Bourque held out of Avs' practice
Associated Press

Ray Bourque
Bourque

DENVER -- Ray Bourque was not a part of Monday's one-hour practice as the Colorado Avalanche began preparations for its upcoming Western Conference finals meeting with the Dallas Stars, but he could be ready to play by Game 1.

"I hope so," the 21-year veteran defenseman said about the as-yet-unscheduled first game of the series, which should begin later this week. "I'll work hard and keep doing the things that we have been doing, taking treatments and skating."

Bourque, who suffered strained ligaments in his left knee in a 3-1 semifinals loss to the Detroit Red Wings, received treatment Monday while his teammates practiced. Then he went through a solo skate for 40 minutes at the team's training facility.

It was the second time in four days that Bourque had skated. He skated for a similar amount of time Friday.

"I felt pretty good," Bourque said. "I was really happy with how it went Friday, took the weekend off in terms of ice, had treatment, worked out and worked out again today and will skate every day this week."

During his career, Bourque has recorded 36 goals and 131 assists in 188 playoff games. He had a goal and nine assists in 12 playoff games played this year.

He was relegated to the sidelines and admitted being emotionally stressed out in the last two games against the Red Wings.

"This is the worst spot to be, one you can't do anything about anything," Bourque said. "I was a big cheerleader for a couple of games and hopefully that is all it is going to be."

Reports out of Boston, which traded Bourque and Dave Andreychuk for Brian Rolston, two prospects and a first round draft choice, had Bourque finished for the season.

"Initially, they (Colorado's training staff) said it wasn't anything major and I was hoping by the end of the week to be back on the ice," Bourque said. "I was real happy to get back on the ice on Friday and I couldn't ask for anything better in terms of what we thought it was and where I am right now."

"The guys did a real good job of taking care of the series to give me some extra time," Bourque said. "Hopefully it will be enough."

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