• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Stastny, Brunette lift Avalanche past Blue Jackets

Feb 28, 2007 - 5:59 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Rookie Paul Stastny and Andrew Brunette helped the Colorado Avalanche continue their dominance of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Stastny and Brunette each remained red-hot as the Avalanche recorded a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Colorado improved to 21-1-1 with a tie in 24 all-time meetings with Columbus.

"I thought we were a little bit more aware in all areas of the game," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said. "I thought we were patient, and I thought we had some good opportunities. It's nice to have a lower-scoring game. We didn't give up many quality chances until late."

Entering with an 0-2-1 mark in their previous three games and in danger of falling out of the Western Conference playoff race, the Avalanche built a lead behind Stastny and Brunette.

Stastny fired a one-timer from the slot past goaltender Fredrik Norrena at 17:53 of the second period for his 22nd goal and a 2-0 Colorado lead.

"I was just trying to get a quick shot on net while the goalie's not ready," Stastny said. "I don't think he was ready, and that's why it went in.

Stastny, who is second among NHL rookies with 58 points, has eight goals and 11 assists in a 13-game points streak.

"It feels good," Stastny said. "Like I was telling other people, it's something I reflect back during the summer. Now, I will just kind of enjoy this night, and tomorrow get back to work."

Earlier, Brunette gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 12:41 of the first period when he beat Norrena from the right faceoff dot. Brunette has five goals and 12 assists in his 11-game streak.

"We played a little better defensively," Brunette said. "We tried to make a few adjustments that would maybe help us out a little bit. I thought we played real good defensively until the end, and the recurring theme of the year almost happened again. I don't know if it's a lack of confidence or what we've got going, but it's something we've got to continually try to correct."

Brunette has 24 goals in 64 games, matching his career-high set last season in 82 contests.

Mark Rycroft also scored and netminder Peter Budaj made 21 saves for Colorado, which entered the night nine points out of the final playoff spot.

"I don't think they had more than two or three scoring chances in the first two periods," Budaj said. "Our guys did a great job. Our guys were blocking shots. It's a big win."

Columbus had just three shots in the second period, and 23 in the game. Colorado also had 23 shots.

Rycroft netted the eventual game-winner at 17:51 of the third period when he beat Norrena from close range.

Rick Nash scored twice and Norrena made 20 saves for Columbus, which is 2-6-1 in its last nine contests.

Columbus nearly overcame a 3-0 deficit to thanks to Nash.

Nash cut the deficit to 3-1 when he beat Budaj from the slot at 18:04, then sliced the deficit to a goal 1:27 later when he one-timed a shot past the netminder from the bottom of the right faceoff circle.

"It's got to happen right from the start of the game," Nash said. "We waited and waited and waited, and obviously ran out of time. If we would have started like that and played like that the whole game, it might have been a different outcome."

"No lead is safe in this league," Stastny said. "They scored two goals in a minute and a half and they almost got one there at the end."

Colorado captain Joe Sakic had his 12-game points streak snapped.