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Guite caps comeback as Avalanche edge Penguins

Nov 2, 2007 - 5:22 AM By Dave Reed PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- On a team that has Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny on its roster, Ben Guite is one of the most unlikely players to lead the Colorado Avalanche to victory.

Guite set up the tying goal and scored the winner as the Avalanche rallied from a two-goal deficit to post a 3-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.

Defenseman John-Michael Liles and Wojtek Wolski also scored and Ian Laperriere recorded two assists for Colorado, which extended its winning streak to four games.

"We played well for 60 minutes," Laperriere said. "Even when we were down 2-0, I felt like we were playing pretty well. I think it was one of our best games of the year."

Jose Theodore made 12 of his 26 saves in the third period, helping the Avalanche match the franchise record with their sixth straight home win to start the season. The 199-495 Quebec Nordiques also began the campaign with six consecutive victories at Le Colisee.

"Right now, as a team, we're playing well as a unit," Theodore said. "The goalie is part of that. We kind of know where the players are going to be, so I think everyone is playing well as a group, and that's key right now."

Trailing, 2-0, after one period thanks to a pair of goals by Sidney Crosby, Colorado scored three times in a span of 3 1/2 minutes midway through the second to take the lead.

"We didn't panic, even though they scored the first two goals," Theodore said. "We have a lot of character, and it showed again in the second period."

"It was a good comeback," Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville admitted. "You don't generally come back from those types of outings. I liked how we played the second (period) and we did a lot of good things in the third."

Liles drew the Avalanche within 2-1 when he knocked a loose puck in at the left goalpost. Goaltender Dany Sabourin made the initial save on a slap shot by Sakic from the top of the slot, but Smyth was able to keep the play alive by knocking the rebound across the crease toward Liles, who was driving to the net from the left circle.

"The shot from the point, Smyth was in front and I kind of lost sight of the puck," Sabourin said. "It was between my legs and when I turned around, the guy jumped on it."

Wolski tied the game 41 seconds later, when his wrist shot from the left circle bounced off Sabourin's blocker and into the air before dropping into the net. Guite had carried the puck down the slot before dropping a pass to Laperriere, who immediately dished to Wolski.

"It went off his blocker and kind of rolled up over him," Wolski said. "Sometimes you have to get goals like that, and I'm happy I did."

"Every goal that goes in is my fault," said Sabourin, who made 30 saves. "I have to stop the puck. I'm going to learn from it and be better the next time."

With the tally, Wolski extended his career-high points streak to eight games.

Guite put Avalanche ahead when he backhanded a wraparound attempt between Sabourin and the right post.

"I caught the goalie by surprise," Guite said. "He didn't see me coming from the other side. I got a step on him and tried to stuff it home."

Laperriere dumped the puck behind the net, where Wyatt Smith dug it off the end boards. Guite came from below the left circle to grab the loose puck and score his first goal of the season.

"It's pretty special," Guite said. "My dad was here and it's only the second time he's seen me play in the NHL."

"Ben Guite played unbelievable tonight," Laperriere said. "He made a great play on Wolski's goal. We're not goal-scorers, we don't get that many points, but when we can, it's fun for everybody."

The league's reigning MVP, Crosby caught a break on his first goal when his centering pass went off defenseman Brett Clark's skate and past Theodore with 9:39 remaining in the first period.

Crosby took an outlet pass from blue-liner Sergei Gonchar in the neutral zone and launched a shot from the right faceoff circle. The puck hit a defender and bounced back to Crosby off the end boards, allowing him to put it into the crease.

"It comes down to bounces," Crosby said. "You need some things to go right. Got a goal off a guy's skate tonight. Obviously, that doesn't hurt."

Pittsburgh's captain has scored a goal in four straight games and recorded a point in 11 in a row, notching seven tallies and 12 assists during his streak.

Crosby gave the Penguins a two-goal lead with 1:53 left in the opening period, when he snapped a shot from the slot that beat Theodore high to the glove side. Crosby took pass from Gonchar just inside the blue line and dished to Evgeni Malkin along the left wing boards before receiving a return pass.

"He's a great player," Quenneville said of Crosby. "You can't relax. He's dynamic and he's so strong on the puck. I thought our guys contained him pretty well down low and around the net. He was a handful all night."

Malkin, who has had a hand in nine of the Penguins' last 11 goals, extended his points streak to four games with the assist.