• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Belanger, Bryzgalov lead Phoenix past Avalanche

Jan 27, 2011 - 6:00 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Eric Belanger scored two goals, Ilya Bryzgalov made 29 saves and the Phoenix Coyotes came away with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center.

Keith Yandle registered a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who entered play having dropped four of five but extended their road winning streak to five games.

Ryan Stoa and Matt Duchene tallied for Colorado, which went a disappointing 2-3-0 on its homestand.

Peter Budaj's 200th career start wound up being a cameo, as the Avalanche goaltender was pulled in the first period after allowing two goals on nine shots. Craig Anderson finished with 25 saves in relief.

Stoa staked the home team to a 1-0 lead 4:20 into the game on what turned out to be Colorado's only shot of the first period.

Scottie Upshall tied the game 1:52 later on a power play, then Yandle fired a wrister from the right circle past Budaj with 6:01 remaining in the opening frame.

"Well, we needed a response after our game last night," Phoenix head coach Dave Tippett said, referencing Tuesday's 4-3 home loss to Edmonton. "We didn't play very well. We were looking for a strong response from our team. Even though that first goal went in, our guys were very positive."

Belanger lit the lamp 69 seconds into the middle stanza, and Kyle Turris made it 4-1 at the 12:54 mark of the third period.

Colorado trimmed its deficit to 4-2 on Duchene's 20th goal of the season -- also his 100th career point -- with 4:16 remaining, but Belanger's empty-net marker sealed the win inside the final minute.

"I think our first period was weak but I think after that we played a decent game," Duchene said. "We worked hard, got the puck. We had the one shot in the first, obviously that's unacceptable."

Game Notes

Yandle has two goals and 12 assists over a nine-game point streak...Phoenix improved to 8-2-1 against teams from the Northwest Division...Duchene (20 years, 10 days) became the youngest player in franchise history to reach 100 career points...The Avalanche have lost four straight to the Coyotes...Colorado forward Paul Stastny was added to the All-Star roster on Wednesday.