M. Spencer Green / AP

Playing an outdoor game on Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field is a welcome break from bowl-game drudgery, writes NHL Expert Kevin Dupont.

Q: Will Mats Sundin give the Canucks what they need to finally make a deep run in the playoffs?
— Paul from Yakima, Wash.
A: It sure has been a while, hasn't it, Paul? The 'Nucks have missed the postseason outright in two of the past three seasons and have won only a pair of first-round sets since facing the Rangers in the 1994 Cup finals.

Sundin, hired just before Christmas for $5.6 million for the balance of this season, has the skill and pedigree to provide a real booster shot to the Vancouver offense. Their goal scoring dipped to 213 last season, in part why Dave Nonis lost his job as general manager. The 'Nucks have arguably the game's best goaltender in Roberto Luongo — the key behind the club allowing only 215 goals last year — but all that sound puck stopping didn't mean much when his teammates shot the puck as if they were facing Luongo every night in the other net.

All that said, no one knows if Sundin, destined to be a Hall of Famer, can pick up where he left off. In other words, over a half season, can he contribute upwards of 15 goals and 40 points, his typical pace over his past half-dozen years or more with the Maple Leafs? I hate to say it, Paul, but I have my doubts. Sundin will be 38 in February and he is stepping back into the world's fastest league with everyone else at mid-season form. Tough time to jump in to the race when everyone else's pulse rate is already accelerated.

I'm sure Vancouver will give their prized catch ample time to get his legs going and their decent showing here in the first half takes some of the pressure off of Sundin to start putting up the points immediately. If he can stay healthy, and if he can keep the pace, I still don't see him getting getting his new team beyond a second-round showing in the East.

Q: What's the word on Claude Lemieux? Is he playing well in the AHL during his comeback bid with the Sharks?
—  Brian Smith from Las Vegas
A: Lemieux, age 43, played his last game with the Dallas Stars in 2002-'03, but he decided over the summer, while home in the Phoenix area, that he would like to take another run at the show. Hey, with Chris Chelios to turn 47 this January, a young guy like Lemieux certainly can dream the dream.

At last look, Brian, Lemieux's numbers were only mediocre — two goals and five points in 12 games. However, if you followed him in his prime, especially his days in New Jersey, you'll remember that his true value went beyond his points (1,197 games/785 points). He was an agitator, a pest, and unlike many of those other surly guys, he could back it up with a timely goal or find a way to get one of the opponent's best players off his game.

When I went to see Lemieux in late November, soon after his arrival with the AHL Sharks (San Jose's No. 1 affiliate), he was confident that he could be back in the NHL in very short order. He didn't attach a timeline to his dream, but it sounded as if he felt a 2-3 week refresher course would do the trick.

On Dec. 29, the Sharks signed Lemieux, 43, to a two-way deal, allowing him to play in San Jose or Worcester. For now, he'll remain in Worcester, but it is another step forward in Lemieux's comeback bid.

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Heading to the Cup finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

NBC Sports

Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

  Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime.

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