THIS IS FUN
Okay, I'm just going to say it. Colorado-Dallas is the best playoff series I've ever seen. Both teams are so talented that basically we've got ourselves an All-Star game with hitting. Lots and lots of hitting. Each game has been an intense battle of wills, with Colorado trying to impress its brand of high- flying offense and skill while Dallas does its best to cling to an aggressive forechecking scheme predicated on forcing turnovers. Momentum has changed more often than LCS Hockey's mailing address on government forms. And there's a Game Seven yet to be played. Enjoy it while you can.

Even though the entire series has been incredible, Game Five was a modern day classic. Some will argue that the 7-5 Colorado win was plagued by weak goaltending, defensive mistakes, and tired bodies, but they're missing the big picture. Game Five was entertaining from start to finish, featuring four lead changes and some once-in-a-lifetime moments. The two clubs just went at it with all they had. Any time you get a 7-5 score in the conference finals, it's something special.

I would have written a detailed recap of the game, but well, I didn't feel like it. But even a few days later, certain memories stick with me...

* Derian Hatcher belting Adam Deadmarsh behind the Dallas cage on his very first shift of the game, dropping the Colorado winger to the ice with bad intentions and setting a tone for the game.

Valeri Kamensky by Meredith Martini

* Valeri Kamensky returning from an injured wrist and displaying his usual all-world talent in scoring a pair of goals.

* Joey Nieuwendyk racing around the ice and testing Roy with his mighty wrist shot. Lemme tell ya, Nieuwendyk is a remarkable player. I always knew he was a bad man, but I didn't know how bad until I had the chance to watch him play on a regular basis this postseason. He looks faster than he did during his glory days in Calgary. They must have given him some of them there bionic knees during one of his many surgeries.

* Chris Drury showing the determination of a grizzled vet in crashing the net hard and scoring two goals. The cross-checks only hurt if you don't score.

Brett Hull by Meredith Martini

* Brett Hull drilling a perfect one-timer from high in the right circle off the post and behind Patrick Roy, bringing back memories of his old 80-goal self. If you squinted you could almost see the Blue Note on his chest.

* Sandis Ozolinsh darting here and there and everywhere. The term "defenseman" is just a suggestion to Ozolinsh. His goal at the end of the first period, when he helped lead the rush and then perplexed Ed Belfour with a nifty wrister five-hole, was a thing of beauty. No other defensemen in hockey could have made that play.

* Mike Keane beating his good buddy Patrick Roy with a wrist shot that was very reminiscent of the overtime goal he scored against the Detroit Red Wings in 1996 while helping the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup.

* Adam Deadmarsh hustling back to break up a two-on-one just moments after the Stars had taken a 2-1 lead on a similar rush. Deadmarsh chased Jere Lehtinen down from behind and rode him off the puck without allowing a shot or even taking a penalty. It was a real wizard effort.

* Patrick Roy skating out of the crease to get a whistle and then dropping Pat Verbeek with a stiff shoulder check. Verbeek, keep your head up buddy.

Peter Forsberg by Meredith Martini

* The one memory of Game Six that stands out above all others is simply the dominance of Peter Forsberg. He put everything on display: speed, finesse, power. He overwhelmed the Stars for the full sixty minutes, but two plays in particular demonstrated his brilliance. He showed his speed and hands in blowing wide around Richard Matvichuk, pulling Hatcher to him, and then slipping a perfect pass to Kamensky for a 5-3 Colorado lead. And he showed his power by beating Hatcher to a loose puck in the corner and then blasting the mammoth Dallas captain in the chest with his shoulder, knocking Hatcher to the ice while still controlling the puck. There aren't three other people in the NHL that could even knock Hatcher down, let alone do it with the puck. Forsberg's unbelievable.

SABRE BANDWAGON
It's so obvious that the winner of Colorado-Dallas will claim the Cup that suddenly there's a backlash forming, with many observers jumping on Buffalo. Well, um, feel free, but it's not gonna happen.

Buffalo is a very good hockey team. Buffalo is not a great hockey team. Colorado and Dallas are great hockey teams. See how that works?

Do you really think guys like Joe Juneau, Geoff Sanderson, and Stu Barnes are going to get their names on the Cup? I actually think there might be federal legislation preventing it. Listen, scoring by committee is great until the committee quits scoring. Then what? Miroslav Satan is awesome, but he's not exactly the type of superstar that's going to score night after night. Remember, this is the same Buffalo team that struggled to score goals near the end of the regular season. The scoring will eventually disappear. When it does, even Dominik Hasek won't be enough.

The Sabres could have a chance if they play Dallas. The Stars like to compete in low-scoring, defensive games that could play into the hands of Hasek. Buffalo has a shot at winning every time out because of the Dominator, especially if the score is 1-0 or 2-1. The Stars would be content to play such a style, meaning a few timely goals could decide the series. Dallas is also going to be bruised and battered after getting through the Avalanche. Their age could show.

Colorado just has too much for Buffalo to handle. Michael Peca might be able to limit Forsberg's line somewhat, but what about Joe Sakic? The Colorado captain has been quiet for far too long and, provided his team gets there, could be due for a breakout series. And even though he's stated in the past that Hasek is the hardest goaltender to beat, Sakic has had success against him. He seems to be one of the few shooters in the league that realizes you have to be patient, wait for Hasek's gloves to drop, and then go upstairs. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have the best wrist shot in the league, either.

And if Hasek thought Toronto was tough on him around the net, wait until he gets a load of Claude Lemieux, Theo Fleury, Adam Deadmarsh, and Dale Hunter.

Dominik Hasek by Meredith Martini

HASEK'S A GOOF
Does Hasek have to fall down every time someone touches him? Isn't he embarrassed at all by his gutlessness? He's a big boy now, it's time to suck it up and come to play.

And what about after Mats Sundin used him on the penalty shot in Game Four? For those of you that missed it, the Big Swede casually skated in and piped a wrist shot over Hasek's glove with shocking ease. The Sabres were leading 5-0 at the time of the goal. Afterwards, Hasek said he might have tried to make a different save had the score been different? A different save? So what are you trying to say, Dominik, that you don't read the play but instead just flop in a predetermined manner? Who would have guessed?

ALL HAIL STUMPY
Steve Thomas deserves some serious recognition. Stumpy played the Buffalo series with banged up ribs and a bruised collar bone. And he played mean. It looked bleak in Game Five when Vaclav Varada nearly KO'd Thomas with a devastating open-ice check. Stumpy staggered back to the dressing room, nearly falling in the runway, yet returned later in the game to try and help his team to a desperation win. Now that's a hockey player. Way to go, Stumpy.

DETROIT?
Hey, what happened to the Red Wings? Oh, that's right. Never mind.

STAR WARS BLOWS
I noticed that Ace Reporter Jim Iovino made some Star Wars references in his one article this issue. So I feel it's my duty to remind everyone that Star Wars blows. I got your light sabre right here. Instead of throwing away your nine bucks with the mindless masses, get your learn on and find the re-release of "The Third Man" starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. It's a true classic. And would it kill you to watch a movie that doesn't have a corresponding cup at Taco Bell? C'mon, people, work with me here...

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