There is simply no denying the impact of Peter Forberg. He was dynamic last night vs Vancouver, playing mostly wit Hejduk and Stastny. Joel Quenneville has tried him with virtually everyone in the line-up. looking for the right combo of magic and balance. I think he found it. Hejduk and Forsberg already have a successful history. Stastny needed a test drive. It was stunning.


Forsberg is not an easy guy to play with. He is very unpredictable. Some teammates end up watching him too much and don't participate enough. Others just can't anticipate enough to help out. Paul Stastny has all the right tools and moves to fit with Peter. Their weakest link together might be that neither will want to shoot as often as they should, choosing to set the other up for the perfect play, but that remains to be seen. The line had 9 points vs Vancouver and never seemed to lack any confidence.


With Forsberg in the line-up, the Avs definitely play more confidently. Their time of possesion is greatly increased and they don't leave you with that feeling they are going to try and "hold on" for the win. In the second period, after trailling 2-1 in the first, they needed a strong effort. They smoked the Canucks for 4 goals and chased Luongo from the net. They really seem to have Vancouver's number.


J M Liles continues to play his best hockey of the season ( since the trade deadline). He is a constant threat on the rush and has been solid defensively. Ryan Smyth is still struggling to regain his top[ form, after the horrendous crash into the glass, but it is still a miracle he is out there at all. Jordan Leopold has created a strong presence at both ends of the ice, since being scratched. The goals he has scored in back-to-back games should help rebuild his confidence.


Jose Theodore has slipped a little, but is sporting 2 big wins. The grinders are scoring a few and fighting timely battles. But it is Peter Forsberg that "completes" them. The distance they travel in the standings from here on clearly depends on how much (how often) Peter plays.

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