GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (7-3) at COLORADO (6-4)

By Dave Reed
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


DENVER (Ticker) - The last time the Colorado Avalanche got offto a start like this at home, the franchise wasn't even locatedin America.


Marek Svatos broke a tie in the second period, leading theAvalanche to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.

With the win, Colorado improved to 5-0 at the Pepsi Center thisseason, the team's best start at home since they were still theQuebec Nordiques and started 6-0 during the 1994-95 season at LeColisee in Quebec City.


"It's a nice start," said Avalanche left wing Ryan Smyth, whohad a goal and an assist. "It's not always how you start, it'show you finish. But generating points right now with divisionalgames is important. We've got to find ways to keep playingwell at home."


Svatos snapped a 1-1 tie at the 15:30 mark of the second periodwhen he backhanded a bouncing puck off Wild goaltender JoshHarding from outside the left goalpost.


Colorado captain Joe Sakic started the play when he sent abackhand pass from behind the right post to Smyth, who was ableto get enough of his stick on the puck to move it across thecrease.


Sakic extended his point and assist streak to five games, as the38-year-old center has collected a goal and seven assists overthat stretch. He has 33 career points against the Wild, thesecond-most of any player in the NHL behind Calgary's JaromeIginla with 39.


Minnesota had a chance to tie the game with 2:58 left in thethird period, but Avalanche netminder Peter Budaj was able toglove Wild defenseman Petteri Nummelin's wrap-around to keep theMinnesota winless on their three-game road swing.


"He made an unbelievable save," Nummelin said. "I tried to getit up and over his glove, but couldn't get it. I saw right awayit was going to go right into his glove."


Colorado added an insurance goal on the power play at 19:23 ofthe final period when left wing Wojtek Wolski took a nicelyplaced pass from right wing Paul Stastny and flipped a wristshot in the left crease past Harding, giving the Avalanche a 3-1lead.


Minnesota originally knotted the game at 1-1 with 4:18 left inthe first period on its second power play.


Wild center Pierre-Marc Bouchard took a pass from Foster intothe left corner, then passed in the slot to Eric Belanger, whobeat Budaj with a wrist shot high on the glove side just insidethe right post.


Colorado had killed off 10 consecutive penalties and 30 of itslast 32 before Belanger's goal, all of which was aided by thesolid play in net by Budaj, who stopped 21 shots.


"Our 'D' and our forwards were doing a tremendous job of keepingthe shots from outside and clearing rebounds," Budaj said. "Ihad to worry about the first shot."


"I felt that their goalie was great," Minnesota coach JacquesLemaire said. "Look at Nummelin's chance there at the end. Wetie, we get a point and the trip is different."

