Resurgent Theodore key to win

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Jose Theodore was the winning goalie in Wednesday's playoff opener.

The goaltender was a disappointment in his first season in Colorado, but extra work in the summer helped him regain his form.

By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune

Last update: April 10, 2008 - 12:12 AM

Jose Theodore's performance last season caused Avalanche team officials to contemplate buying out the final season of his contract. Theodore's performance Wednesday was the latest example of why the organization was wise not to follow through on that idea.

Theodore continued to earn his $6 million salary this season by stopping 28 shots in Colorado's 3-2 overtime victory over the Wild in the opening game of their playoff series at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday night.

Theodore made 11 saves in the first period and had 20 saves through two as the Avalanche was outshot 20-7. But his biggest stop came in the overtime on a Brent Burns shot from close in on a two-on-one rush with 13 minutes, 24 seconds left.

"Obviously, in overtime every save is big," said Theodore, who made two stops in the extra period before Joe Sakic's goal ended it. "But that was ... he came in tight, and I was able to kind of read the play a little bit, so I was able to keep my focus and stop it."

Theodore might have downplayed the save, but Sakic was not about to sell his goalie short. "Really, the only reason we were there was Theodore's play," Sakic said. "Especially in that first period. He was unbelievable keeping it 0-0. He gets real credit for giving us an opportunity to win the game."

Theodore's best save in the first came with 6:40 left in the period when he stopped Pierre-Marc Bouchard's shot from the slot with the Wild on a power play.

This was the type of performance the Avs hoped to get from Theodore when they acquired him from Montreal in March 2006. He had earned the Hart and Vezina trophies as the NHL's Most Valuable Player and top goaltender in 2001-02, and the hope was he could regain that form. Instead, Theodore was a disappointment in his first full season with the team.

But, after posting only 13 victories and a 3.26 goals-against average in 33 games in 2006-07, Theodore won 28 games with a 2.44 goals-against in 53 regular-season games this season.

"Impressed? I'm very impressed," Avalanche winger Ian Laperriere said of Theodore's turnaround. "Surprised, not really, because what he's done in the past and the way he played in Montreal, the trophies he won. You don't do that by being lucky. You win that because you've got skills and you've got character. To see him rebound like that, it's great for us, but it doesn't surprise me."

Theodore, who played in two fewer games than his current backup Peter Budaj in 2006-07, worked with Avalanche goalie coach and former Montreal teammate Jeff Hackett during the summer. The extra time paid off.

Theodore, 31, regained the No. 1 job by January and started a season-high 11 consecutive games during the month. He went 6-4-1 with one shutout -- he had three this season -- a 1.94 goals- against and .930 saves percentage during that stretch. He started 20 of the final 21 games and 26 of the final 28.

"I think Jose had a real good approach to the season coming into it," Avs coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think his anticipation has been sharp and [his] rebound control. You can just sense his confidence has picked up here."

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