Stastny is learning it takes more to get by

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom covered the puck as Colorado’s Paul Stastny crashed the net. Stastny had three shots on goal.

The center has found his first playoff experience has left him down on production but not confidence.

By BRIAN HOWELL, Special to the Star-Tribune

Last update: April 16, 2008 - 12:30 AM

DENVER - Paul Stastny has enough hockey in his background to know how to handle big games.

His father, Peter, is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. His uncles, Anton and Marian, also played in the NHL. Paul helped Denver University win an NCAA championship in 2004-05, and he won the WCHA scoring title in 2005-06.

Still, the second-year center of the Colorado Avalanche has had a tough time during his first run through the NHL playoffs. Through the first four games of the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Wild has held Stastny without a point, while limiting him to seven shots on goal.

"I think all young players over the course of their careers, their first taste of playoff hockey is a challenge," Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said. "There's a different level of play."

However, Stastny said growing up in a hockey family gives him an advantage.

"I think so," he said. "It's the way I was brought up. I've got to stay loose out there, have fun and not worry about what's happened before."

In two NHL seasons, Stastny has averaged a point per game (149 points in 148 games) and has scored 52 goals.

Because of that production, his lack of points, especially centering a line with star wingers Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk, is a surprise to this point in the series.

Wild defenseman Kim Johnsson said there isn't any extra focus on stopping Stastny, but the Wild is aware of when Colorado's dangerous second line is on the ice.

"If you see those guys on the ice, of course you're going to play a little bit tighter," Johnsson said. "You have to stay back more, and you have to be ready for the plays they do. "

Minnesota's defense has limited the room for all of Colorado's playmakers, but Stastny has had a particularly hard time. He had four shots on goal through the first three games and three Tuesday in Game 4.

"When he's out there, his line gets a lot of attention," Quenneville said of Stastny. "You've got to battle through it. Certainly he's at that stage now where we're looking for a little bit more."

Stastny showed signs of breaking through in Game 3. In fact, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said the Wild caught a break in the second period when Marian Gaborik was slapped with a two-minute penalty for hooking Stastny.

"I think he would [have gotten] a goal at a certain time if Gaborik doesn't hook him," Lemaire said. "That was his best chance.

"[Stastny] gets around the net, and we always have somebody close to him."

Because of the toughness that comes with playoff hockey, the Avalanche is not too worried about Stastny's play.

"They're just a team that doesn't give you a whole lot," Avs veteran Andrew Brunette said of the Wild. "In Paul's case, he's playing fine. Those first two games, I thought he played real well; just nothing went in.

"He can't beat himself up. He's a great hockey player, and he'll find a way. He's done it his whole career, and this is no different than when he was at DU or anywhere else. You just have to raise your game."

Stastny's past suggests he can find a way.

"Maybe the first couple of shifts [I was nervous], but now you've got to treat it like a normal series," he said. "Every day is another game and another big challenge for us. You've got to keep going and stay confident out there."

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