Final
Forsberg helps Avalanche rally for sixth straight win
Mar 9, 2008 - 12:16 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- It took some time, but Peter Forsberg finally got on the scoresheet for the Colorado Avalanche. It could not have come at a much better time.The former Hart Trophy winner set up a pair of third-period goals as the Avalanche extended their season-high winning streak to six games with a 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
"It was a huge win for us," Forsberg said. "We've just got to keep it going and keep the winning streak going. You can see it, too. We're playing with confidence and it's great to be out there."
Andrew Brunette and Paul Stastny each had a goal and an assist and Jose Theodore made 25 saves for Colorado (37-26-6), which moved into a three-way tie with the Calgary Flames (35-23-10) and Minnesota Wild (37-26-6) - who both are idle - atop the Northwest Division.
"I'm proud of the way they responded after two periods being down 1-0," Theodore said. "We're playing well and winning big games."
Defenseman Scott Hannan tied the contest at 1-1 exactly 7 1/2 minutes into the third with his first goal in 42 games. Hannan picked up a loose puck at the edge of the crease during a scramble and backhanded it between the pads of goaltender Marty Turco.
Hannan's tally seemed to change the momentum, as Colorado capitalized on a power play with 9:48 remaining.
"It was a huge goal," said Forsberg, who picked up an assist on the play for his first point of the season. "We got that one and we felt like we could win this game."
Stastny started the play from behind the end line, delivering a pass to Forsberg along the right wing boards. The Swede, who was playing in his third game since signing a one-year deal with the Avalanche on February 25, made a centering pass that Brunette converted for his 15th goal of the season and a 2-1 edge.
"It's great to get a couple of assists," Forsberg said. "It's very tough coming in here this late in a season, so it's good to get a couple of points."
Stastny added an empty-netter with three seconds left to secure the win.
Turco turned aside 25 shots for the Stars (41-25-5), who have lost three straight contests and failed to add to their one-point lead over the idle San Jose Sharks (39-21-8) in the Pacific Division.
"In the third period, we were just too tentative," Turco said. "You can't be like that. We knew the Avs were going to pour it on, especially at home. We did a good job, just not a good-enough job of responding to the pressure."
"Moving forward, we're just going to have to start generating things under pressure," Stars coach Dave Tippett said.
Dallas opened the scoring on a power play at 11:04 of the first period. Defenseman Stephane Robidas fired a shot from the blue line that Theodore stopped, but a long rebound went right to Antti Miettinen in the slot, and he punched it in for a 1-0 lead.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DALLAS 1 0 0 1
COLORADO 0 0 3 3 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: DAL - (PP) ANTTI MIETTINEN 14 (STEPHANE ROBIDAS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 8:56
2ND PRD: NONE
3RD PRD: COL - SCOTT HANNAN 2 (ANDREW BRUNETTE, PETER FORSBERG) 7:30
COL - (PP) ANDREW BRUNETTE 15 (PETER FORSBERG, PAUL STASTNY)
10:
Mar 8 5:26 PM - NHL
DALLAS 1
COLORADO 3
3RD PRD: COL - (EN) PAUL STASTNY 21 (BEN GUITE, IAN LAPERRIERE) 0:03
Stars 1, Avalanche 3 3rd - 19:57Mar 8 5:24 PM - CORRECTION
NHL DALLAS 1
COLORADO 2
3RD PRD: COL - SCOTT HANNAN 2 (ANDREW BRUNETTE, PETER FORSBERG) 7:30
Stars 1, Avalanche 2 3rd - 12:30Mar 8 5:15 PM - NHL
DALLAS 1
COLORADO 1
3RD PRD: COL - (PP) ANDREW BRUNETTE 15 (PETER FORSBERG, PAUL STASTNY)
10:12
Stars 1, Avalanche 1 3rd - 9:48Mar 8 5:07 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DALLAS 1 0 1
COLORADO 0 0 0 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: DAL - (PP) ANTTI MIETTINEN 14 (STEPHANE ROBIDAS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 8:56
2ND PRD: NONE
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DAL 10 6 16
COL 9 6 15
GOAL
Mar 8 4:28 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DALLAS 1 1
COLORADO 0 0 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: DAL - (PP) ANTTI MIETTINEN 14 (STEPHANE ROBIDAS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 8:56
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
DAL 10 10
COL 9 9
GOALIES: DAL - MAR
Mar 8 3:39 PM - NHL
DALLAS 1
COLORADO 0
1ST PRD: DAL - (PP) ANTTI MIETTINEN 14 (STEPHANE ROBIDAS, BRAD
RICHARDS) 8:56
Stars 1, Avalanche 0 1st - 11:04Mar 8 3:21 PM
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