Most sayings from hockey players will never be confused with those of Confucius. It’s a simple game with basic language, especially this time of year and particularly when it comes to defense.
In that sense, the fact the Avalanche has gone back to basics with its defensive game probably is what has the team in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Avs were a much tougher team to score against down the stretch, and they will need to stay that way if they plan to beat the Northwest Division champion Minnesota Wild in the first round.
With the trade-deadline acquisitions of Adam Foote and Ruslan Salei, and eight healthy defenseman entering Wednesday’s Game 1, the Avs finally feel they have the kind of talent and depth on the blue line that can take them a long way.
“We’re a lot better team defensively than we were before they came here,” captain Joe Sakic said. “Not to take anything away from anybody else, but those two guys have really given us a more physical presence, and they both have been around awhile and know how to play the game.”
The Avs are so deep on defense right now that Jordan Leopold, the player they acquired primarily for talented left winger Alex Tanguay, can’t even get in the lineup. He is likely to be a healthy scratch for Game 1, along with rookie Kyle Cumiskey.
The additions of Foote and Salei brought two needed dimensions to the Avalanche lineup: physicality and better outlet passing. After defenseman Brett Clark was lost for the season with a shoulder injury Feb. 12, the Avs lost their best outlet passer, the guy best able to make the first pass out of his own zone. They lost their next four games, but finding a defenseman before the Feb. 26 trade deadline with a good two-way game seemed a tall order.
Every team is always looking for players like that, but fate smiled kindly on Colorado when Florida offered up Salei — for the disappointing and similarly paid Karlis Skrastins. Salei not only can play a physical game, he has patience with the puck in his own zone.
“He’s made a big difference for us,” Sakic said. “He’s smart and comes to play.”
Salei offers the Avs some experience in beating the Wild in the playoffs. He was part of an Anaheim team that beat Minnesota in the 2003 Western Conference finals, a team that also featured Colorado’s Kurt Sauer.
“They didn’t score the first goal on us until the fourth game, so that was a key for us then and I think it will be a key for us now,” Salei said. “It’s always nice to get the first goal, because then they open up a little bit more. They’re like the old days with New Jersey. You don’t want to give up the lead to them, because then they really play sound defense systems-wise.”
Foote will be counted on to do all the things he used to do for the Avs, such as making life miserable for opponents’ top forwards.
“Footer’s got to be Footer,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said. “An abrasive, in-your-face type guy down low. We don’t see his job description changing. And I think he’s got more patience with the puck than he gets recognized for.”
If Salei had stayed with the Panthers, he would be getting ready to play a lot of golf. Now he gets some playoff hockey for the first time since 2006, with Anaheim.
“It’s going to be interesting,” he said. “Playoffs are a little different kind of game. I’m happy to be here and get a chance to play in them again.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Net result of key deals
The Avalanche has been a stingier team defensively since acquiring Adam Foote and Ruslan Salei at the NHL trade deadline Feb. 26. Here are the numbers before and after the deadline:
First 63 games: 2.71 goals allowed per game (171 overall)
Last 19 games: 2.37 goals allowed per game (45)
*Note: Foote did not play in seven of the 19 games, including a 7-5 loss at Edmonton on March 22. Salei did not play in two of the games.
