wild040908.forsberg

On the homepage

Pardon Board

Out There

Petters

Petters jury will resume deliberations Tuesday

Vikings

Peter Forsberg: Seems like old times

David Zalubowski, Associated Press - Ap

Chronic foot problems forced Peter Forsberg to miss most of the season, but he has played like the Forsberg of old recently, amassing 12 points in the past five games.

Peter Forsberg started slowly in his return to the Avalanche, but he is rounding into shape just at the right time.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: April 8, 2008 - 11:47 PM

Print this story

WILD VS. AVALANCHE

First-round, best-of-seven series; *-if necessary

Game 1: 8 p.m. today • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

Game 2: 8 p.m. Friday • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 830-AM

Game 3: 9 p.m. Monday • Pepsi Center, Denver • Ch. 45, 830-AM

Game 4: 9 p.m. Tuesday • Pepsi Center, Denver • FSN, 830-AM

*Game 5: 8 p.m. April 17 • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

*Game 6: TBA, April 19 • Pepsi Center, Denver • FSN, 830-AM

*Game 7: TBA, April 22 • Xcel Energy Center • Ch. 45, 830-AM

MORE ON THE SERIES

Scouting the Wild

Scouting the Avs

Who to watch on the Wild

Who to watch on the Avs

The Wild-Avalanche season series

First-round series-by-series glance

More from Minnesota Wild

CENTENNIAL, COLO. — There's something superhuman about Peter Forsberg.

He hangs onto the puck so long in the offensive zone that defenders seem to get mesmerized, which enables Forsberg to make astonishing no-look passes through tight seams.

And just look at how the 34-year-old can return to the Colorado Avalanche after having not played a game in 10 months and reel off 14 points in nine games, including 12 in the final five.

"You play hockey, you know how hard it is to come back," Colorado veteran Ian Laperriere said. "You have a two-week injury, it takes you forever to come back to top speed. It takes normal guys that much time. But this guy misses 10 months, practices one or two times with us and is doing this? It's incredible."

Still, there were some dark days back in Sweden for Forsberg, who has had to deal with painful, debilitating foot problems for years. When he did return -- choosing the Avalanche over the Wild and others -- it took him a few weeks to rediscover his game.

He had two assists in his first four games, and after a loss to Minnesota on March 17, he looked dejected, saying after, "I'm not happy the way I played. I have to be better than that."

Forsberg admits he was very concerned after that Wild game.

"I had doubts creeping in," Forsberg said. "Everything was going quick [on the ice], and I wasn't really ready for it. And then I started getting hurt again. So it was a tough time in the beginning, but definitely better now. I didn't expect this."

He already has missed seven games because his foot problems have acted up, but the Avalanche is willing to deal with that.

"We knew when we got him, it was a risk," Laperriere said. "But the upside's so great, you have to live with it. He's in and out, but let's be honest: Peter Forsberg at 60 percent is better than, well, all of us. When he's in, he's dangerous."

With 885 points in 706 games, Forsberg averages 1.25 points per game, which ranks eighth all-time.

Forsberg won't say how close he was to signing with the Wild. Because he wasn't confident with his congenital foot problems, he says when he finally made his decision, he felt he had to go to a place that was familiar with him, that wouldn't hold it against him if he couldn't play.

After Forsberg won the Calder Trophy with the Quebec Nordiques in 1995, the franchise moved to Denver. During his next nine seasons in Colorado, Forsberg won two Stanley Cups, captured the Hart Trophy (2003), was named a first-team All-Star three times and was selected for seven All-Star Games.

"He came in. It was almost like he never left," said future Hall of Fame linemate Joe Sakic.

Forsberg changes the complexion of the Avalanche (13-5-1 since he signed) as it enters the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Wild. The Avs had the 28th-ranked power play this season, 30th on the road. But it has improved dramatically since Forsberg's arrival, proof coming in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Wild when Forsberg directed the Avs' comeback with two third-period power-play assists.

"He does things that most players couldn't even try," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said.

Which is why the Wild has to shut him down if it wants to advance to the next round.

"We have to do a job on him," defenseman Kim Johnsson said. "We've got to play him tight. We can't give him any time at all to set up and make those plays he did [Sunday]."

And if Forsberg's foot problems crop up this series, Laperriere joked, "I've been working on my foot massage technique."

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

Bryzgalov, Coyotes earn 3-2 victory over Stars - April 8, 2008

Bryzgalov, Coyotes earn 3-2 victory over Stars - Robert Lang had a goal and an assist and Ilya Bryzgalov made 26 saves to lead the Phoenix Coyotes past the Dallas Stars 3-2 Saturday night. More