GAME OF THE WEEK

By HELENE ELLIOTT

Dec. 9, 2003 12 AM PT

COLORADO AT VANCOUVER, THURSDAY

Both teams play “fire-wagon hockey,” which means there should be some offensive sparks. Although the Avalanche has been without Peter Forsberg (abdominal-groin strain) for a while and won’t get him back anytime soon, its offensive depth has kicked in. Colorado has also been solid defensively lately, giving up only five goals in four games against Edmonton, New Jersey, San Jose and Columbus. Vancouver misses Markus Naslund (groin), but Brendan Morrison (11 goals) and Trevor Linden (seven) have stepped up. Center Jason King could well be the rookie of the year.

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Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

GAME OF THE WEEK

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