When Bob Hartley coached the Avalanche, he drew a lot of laughs for saying Milan Hejduk had “magic hands.” After the few seasons that saw the Czech Republic winger lead the NHL in rookie scoring in 1998-99, win a Stanley Cup in 2001 and lead the NHL in goals in 2002-03, there was truth in Hartley’s words.
This season, however, the only magic act to Hejduk’s game had seemed to be of the disappearing kind.
Not anymore.
Hejduk has his mojo back, which is bad news for NHL goalies. In the past week, Hejduk’s feet have looked quick and his hands quicker. Not surprisingly, the former all-star has four goals in the past three games. If he keeps up that kind of level of productivity, it will be the Avs’ best reason for optimism about a playoff spot.
“(Hejduk) has got that patience with the puck now,” Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s sniffing loose pucks around the net. He’s always dangerous in that area. He’s got a little bit more jump in his stride.”
The reason for Hejduk’s better play might have something to do with his right knee. It feels “perfect” now, after surgery Sept. 20 and several weeks of good days and bad days.
“There were a couple times it was still a little stiff. Really, it’s the first time in, like, six months the (knee) has felt perfect,” Hejduk said. “There were a lot of games where the puck wasn’t going in. Now maybe the confidence is up a little.”
Hejduk had a previous surgery during the winter, after injuring the knee playing in the Czech League during the lockout. But complications developed in the preseason.
“There was like a bone chunk in there that (needed to come out),” he said.
Hejduk has alternated with linemates lately, playing with Pierre Turgeon one game last week and with Joe Sakic the past two.
“You knew he’d be fine,” Sakic said. “He’s got way too much talent to not come out of a little slump.”
Avs defenseman Rob Blake said it takes “a couple of months” to feel normal again on skates after knee surgery. Blake tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the sixth game of the 1995-96 season with the Los Angeles Kings and missed the rest of the season.
“You think it’s fine, but it takes a while for everything to feel normal again,” Blake said. “We knew Hedgie would be fine, though. He’s playing great right now, and that’s a huge plus for us.”
Hejduk scored a goal in Colorado’s 5-2 victory at Phoenix on New Year’s Eve, a win he said the Avs were “desperate” to get.
“We said before the game we had to have a little bit different approach to the game,” Hejduk said. “We needed more passion, to work harder. It was an important win for us, especially against them. We’re battling them right now for the eighth playoff spot.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
