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Healey, Hensick lead Avalanche by Stars

Sep 21, 2007 - 4:01 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Eric Healey is doing his best to prove he can play at the NHL level.

Healey, a 30-year-old career minor leaguer with all of two NHL games to his credit, scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 preseason victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Rookie T.J. Hensick also collected three points, netting the game-winning goal during a power play midway through the third period and adding assists on each of Healey's tallies. Healey now has three goals and six points in three preseason contests, all Colorado victories.

Dallas, which held a 3-2 lead early in the third, fell to 1-1-1 in preseason action.

Defenseman Sergei Zubov gave Dallas the 3-2 edge just 47 seconds into the period, rocketing a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle past goaltender Michael Wall.

Blue-liner Jordan Leopold tied it for the Avalanche at 2:21, drilling a slap shot from the left wing boards that beat netminder Steve Silverthorn on the short side.

Healey snapped a 1-1 tie just 22 seconds into the second period, launching a quick snap shot over goalie Mike Smith's shoulder from the slot off the rush.

Mike Modano evened things again at 11:07, depositing a rebound past Wall after the rookie netminder was unable to handle Zubov's slap shot from the blue line.

Colorado got on the board first when Healey scored off a 2-on-1 rush, one-timing a pass from Hensick past a sliding Smith at 10:41 of the opening period.

Dallas tied it with 3:20 remaining in the session, when Russian rookie defenseman Vadim Khomitski scored with a slap shot from the left circle that eluded goalie Peter Budaj's glove.

After playing at home on Wednesday, Colorado sat out star forwards Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Andrew Brunette and Milan Hejduk. Dallas rested goaltender Marty Turco, while Modano and Zubov each made their first appearance of the preseason.