago, St. Louis and Toronto aren’t aging well and Calgary is showing signs of decline, leaving room for the Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes (formerly the Winnipeg Jets) and Edmonton Oilers to squeeze in.

A look at each conference:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

*

Boston Bruins

Losing winger Cam Neely, who was forced to retire because of a hip injury, robbed them of more than goals--it took away a considerable amount of heart. Right wing Rick Tocchet is gritty, but his back woes make him a perpetual question mark. Defenseman Ray Bourque (20 goals, 82 points), who will be 36 in December, can’t play 40 minutes a game forever. They’ve made the playoffs 29 consecutive years, but that streak could end.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-1-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Oct. 20.

Duck Connection: They were the opponent in the first tie in Duck history, a 1-1 game Oct. 15, 1993 at Anaheim.

*

Buffalo Sabres

They’re tough--they averaged 26.8 penalty minutes a game, tops in the NHL--but that didn’t make anyone forget they missed the playoffs. Pat LaFontaine (40 goals, 91 points) will have some support from Derek Plante and Brian Holzinger, but right wing Donald Audette must rebound from knee surgery for them to have a shot at the playoffs. Their defense was often horrible, and only goalie Dominik Hasek (2.83 goals-against average, league-best .920 save percentage) kept them semi-respectable. A leader must emerge on defense.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-2-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Jan. 10.

Duck Connection: The Ducks were the Sabres’ opponent in the last home opener at the Memorial Auditorium, last Oct. 13, a 4-1 Duck victory.

*

Florida Panthers

The ultimate illustration of how far team play can carry you. They’re not flashy, but they may have been the NHL’s most consistent team last season, finishing fourth in the conference and stifling the potent Penguins and Flyers in marching to the Cup finals. They have much the same lineup, although winger Radek Dvorak and defenseman Rhett Warrener may play bigger roles. Center Rob Niedermayer (32 goals, 70 points) and winger Ray Sheppard (37 goals, 60 points) are the heart of an opportunistic offense and second-year defenseman Ed Jovanovski is a future Norris Trophy winner. Don’t bet against them.

All-time record against the Ducks: 3-0-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Jan. 8.

Duck Connection: Florida is the only Eastern team the Ducks have never defeated.

*

Hartford Whalers

Fans stayed away in droves as the Whalers lost millions of dollars and missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Left wing Brendan Shanahan (44 goals, 78 points) said he wants out because he’s not sure the Whalers are financially committed to building a winner. It’s a shame, because if Shanahan is playing well and left wing Geoff Sanderson (34 goals, 65 points) is his usual self, they’re not a bad team. If they can ignore the turmoil over Shanahan and the team’s future in Hartford, they might make the playoffs.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-2-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Jan. 31.

Duck Connection: The largest deficit the Ducks have ever overcome in a victory was a 3-0 lead built by the Whalers at 10:46 of the second period Jan. 14, 1994. The Ducks rallied to win, 6-3.

*

Montreal Canadiens

Vincent Damphousse (38 goals, 94 points) raised his game and eclipsed the more skillful Pierre Turgeon (38 goals, 96 points) in their six-game, first-round playoff loss to the Rangers. But however valiant, a playoff loss is unacceptable in Montreal. They have a balanced offense, even though Mark Recchi is fading, but a generally young defense. Jocelyn Thibault, acquired from Colorado for Roy, promises to be a top-notch goalie for years to come.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-2-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 6.

Duck Connection: The first trade in Duck history was with the Canadiens on Aug. 10, 1993. Montreal gave them Ewen and Patrik Carnback for a 1994 third-round draft pick.

*

New Jersey Devils

The Devils went from Cup champion to playoff spectators in one year, mainly because their 215 goals were the second-lowest total in the NHL. Their power play ranked 24th, which didn’t help. So to a team that had difficulty scoring General Manager Lou Lamoriello inexplicably added two defensemen, signing free agent Phil Housley and trading winger Stephane Richer to Montreal for Lyle Odelein. Someone must be dealt for a center: Petr Sykora was their top-scoring center last season with 42 points. Martin Brodeur compiled a splendid 2.34 GAA and set an NHL record by playing 4,434 minutes in goal, but it’s not fair to expect him to win, 1-0, every game.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-2-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Jan. 22.

Duck Connection: They were the winners in the first shutout recorded against the Ducks, a 4-0 victory Oct. 21, 1993 at New Jersey.

*

New York Islanders

Once a model of excellence, winning four consecutive Cups from 1980-83, they missed the playoffs for the second season in a row and were next-to-last in the conference, totally on merit. They were awful on defense, shaky in goal and inconsistent up front. There is some hope, in young defenseman Kenny Jonsson and forwards Ziggy Palffy (43 goals and a team-high 87 points), Todd Bertuzzi and Travis Green, but postseason play is still a distant dream.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-2-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 20.

