Paul Stastny's phone rings most every non-gameday afternoon, his father calling to converse about family, European politics and mostly about hockey, all in Slovakian. On Saturday, the talk undoubtedly was of the Avalanche's situation heading into tonight's Game 3 of the first-round Western Conference playoff series against San Jose at the Pepsi Center. It's a series the Avs thought they had control of, but are tied 1-1 after an amazing back-and-forth Sharks' 6-5 overtime victory late Friday night. His parents' native tongue is one of the three languages Paul speaks, and whether told in French, Slovakian or English, the Stastny story is one that seems part John le Carr? thriller and part Disney-style sports saga. During the recent Winter Olympics, footage of the United States' victory over Czechoslovakia during the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' showed three men with the Stastny name on the back of their uniforms -- Czechoslovakia uniforms. Later that year, two of the three brothers, Peter and Anton, defected from the national team during a tournament in Austria in a perilous, tire-squealing escape from Czechoslovakian officials, and the third, Marian, soon joined them with the NHL's Quebec Nordiques. Although the connection went virtually unmentioned during the Olympics, Paul Stastny, the son of one of those Czechoslovakia players and the nephew of two others, was playing for Team USA this time around. Amazing, wasn't it? 'It came full circle in 30 years,' Stastny said. 'That was something special, starting off with a father-son in the NHL and then the Olympics. To have my dad there in Vancouver was the best part about it.' Although born in Quebec City, where he first skated on ponds with friends and spoke French in addition to the Slovakian spoken in his home, and also living for a time in New Jersey when his father played for the Devils, Paul spent most of his youth in St. Louis. Peter and Darina Stastny, Paul's mother, spend only part of the year in St. Louis, otherwise living in the Slovakian capital, Bratislava. Peter, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in 1998, also has represented Slovakia in the European Parliament since 2004. The second-generation NHL center is continuing to stake out a reputation as one of the league's top two-way forwards. He was Colorado's leading scorer this season, his fourth in the league after his two-season stay at the University of Denver. But he did it with less-than-startling numbers -- 20 goals and 59 assists -- and it's going to take big-time goal production on his wings for him to threaten an NHL scoring title, even as he makes $6.6 million a season through 2014-15. The lesser-noticed aspects of his game include his strong defensive work and faceoffs. 'The most important thing I've always tried to do is just get the win and the numbers will come,' said Stastny, 24. 'I know I'm not the most dynamic guy offensively and I'm not as flashy as certain other players, but that's fine by me and that's the way it's always been and the way I intend to keep playing. 'I know I've got some genes for things that can't be taught. I get that from my dad and my uncles, the vision for things you see in your head. But I've always loved the game growing up, I've always been a student of it, learning that way, or watching the guys I've played with.' Avalanche coach Joe Sacco, who played 13 seasons in the NHL, has Stastny centering the blossoming Chris Stewart and rookie TJ Galiardi, a line that has given the Sharks fits. 'A lot of what Paul does doesn't necessarily show up on the scoresheet every night,' Sacco said. 'He's still a point-a-game guy. He plays over 21 minutes a night, he takes key faceoffs all year long, whether we're up late in the game or down late in the game. I think sometimes he flies under the radar.' Stewart, 22, had a team-high 28 goals in the regular season and already has three against the Sharks, and Stastny has three assists. 'Not only does he contribute offensively, but he's our go-to faceoff man and he's one of the most underrated players in the game,' Stewart said. 'He can see you and put a puck right on a linemate's stick.' Veteran Adam Foote took over from the retired Joe Sakic as the Avalanche captain this season, but Stastny is the heir apparent as he goes through his second playoff experience. 'My first time in the playoffs (in 2008), I wouldn't say I was riding the coattails as much as learning from guys,' Stastny said. 'This year, I look at it like I have to set an example. ... Everyone knows it's a step quicker, and a little more physical, but at the same time, you don't want to back down. I want to show up ready to play and show you're willing to do anything to win.' 