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 0 --1
Colorado 1 1 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Colorado, Ryan Smyth 5 (Joe Sakic), 8:29.
2, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 4 (power play) (Pierre-Marc Bouchard,
Kurtis Foster), 15:42. Penalties: R Smyth, Col (tripping), 1:17; J
Finger, Col (hooking), 15:13.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Colorado, Marek Svatos 5 (Ryan Smyth, Joe
Sakic), 15:30. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (hooking), 4:44.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Colorado, Wojtek Wolski 4 (power play)
(Paul Stastny, Andrew Brunette), 19:23. Penalties: K Cumiskey, Col
(holding), 6:55; B Burns, Min (delay of game), 13:31; Bench, Min (too
many men served by J Sheppard), 17:44.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 5 7 --22
Colorado 11 14 5 --30
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 3, Colorado - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Minnesota, Josh Harding (30 shots, 27 saves; record: 2-1-1).
Colorado, Peter Budaj (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 17,041.
Referees: Dennis Larue, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mark
Wheeler.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 --1
COLORADO 1 1 1 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Colorado, Ryan Smyth 5 (Joe Sakic), 8:29.
2, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 4 (power play) (Pierre-Marc Bouchard,
Kurtis Foster), 15:42. Penalties: R Smyth, Col (tripping), 1:17; J
Finger, Col (hooking), 15:13.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Colorado, Marek Svatos 5 (Ryan Smyth, Joe
Sakic), 15:30. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (hooking), 4:44.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Colorado, Wojtek Wolski 4 (power play)
(Paul Stastny, Andrew Brunette), 19:23. Penalties: K Cumiskey, Col
(holding), 6:55; B Burns, Min (delay of game), 13:31; Bench, Min (too
many men served by J Sheppard), 17:44.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 10 5 7 --22
COLORADO 11 14 5 --30
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 1 of 3, COL - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Minnesota, Josh Harding (30 shots, 27 saves; record: 2-1-1). Colorado,
Peter Budaj (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 17,041. Referees:
Dennis Larue, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mark Wheeler.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA COLORADO
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
B Rolston 0 0 even 4 W Smith 0 0 even 2
S Veilleux 0 0 -1 4 I Laperriere 0 0 even 0
M Parrish 0 0 -1 0 A Brunette 0 1 even 1
C Clutterbuck 0 0 even 0 J Hlinka 0 0 even 4
D Boogaard 0 0 even 0 J Sakic 0 2 +2 1
E Belanger 1 0 -1 2 S Hannan 0 0 even 1
K Foster 0 1 even 0 P Stastny 0 1 even 2
P Nummelin 0 0 even 4 S Parker 0 0 even 0
W Walz 0 0 even 0 B Guite 0 0 even 1
M Skoula 0 0 -2 0 K Sauer 0 0 +1 1
K Johnsson 0 0 even 0 T Arnason 0 0 even 1
N Schultz 0 0 even 2 J Liles 0 0 +1 1
J Sheppard 0 0 even 0 M Svatos 1 0 +2 1
B Burns 0 0 -2 0 K Cumiskey 0 0 even 0
M Foy 0 0 even 0 B Clark 0 0 +1 1
M Koivu 0 0 -1 6 J Finger 0 0 +1 5
B Radivojevic 0 0 -1 0 W Wolski 1 0 even 3
P Bouchard 0 1 -1 0 R Smyth 1 1 +2 5
K Carney HEALTHY M Hejduk BACK INJURY
P Demitra GROIN J Jillson HEALTHY
M Gaborik GROIN
N Backstrom GROIN</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA AT COLORADO
NOTE: RESENDING PER CUSTOMER REQUEST</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 0 --1
Colorado 1 1 1 --3
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Colorado, Ryan Smyth 5 (Joe Sakic), 8:29.
2, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 4 (power play) (Pierre-Marc Bouchard,
Kurtis Foster), 15:42. Penalties: R Smyth, Col (tripping), 1:17; J
Finger, Col (hooking), 15:13.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Colorado, Marek Svatos 5 (Ryan Smyth, Joe
Sakic), 15:30. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (hooking), 4:44.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Colorado, Wojtek Wolski 4 (power play)
(Paul Stastny, Andrew Brunette), 19:23. Penalties: K Cumiskey, Col
(holding), 6:55; B Burns, Min (delay of game), 13:31; Bench, Min (too
many men served by J Sheppard), 17:44.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Minnesota 10 5 7 --22
Colorado 11 14 5 --30
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Minnesota - 1 of 3, Colorado - 1 of 3. Goalies
: Minnesota, Josh Harding (30 shots, 27 saves; record: 2-1-1).
Colorado, Peter Budaj (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 17,041.
Referees: Dennis Larue, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mark
Wheeler.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 1 0 0 --1
COLORADO 1 1 1 --3
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Colorado, Ryan Smyth 5 (Joe Sakic), 8:29.
2, Minnesota, Eric Belanger 4 (power play) (Pierre-Marc Bouchard,
Kurtis Foster), 15:42. Penalties: R Smyth, Col (tripping), 1:17; J
Finger, Col (hooking), 15:13.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Colorado, Marek Svatos 5 (Ryan Smyth, Joe
Sakic), 15:30. Penalties: B Rolston, Min (hooking), 4:44.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Colorado, Wojtek Wolski 4 (power play)
(Paul Stastny, Andrew Brunette), 19:23. Penalties: K Cumiskey, Col
(holding), 6:55; B Burns, Min (delay of game), 13:31; Bench, Min (too
many men served by J Sheppard), 17:44.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MINNESOTA 10 5 7 --22
COLORADO 11 14 5 --30
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MIN - 1 of 3, COL - 1 of 3. Goalies :
Minnesota, Josh Harding (30 shots, 27 saves; record: 2-1-1). Colorado,
Peter Budaj (22 shots, 21 saves; record: 5-2-0). A: 17,041. Referees:
Dennis Larue, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mark Wheeler.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MINNESOTA COLORADO
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
B Rolston 0 0 even 4 W Smith 0 0 even 2
S Veilleux 0 0 -1 4 I Laperriere 0 0 even 0
M Parrish 0 0 -1 0 A Brunette 0 1 even 1
C Clutterbuck 0 0 even 0 J Hlinka 0 0 even 4
D Boogaard 0 0 even 0 J Sakic 0 2 +2 1
E Belanger 1 0 -1 2 S Hannan 0 0 even 1
K Foster 0 1 even 0 P Stastny 0 1 even 2
P Nummelin 0 0 even 4 S Parker 0 0 even 0
W Walz 0 0 even 0 B Guite 0 0 even 1
M Skoula 0 0 -2 0 K Sauer 0 0 +1 1
K Johnsson 0 0 even 0 T Arnason 0 0 even 1
N Schultz 0 0 even 2 J Liles 0 0 +1 1
J Sheppard 0 0 even 0 M Svatos 1 0 +2 1
B Burns 0 0 -2 0 K Cumiskey 0 0 even 0
M Foy 0 0 even 0 B Clark 0 0 +1 1
M Koivu 0 0 -1 6 J Finger 0 0 +1 5
B Radivojevic 0 0 -1 0 W Wolski 1 0 even 3
P Bouchard 0 1 -1 0 R Smyth 1 1 +2 5
K Carney HEALTHY M Hejduk BACK INJURY
P Demitra GROIN J Jillson HEALTHY
M Gaborik GROIN
N Backstrom GROIN</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLORADO

