Best of Denver

After dreaming through more than half a season of mediocrity, a listless Colorado Avalanche club was suddenly awakened by the arrival March 6 of two veteran Bostonians, Dave Andreychuk and Ray Bourque, who reminded their new teammates what they had going -- a rare shot at the Stanley Cup. Bourque, in particular, set the Avs aflame. In twenty years as a Bruin, he had never won a championship, and his teammates visibly elevated their game after he got inside their heads. The Avs cruised into the NHL playoffs, and defenseman Bourque's mysterious injury in a game against Detroit (a leg bruise? a knee sprain?) sharpened their focus to the killing point. The best news: Bourque has re-signed with the Avs for next year.