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Brunette's hat trick helps Avalanche outlast Oilers

Dec 20, 2006 - 7:16 AM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Andrew Brunette provided the highlights, but teammate Brett McLean was there when the Colorado Avalanche needed him most.

Brunette scored three power-play goals and McLean had the game-winning tally as the Avalanche posted a wild 7-6 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Paul Stastny had a goal and three assists, and Pierre Turgeon and Mark Rycroft each tallied for Colorado, which has won four of its last five games.

"The ice is so good and everyone is flying out there and I think we got away from our defensive game but we'll take an offensive win like that," Stastny said. "Goals come so quick and go so fast

McLean scored the winner with 8:33 left in the contest, when he put a wrap-around shot past goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who was slow getting over to the side of the net.

"It was one of those games where anything could happen and we're fortunate to leave here with two points," Brunette said.

Brunette scored his first goal with four minutes left in the initial session, then tallied with 3:16 to play in the second period before he scored again with just 34 ticks left in the period for his first career hat trick.

"I think when you go 11 years without getting a hat trick, I don't think it really means all that much, but getting the win and scoring on Roloson sometimes is fun," Brunette said.

It was the first three-goal game by a Colorado player this season.

Peter Budaj stopped 31 shots - including 12 in the third period - and allowed no power-play goals in four attempts for the Avalanche, who beat the Oilers for the second time in five days.

"I liked Budaj's response in the second period," said Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville of his netminder who didn't allow a tally in 11 attempts in the session. "Peter made some good saves."

Last Friday, Colorado defeated Edmonton, 4-1, as Budaj made 18 saves. In this game there were five goals by the end of the first period.

Petr Sykora scored twice and Joffrey Lupul scored the game-tying goal eight minutes into the final period for Edmonton, which lost for the fourth time in its last five games.

"It was one of those games," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "I thought we played well. We took it to them early and got up two on them quick. They never quit and got some bounces go their way. I don't know if we played well enough for two points, that's for sure."

Roloson made 23 saves for the Oilers, who have lost three straight vs. the Avalanche.