Duck Connection: They were the opponent in the first overtime game in Duck history, a 4-3 Islander victory Oct. 10, 1993.

*

New York Rangers

They hope 35-year-olds Wayne Gretzky (102 points with the Kings and Blues last season) and Mark Messier (99 points) can turn back the clock a decade and take the Cup for a ride up Broadway. But can Gretzky, who has recurring back problems, hold up under the more physical style played in the East? Losing Pat Verbeek to free agency will hurt, but they’re expecting big things from Swedish left wing Niklas Sundstrom. Brian Leetch had an outstanding World Cup and if he maintains that level, the Rangers will be a threat.

All-time record against the Ducks: 1-3-0.

Coming to Anaheim: March 7.

Duck Connection: They were the victims in the Ducks’ first road victory, a 4-2 decision Oct. 19, 1993, in the Ducks’ first road game. Also, Terry Yake had the club’s first hat trick, in that game.

*

Ottawa Senators

Under General Manager Pierre Gauthier, formerly the Ducks’ assistant general manager, the Senators have made strides toward respectability. Goalie Damian Rhodes (2.77 GAA) is for real, and rookie of the year Daniel Alfredsson (26 goals, 61 points) leads a young and generally promising group of forwards. They’re a couple of defensemen away from becoming a real playoff contender.

All-time record against the Ducks: 1-3-0.

Coming to Anaheim: March 5.

Duck Connection: They hold the record for most penalty minutes in a game by a Duck opponent, 83, set Dec. 15, 1995.

*

Philadelphia Flyers

They figured to overwhelm the Panthers in the quarterfinals but instead were frustrated. Eric Lindros (47 goals, 115 points) must find ways to win if he is to become a Messier-type leader. LeClair (career-high 51 goals) proved in the World Cup he doesn’t need Lindros to set him up. Pat Falloon (22 goals in 62 games with the Flyers) and Rod Brind’Amour must produce on the second line, behind the Lindros-LeClair-Mikael Renberg “Legion of Doom.” Renberg, who missed much of last season because of an abdominal injury, planned to be ready for the start of the season. Finnish defenseman Janne Niinimaa is expected to join a steady defense corps.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-1-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Oct. 16.

Duck Connection: They were the losers in the first overtime victory in Duck history, a 3-2 decision March 27, 1994.

*

Pittsburgh Penguins

Lemieux (69 goals, 161 points in 70 games) passed up the World Cup to save his strength for the season and another run at the Cup, so he must think the Penguins have a good shot. He’s probably right, especially after they got beefy defenseman Kevin Hatcher from Dallas for Sergei Zubov. Right wing Jaromir Jagr (62 goals, 149 points) helped Pittsburgh score a league-leading 362 goals. They’ll have no problems offensively, but they could use a little more muscle on defense after losing Neil Wilkinson to an abdominal injury.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-1-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Dec. 11.

Duck Connection: The Penguins were the opponents in Duck winger Paul Kariya’s career-best four-point game Dec. 13, 1995 in a 6-3 Duck victory.

*

Tampa Bay Lightning

Coach Terry Crisp deserves enormous credit for taking a team with little talent and molding it into a tough challenger that finished eighth in the conference and pushed the Flyers in a six-game opening-round playoff series. Goalie Daren Puppa (2.46 GAA, .918 save percentage) was exceptional, especially behind a rag-tag defense. Winger Alexander Selivanov (31 goals, 52 points) is a comer, besides being the son-in-law of General Manager Phil Esposito. If Crisp can get his forwards to grind it out again, the Lighting could make the playoffs again.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-1-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Dec. 4.

Duck Connection: The season-ending 12-4-3 surge that nearly lifted the Ducks into the playoffs last season began with a 2-2 tie March 3 with the Lightning.

*

Washington Capitals

Every year, it’s the same script: The Caps have good goaltending, good defensive forwards, one or two snipers and a few tough guys. And every year, they’re out of the playoffs early. Last season, goalie Jim Carey (2.26 GAA) had a nightmarish series against Pittsburgh and was pulled as the Caps took a 2-0 series lead and lost the next four. Peter Bondra (52 goals, 80 points) and Michal Pivonka (16 goals, 81 points) need support, but the Caps’ key off-season move was signing free agent defenseman Phil Housley. With left wing Steve Konowalchuk (ribs), right wing Pat Peake (shattered heel) and center Joe Juneau (fractured wrist) questionable for the start of the season, they can’t delay making a deal for offensive help.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-1-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Dec. 13.

