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Stewart lifts streaking Thrashers past Avalanche in OT

Dec 1, 2010 - 5:55 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Anthony Stewart scored the game-winning goal 1:49 into overtime to lift the Atlanta Thrashers to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center.

Rich Peverley and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for the streaking Thrashers, who have won six straight games and will continue their three-game road trip in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

"We played a solid game in our zone -- we're playing hard and having fun," said Byfuglien. "The streak is fine; we're playing well, but we need to keep going as far as we can."

Atlanta goaltender Ondrej Pavelec allowed two goals on 31 shots.

Matt Duchene and David Jones scored for the Avalanche, who have earned at least one point in six of their last eight games (5-2-1). Peter Budaj made 28 saves in defeat.

In overtime, Stewart cycled the puck down low with Byfuglien and eventually gained control behind the net. Stewart maneuvered his way to the bottom of the left circle and slid a turnaround wrister under Budaj and it lit the lamp.

"I knew what he was doing, I just didn't have my stick on the ice," said Budaj. "It was a bad goal for me."

Peverley's goal midway through the first period held up until Duchene tied the score 1:43 into the third. Following a turnover in the neutral zone, Duchene gained control and skated through the slot. From the left circle, his wrist shot beat Pavelec.

Skating on the power play, the Avs grabbed a 2-1 lead with 9:50 to go in regulation when a one-timer from the left point was deflected by Jones, who was stationed in the slot, into the back of the net.

Less than four minutes later, the visitors knotted the contest. Byfuglien's blazing slap shot from the right side above the circle flew into the back of the cage at 13:48. Nik Antropov was in front and provided a screen.

Game Notes

On Monday, the Avs learned that they will be without the services of leading goal scorer Chris Stewart for a period of four-to-six weeks due to a broken hand he suffered on Saturday against Minnesota...Atlanta forward Evander Kane and Colorado's Jones were both hit by slap shots in the third period. Both left the game and did not return...Jones has 11 goals...The visitors were 0- for-4 on the power play, while the Avs went 1-for-4 with the extra skater.