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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Joe Sakic: Mr. Consistency

The veteran Avalanche star has been slowed by injuries this year, but he's healthy just in time for the postseason.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 8, 2008 - 11:48 PM

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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

It's the wrist shot, right? Quick, sharp, accurate from anywhere in the zone. Or the skating, so smooth that the speed can be deceiving. Maybe it's Joe Sakic's eyes on the ice, his ability to pinpoint his passes.

Well, yes ... and no.

It's not one thing, Martin Skoula says. Skoula, a Wild defenseman, played the first five years of his career in Colorado. He watched -- and practiced against -- Sakic every day.

"What makes him special is there is nothing missing," Skoula said. "It's every year, and it's every game."

Consistency, that's what it is. Sakic, 38, has been so good for so long because he so rarely has a dip in play.

You don't have tell the Wild that, by the way. Sakic has 16 career goals vs. the Wild, second only to Calgary's Jarome Iginla (27). No opponent has totaled more points in Xcel Energy Center (19). Put it together and you've defined the term "nemesis."

Injuries limited Sakic to 44 games this season. But he says he's 100 percent entering the playoffs.

"This was a tough year," he said. "Missed half the season. But feel real good right now and [I'm] hoping to keep it going and turn this into a long run."

The Avalanche is deep. Early in Peter Forsberg's return to Colorado, he and Sakic skated on the same line. But in Sunday's regular- season finale against the Wild, they were together on the Avs' suddenly effective power play. At even strength, Forsberg skated with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk while Sakic centered Andrew Brunette and Wojtek Wolski.

Of the above mentioned talent, none has produced against the Wild more than Sakic.

"He's one of the best in the world," Wild defenseman Brent Burns said. "His hockey sense, his hands, his shot."

His consistency.

Asked about his success against the Wild, Sakic was unimpressed. "You play someone enough times you're going to get points," he said. "But the playoffs are totally different."

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