Colorado ignoring talk of home edge

By BRIAN HOWELL, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: April 13, 2008 - 10:54 PM

ENGLEWOOD, COLO. - By splitting the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center, the Colorado Avalanche got what it wanted.

"We've played pretty well in the first two games, and now that we're at home we're going to try to build off the momentum," Avalanche captain Joe Sakic said.

With the Wild in Denver for Games 3 and 4 at the Pepsi Center, however, the Avs aren't about to get comfortable even though they had the third-most home victories (27) in the NHL regular season.

"You don't want to be at home and think it's going to be easier," Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote said.

"To me, it doesn't matter if I'm on the road or at home. I always try to have the mindset that it doesn't matter where we play. That way you just focus on the game."

Colorado's recent playoff record at home suggests there isn't much advantage being in the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche is 2-5 in its past seven and 7-10 in its past 17 postseason games at home. Included was a 1-3 home record against the Wild in the 2003 conference quarterfinals.

Foote said more important than being home is for the Avalanche to continue to play as well as it has played so far in the series.

"I think the right mindset is not to look behind and not to look ahead," Foote said. "That's where you can control your emotions. We know [the Wild] is a team that's going to be there every minute of the game. They play a good 60 minutes, and they press. We've got to make sure we're there with them with that mindset."

Right on time

Left winger Ryan Smyth had a tough first season in Colorado. His 14 goals were his lowest total since he had 13 in 1998-99 with Edmonton, and his 55 games played were his fewest since 48 games as a rookie in 1995-96.

He missed 27 games because of various ailments.

Smyth, however, has been his old self in this series. He has been scrappy around the net, leads the team with 10 shots, and scored in Game 1.

"I felt pretty good in the first two games," he said. "It's obviously nice to contribute offensively. I'm just mucking in around the net and creating some chances."

Third-period trouble

Through two games, the Avalanche hasn't allowed the Wild to score in the first two periods, but it has been outscored 4-1 in the third period.

Avs goalie Jose Theodore said the Wild has picked up its pace in the third period.

"When a team is losing going into the third, they're going to put more pressure and that's what they've been doing," Theodore said. "As a goalie, you kind of look at the kind of goals that were scored, and there's really not much I would have changed."

Etc.

• Winger David Jones practiced Sunday, two days after leaving Game 2 after being kicked hard on the outside of his left ankle.

• Peter Forsberg (feet) didn't practice, but coach Joel Quenneville said he likely will play tonight.

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