Duck Connection: It was against the Capitals that Mikhail Shtalenkov got the first goaltender assist in Duck history Nov. 29, 1995 in a 2-2 tie.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

*

Calgary Flames

Gary Roberts’ return from a neck injury gave them a lift at mid-season and Theoren Fleury (46 goals, 96 points) was his usual gritty self, but their streak of playoff failures continued. They were swept in the first round by Chicago and haven’t won a series since they won the Cup in 1989. This season, they lost Roberts, whose medical problems forced him to retire, leaving a huge burden on Fleury, German Titov (28 goals, 67 points) and Michael Nylander (17 goals, 55 points). They will miss defenseman Steve Chiasson (knee).

All-time record against the Ducks: 8-7-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Oct. 27, Dec. 20, March 16.

Duck connection: The record for the two fastest goals scored by an opponent was set by Calgary’s Fleury and Wes Walz, who scored 12 seconds apart April 11, 1994.

*

Chicago Blackhawks

They were third in the West and tested Colorado in the second round--they took the Avalanche to six games, including four overtime nail-biters--with a rugged team that was backed by the solid goaltending of Ed Belfour (2.74 GAA, .902 save percentage). But they lost Bernie Nicholls and Joe Murphy via free agency and have nothing to show for trading Jeremy Roenick to Phoenix. Alexei Zhamnov, the skillful center they received in return, has refused to sign. Even if they do appease him, they’ll still be thin up the middle. On the wings, they’re respectable with Tony Amonte (31 goals, 63 points) and Eric Daze (30 goals as a rookie). Daze will miss the first month with a sprained ankle. But a low-scoring offense may put too much pressure on the defense, even with perennial Norris candidate Chris Chelios still in peak form.

All-time record against the Ducks: 10-2-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 29, April 1.

Duck Connection: The Ducks’ club record for largest lead squandered in a loss was set against Chicago Nov. 24, 1995. The Ducks led the Hawks, 4-1, at 2:12 of the third period and lost, 5-4, in overtime.

*

Colorado Avalanche

They have it all: strength at center in Joe Sakic (51 goals, 120 points) and Peter Forsberg (30 goals, 116 points), speed on the wings with Scott Young and Adam Deadmarsh, nastiness in Claude Lemieux and a multi-dimensional defense led by Sandis Ozolinsh, Adam Foote, Sylvain Lefebvre, Uwe Krupp and one of the NHL’s best-ever playoff goalies in Patrick Roy. Look for Deadmarsh (21 goals) to become a force. Their only question is who will back up Roy, not that it will matter come April, May and June.

All-time record against the Ducks: 4-4-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 3, Feb. 2.

Duck Connection: The Ducks set a club record for most players with more than one point in the same game when seven players had multi-point games in a 7-3 victory over Colorado Nov. 15, 1995. Alex Hicks had three and Bob Corkum, Peter Douris, David Karpa, Steve Rucchin, Jason York and Kariya had two each.

*

Dallas Stars

Little went right last season for the Stars, who missed the playoffs for the first time in three years in Texas. General Manager Bob Gainey gave the coaching duties to Ken Hitchcock, whose attempt to open up the Stars’ defensive game produced mixed results. They acquired defenseman Sergei Zubov from Pittsburgh in an effort to boost their power play, which ranked 23rd last season. Centers Mike Modano (36 goals, 81 points) and Joe Nieuwendyk (14 goals in 52 games) are their only threats. They could crash the top eight.

All-time record against the Ducks: 9-4-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov 11, April 4.

Duck Connection: They were the winning team in the Ducks’ worst loss ever, a 9-2 Dallas rout Feb. 1, 1995. Modano had six points, the most one player has scored against the Ducks.

*

Detroit Red Wings

They’ll be formidable again, but they might be vulnerable on defense. They lost Marc Bergevin to free agency, Mike Ramsey retired and they’re plugging kids into the gap. Sergei Fedorov (39 goals, 107 points) remains among the NHL’s top two-way forwards and the Russian unit of Fedorov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Igor Larionov, Viacheslav Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov is marvelous to watch, but they must step up at playoff time. Keith Primeau (27 goals, 52 points) refused to report to camp and probably will be traded; the Wings must get a young winger and/or defenseman for him.

All-time record against the Ducks: 9-3-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov 24, March 12.

Duck Connection: They were the opponent in the Ducks’ first NHL game, a 7-2 Detroit victory Oct. 8, 1993 at the Pond.

*

Edmonton Oilers

Their glory days are long past, but there’s reason to think their four-year non-playoff streak will end. Restricted free-agent center Doug Weight (25 goals, 104 points) signed Tuesday after a holdout, and after a strong World Cup effort for Team USA he’s potentially a dominant force. They have some speed but their defense is only so-so and is penalty prone. If Curtis Joseph plays as well as he did for Canada in the World Cup, he could carry them into the playoffs.

