"I play a little chippy, and a little in your face. That's my style." -- Scott Stevens, at Wednesday's Stanley Cup media session.

At 37, with two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy on his mantel and a large "C" on his chest, Stevens sees no need to beat around the crease. At this point of his Hall of Fame career, he doesn't have time for the phony, politically correct comments usually associated with an off-day Stanley Cup press conference.

Instead, he's straightforward. Honest. This is who I am. And, if you don't like it, too bad. You can love him for it, or you can hate him for it. But, in the end, you must respect him for it.

On the ice, Stevens doesn't hide. He's there, night after night. No, he doesn't fight too often anymore. And that might bother some of you. (Heck, it bugs me sometimes.) But Stevens learned long ago that he was too valuable a player to spend too much time in the penalty box.

But if you want to battle with him -- exchange some physical contact with him -- he'll be there for you. Along the wall. In front of the net. And, as we all know, at his blue line. He'll be there. And, he won't be late.

Stevens is the absolute heart of the defending champions. He is their life blood. And, because of just that, Stevens should be a target for the Avalanche.

You see, you never beat a champion by pecking away at the perimeter. You beat a champion by attacking it's heart, it soul, it's very being. So, if the Avs are gonna take the Cup from the Devils, they must be willing to venture into Stevens' kitchen. They must hit him and battle him and fight him whenever they can. And, whenever he ups the ante -- like he did with a gritty performance in Game 2 -- the Avs must be willing to take it a notch higher.

Can they? Will they? We'll all find out in Game 3. If they don't, however, they can kiss their Cup dreams good night.

E.J. Hradek covers hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.