AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
DALLAS _ Before this game, Dallas Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said this was just about the time of most playoff series that center Joe Nieuwendyk shows up.
Talk about perfect timing.
Nieuwendyk, ice cold for long stretches of the Western Conference finals against the Avalanche, deflected in the winning goal in overtime of Game 5 by being right where he was supposed to be - blocking the view of Avs goalie Patrick Roy.
"That's just what you try to do," Nieuwendyk said. "When the puck goes back to the point and you think the `D' can get a shot, it's just a race to get back to the front of the net. Fortunately I got a step and the puck found the lane."
It was Nieuwendyk's sixth goal of the playoffs, but he still hasn't been the consistent force the Stars are used to from their second-line center. His power-play goal in Game 4 was his first against the Avs. This from a guy who won the Conn Smythe Trophy by being the Stars' wrecking ball through last year's playoffs. He had six game-winning goals, tying an NHL playoff record.
"I'm no different than anybody else, I'm battling for everything I can get," he said. "I'm just excited about what's going on right now. I'm trying my hardest out there."
Nieuwendyk's only two shots of the game came in overtime. Before that, he had missed the net twice. He was his usual strong self on faceoffs, winning 8-of-15, while several of his teammates were getting killed on draws.