All-time record against the Ducks: 7-8-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Dec. 1, Feb. 17, Feb. 26.

Duck Connection: They were the losers when the Ducks recorded their first victory, a 4-3 decision Oct. 13, 1993.

*

Kings

Rebuilding for the 1,000th time, the Kings begin life after Gretzky with more depth than they’ve had in a while. Their defense will be good if Rob Blake (torn triceps) can get past a maddening series of injuries, and Stephane Fiset is a capable goaltender. However, there’s no go-to guy, no punch on the right wing besides Vitali Yachmenev (19 goals, 53 points) and lots of guys with lots to prove, such as Ray Ferraro and Kevin Stevens. They will probably miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

All-time record against the Ducks: 8-6-3.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 8, March 19, April 9.

Duck Connection: They were the first team to convert a penalty shot against the Ducks, when Dan Quinn was successful March 21, 1995 in a 3-3 tie.

*

Phoenix Coyotes (formerly Winnipeg Jets)

Say the words “power forward” and left wing Keith Tkachuk comes to mind. He scored 50 goals for the first time last season and a great World Cup performance may boost him higher this season. Say “consistent scorer” and there’s Mike Gartner, still producing at 36. Their defense has some good puckhandlers but lacks muscle, and they need more speed up front if they’re going to improve on last season’s first-round playoff exit. To get far they must sign center Jeremy Roenick, who is holding out for a $4 million salary after they acquired his rights in a trade for Zhamnov.

All-time record against the Ducks: 2-10-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Dec. 23, Feb. 22.

Duck Connection: Anaheim’s favorite opponent. The Ducks’ 10 victories is the most they’ve had against any team, and that includes a 6-0-0 home record.

*

San Jose Sharks

Their answer to a last-place finish in the conference was to collect a bunch of tough guys--including former Duck enforcer Todd Ewen--and an array of former Kings such as goalie Kelly Hrudey, defenseman Marty McSorley, center Bernie Nicholls and winger Tony Granato. They will still have trouble scoring and keeping the puck out of their own net (their 4.32 team GAA was the NHL’s worst last season). Their new coach, former Duck assistant Al Sims, is widely respected for his defensive strategies, and his knowledge will be put to a severe test.

All-time record against the Ducks: 8-8-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Oct. 18, Nov. 1.

Duck Connection: Shark winger Owen Nolan holds the record for most goals scored by a Duck opponent, set when he scored four in a 7-4 San Jose victory Dec. 19, 1995.

*

St. Louis Blues

Mike Keenan gambled on Gretzky and lost. Not only did the Blues lose in the conference finals, the Gretzky affair cost Keenan three players, two draft picks and the enmity of Brett Hull, who hasn’t stopped grousing since Gretzky left. Even a repeat of Hull’s 43-goal performance of last season might not be enough to carry the Blues, whose offense looked so feeble that Keenan threw $10 million at free-agent winger Joe Murphy. They’ll be without defenseman Al MacInnis (elbow infection) for the first few weeks, which they can ill afford. The Blues need more miracles from goalie Grant Fuhr, who had a 2.87 GAA in a record 79 games, but can he do that again?

All-time record against the Ducks: 7-5-0.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 27, March 14.

Duck Connection: They were the victims in the Ducks’ first-ever overtime victory, when Jerrold Skalde scored to beat them, 2-1, Dec. 12, 1993.

*

Toronto Maple Leafs

They can’t keep relying on Doug Gilmour, whose odometer is about to turn over, and the oft-injured Wendel Clark. Winger Mats Sundin (33 goals, 83 points) had a good World Cup with Sweden, but he has no one to set up. The defense is well past its prime except for Mathieu Schneider. They lost to St. Louis in the first round last spring but may not make it to the postseason this time around.

All-time record against the Ducks: 6-3-3.

Coming to Anaheim: Nov. 13, Feb. 12.

Duck Connection: They were the opponent in the Ducks’ first shutout, a 38-save performance by Guy Hebert in a 1-0 decision Dec. 15, 1993.

*

Vancouver Canucks

Their inconsistent offense and lazy defense cost Coach Rick Ley his job. His replacement, Tom Renney, has an instant edge because dynamic right wing Pavel Bure is back from knee surgery. Bure and Alexander Mogilny (55 goals, 107 points) will again try to rekindle the old magic they had as members of the Russian junior national team. Trevor Linden (33 goals, 80 points) and right wing Russ Courtnall (26 goals) will produce the other sparks. They need help on defense or they’ll stall in the first round of the playoffs again.

All-time record against the Ducks: 10-5-1.

Coming to Anaheim: Oct. 30, Jan. 6, Feb. 23.

Duck Connection: Bure recorded the first hat trick against the Ducks, in a 5-0 Canuck victory April 11, 1995.