Yzerman peaking as playoffs near

March 22, 2004

BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The playoffs are approaching, and Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman looks strong.

"It's not Stevie Y from the late '80s, but it's certainly the best he's played in a long time," forward Ray Whitney said. "I certainly think he's playing better than a lot of people thought he would coming into the season -- maybe better than he thought he would at the start."

Yzerman is 38, and he played only 16 games last season coming off an osteotomy -- a bone-sawing knee surgery that had never been done on a professional athlete.

But he had three assists Saturday night in the Wings' 4-2 victory at Los Angeles and a goal and an assist Sunday against the Mighty Ducks, giving him 18 goals and 31 assists this season -- his best numbers since the 18 goals and 34 assists he put up in 2000-01. He has played 68 games -- more than he has in a season since he played 78 in 1999-2000.

He sat out one game to rest in October and missed six games with a groin injury in December. That's it.

"Over the last month, I've really felt a lot better," Yzerman said. "Obviously with the playoffs coming, I've been really trying to get going and feel good and get more accomplished.

"Energy-wise, I guess, I feel like I'm getting stronger. My leg feels real good. I'm really pleased with that. I feel like I've got some jump."

And he hopes the best is yet to come.

"Obviously the playoffs are important -- that's an understatement," he said. "I want to be ready to go then. As much as I want to play well now, I'm hoping I can turn it up a notch again in the playoffs."