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Hejduk's shootout winner sends Avs past Canadiens

Oct 16, 2011 - 3:48 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Milan Hejduk scored the game-winner in the first round of the shootout, as the Colorado Avalanche stayed hot on the road with a 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

David Jones had two goals and an assist for the Avalanche, who are off to a 4-0-0 start on the road for the first time since the 1985-86 season.

Paul Stastny and Kyle Quincey added a goal and an assist each for Colorado, which has won four in a row for the first time since a six-game tear from December 10-19 of last season.

Semyon Varlamov turned aside 38-of-43 shots for the victors.

"I think we were playing very well tonight. It was a good match for the fans," Varlamov said.

Brian Gionta had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens, who have lost two in a row. Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais had a goal and an assist apiece.

Carey Price stopped 25-of-30 shots in defeat.

Trailing by one, 4-3, Montreal scored two goals in a span of 20 seconds to take the lead. At the 12:57 mark of the third period, Gionta was able to backhand the puck into the net from the slot with a defender all over him.

Desharnais quickly gave the Canadiens a 5-4 edge. Pacioretty's shot/pass from the point was deflected in by Desharnais.

Montreal's Raphael Diaz was sent to the penalty box for tripping with 4:14 to play. The Avalanche tied the game just 11 seconds into their power play. Hejduk carried the puck around the net before passing to the left circle. Quincey gathered the puck and fired a snap shot past Price to make it 5-5.

Hejduk and Matt Duchene scored in the shootout for Colorado.

"We let one get away," Gionta said. "We've had our ups and downs through each game, that's been our story."

Chuck Kobasew's wrister from the top of the left circle at the 4:51 mark of the first period put the Avalanche in front.

Pacioretty jammed home his own rebound at the 10:31 mark of the opening frame to make it 1-1.

Tomas Plekanec's slapper on the power play just 1:35 into the second made it 2-1 Montreal.

Jones' power-play goal at the 11:37 mark of the middle stanza tied the game at two.

Less than a minute later, Stastny stole the puck at center ice before scoring on a breakaway.

Montreal's Travis Moen deadlocked the contest again with 4:09 to go. The lead did not hold up for long, as Jones' tip-in gave Colorado a 4-3 edge heading to the third.

Game Notes

Colorado has taken the last three meetings with the Habs...Montreal went 1- for-3 on the power play, while the Avs went 2-for-4 with the man advantage.