excerpted from
Matchup: Avalanche vs. Stars

By Terry Frei and Bill Nichols
for The Sporting News - 5/12/00

X-FACTOR

Both teams get great work from younger players, but perhaps no player will be more important in this series than Carbonneau. He does so much for this team despite being the league's oldest player at 40. Carbonneau is a strong leader who provides valuable communication on the ice at critical times. He is a major contributor to the penalty kill, and he can shut down top offensive players.

Carbonneau did a good job of frustrating Forsberg during the regular season, and he could provide the edge Dallas needs if he can do that in the playoffs. Carbonneau was not a finalist for the Selke Trophy, but would have been if voters actually picked the best defensive forwards.