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA AT COLORADO
NOTE: RESENDING BOX PER CUSTOMER REQUEST.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA (7-3) at COLORADO (6-4)

<h3>Avalanche meet Wild in Northwest showdown</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (9-4-2) at Colorado (10-5-1) 8:00 pm EST</div>

DENVER (Ticker) -- The top two teams in the Northwest Divisionmeet on Sunday when the Colorado Avalanche take on the MinnesotaWild.


The Avalanche, who are six points behind the Detroit Red Wingsin second place in the Western Conference, had a two-game winstreak snapped on Friday, suffering a 2-1 overtime loss to theVancouver Canucks.


Jose Theodore made 26 saves in net for Colorado, just his firstovertime loss of the season, and third overall.


Theodore is 4-2-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .920save percentage this season and has kept the pressure on theup-and-coming Peter Budaj for the starting job.


However, the 25-year-old Budaj has been solid in net, posting a6-3-0 record with a 2.95 GAA and .894 save percentage.

The Wild enter the contest in fourth place in the Westernconference and are well rested, having not played a game since a5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday - their secondconsecutive win. Minnesota scored four of their five goals onthe powerplay - including two by Mark Parrish.


Parrish has been a force on the offensive end of the ice thisseason, logging six tallies in 15 games. However, the30-year-old right wing is without an assist this campaign afternotching 20 last season.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA (7-3) at COLORADO (6-4)

<h3>Avalanche meet Wild in Northwest showdown</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (9-4-2) at Colorado (10-5-1) 8:00 pm EST</div>

DENVER (Ticker) -- The top two teams in the Northwest Divisionmeet on Sunday when the Colorado Avalanche take on the MinnesotaWild.


The Avalanche, who are six points behind the Detroit Red Wingsin second place in the Western Conference, had a two-game winstreak snapped on Friday, suffering a 2-1 overtime loss to theVancouver Canucks.


Jose Theodore made 26 saves in net for Colorado, just his firstovertime loss of the season, and third overall.


Theodore is 4-2-1 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .920save percentage this season and has kept the pressure on theup-and-coming Peter Budaj for the starting job.


However, the 25-year-old Budaj has been solid in net, posting a6-3-0 record with a 2.95 GAA and .894 save percentage.

The Wild enter the contest in fourth place in the Westernconference and are well rested, having not played a game since a5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday - their secondconsecutive win. Minnesota scored four of their five goals onthe powerplay - including two by Mark Parrish.


Parrish has been a force on the offensive end of the ice thisseason, logging six tallies in 15 games. However, the30-year-old right wing is without an assist this campaign afternotching 20 last season.