But the Avalanche didn't win one for the Bourquer. The Stanley Cup has slipped through his hands for two decades. The Avalanche players have grown the traditional playoff beards. Bourque's is the only one sprinkled liberally with gray. At 40, the body doesn't hold up as it once did.
Recovery time is longer, and the down time between games is shorter.
The Avalanche is not about to say that Bourque's talents have diminished, but he played slow and behind against the Canucks. Despite a week of rest before the Los Angeles series, Bourque had no spring in his skates Thursday. Bourque hasn't moved up. He has no goals and no assists in three games. Five assists, and he passes Paul Coffey, and with seven points, Bourque would climb over Avalanche assistant Bryan Trottier.