Ohashi_Jouzu*
Registered User
I was hoping we could maybe get past the smokescreen of talking about the 1996 playoffs as if the 1999 playoffs didn't happen... you know, the other time Forsberg led the playoffs in scoring.
24 points in 19 games (13 ESP, 9 PPP, 1 SHP, 1 Empty Net)
Certainly a more Crosby-esque split of powerplay to even-strength scoring, but Forsberg did this while playing 2:30 of shorthanded ice-time each night. Again, ignoring the pucks shot into an empty net, Forsberg's 1999 points-per-game is ahead of Crosby's 2008 and 2009 numbers - by a negligible amount. But here's the real kicker:
1999
San Jose - 191 GA (8 points in 6 games)
Detroit - 202 GA (9 points in 6 games)
Dallas - 168 GA (7 points in 7 games)
The teams Forsberg shot on in 1999 averaged 187 GA on the season (compared to Crosby's opponents' averages of 216 GA and 238 GA). The difference in goals-allowed-per-game of Crosby's opponents in 2009 and Forsberg's opponents in 1999 (.622) is bigger than the difference of goals-allowed-per-game from 1995-96 to 2003-04 (.580).
The 1999 Avalanche were, of course, a fairly good offensive team, netting 239 GF compared to the 2008 Penguins' 247 GF and the 2009 Penguins' 264 GF (and much higher than the 2002 Avalanche's 212 GF). Sakic and Fleury (the #2 and #3 playoff scorers) broke out for 12 and 11 points, respectively, against San Jose. The final two rounds, however, saw Sakic record 7 points and Fleury record 6 points over the Avalanche's 13 games against Dallas and Detroit, meaning Forsberg outscored the two of them combined in those rounds.
And I look forward to hearing how this will be spun into him not carrying the team because they lost in 7 games to Dallas as a 16-point underdog.
Which is all great. But when I see that Adam Foote averaged almost 29 mins/night, and Sakic 25, I know what they were doing to make sure all the points Forsberg got during his 21 minutes counted. And it was key goals from guys like Drury making it interesting later on (who had all 4 of his GWG against Detroit and Dallas), and I don't think a single one was assisted by Sakic OR Forsberg.
And from my recollection, it really wasn't Forsberg OR Sakic that even started the comeback against Detroit. Double-checking, after Detroit got up on them 2-0, it was Roy stopping 44 shots while facing 6 penalty-kills (Colorado just marching to the penalty box all game), and Yzerman hitting the crossbar at a key moment in game 3 when another Detroit goal would have made a huge difference, that changed the tide.
Even the next game, which looks like Avalanche offense on display, was much about Roy keeping the Red Wings off the board for the first 54 minutes of the game, allowing Deadmarsh and Drury to start off the fireworks (again, no assists by Forsberg or Sakic), building a 2-0 lead by halfway through the 2nd period. Bob Hartley quote after tying the series:
"For the second game in a row, we had a great team effort from everyone," said Avalanche coach Bob Hartley.
As for the rest of the series, we have Roy shutting the door on the Red Wings, and Colorado shooters abusing a wonky-kneed Osgood, who was called on to close the series instead of Ranford.
But yeah, it was Forsberg dragging everyone along with him in '99...