Milan Hejduk scored in the first minute of the
game and lit the lamp again in the final minute of regulation, as the Western
Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 4-1, at
Pepsi Center.
Hejduk added an assist, while Marek Svatos and David Jones also tallied for
the Avalanche, who rebounded after back-to-back losses during the end of a
four-game road trip.
Paul Stastny collected three assists in the win, and Peter Budaj, making his
first start of the season, finished with 28 saves.
"(The Coyotes) are a really good team, with solid goaltending," said Hejduk.
"This is a game we expected."
Ed Jovanovski had the lone goal -- a power-play marker -- for the Coyotes, who
have dropped two straight. Ilya Bryzgalov made 25 saves in defeat.
"This was a pretty lackluster effort for the better part of two periods,"
Jovanovski said. "We have to start with some life. We have to be ready to
start games."
Phoenix forward Daniel Winnik lifted the puck over the glass in the defensive
zone, resulting in a delay of game penalty 32 seconds into the contest.
Twenty-five seconds later, Hejduk positioned himself at the side of the net
and tipped in Kyle Quincey's point shot behind Bryzgalov.
After a scoreless middle stanza, Svatos increased the lead to 2-0 when drove
to the net and chipped in a rebound of a Stastny shot at 6:43 of the third.
Jovanovski answered a little over three minutes later with a drive from the
point that deflected off of Quincey's stick in the low slot and past Budaj.
Jones effectively sealed the win with an empty-net tally with 43 seconds
remaining. Hejduk added another goal against Bryzgalov for good measure 19
seconds later.
Game Notes
Craig Anderson had started the first 15 games of the season for Colorado, a
franchise record...Philippe Dupuis picked up his first career point with an
assist on Hejduk's second goal...Before the game, the Avalanche activated left
winger Cody McLeod from injured reserve. He missed the previous six contests
because of an eye injury.
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