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Avalanche erupt for five second-period goals vs. Kings

Oct 24, 2006 - 2:35 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- After scoring five goals on Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche decided to repeat the performance Monday - in the second period alone.

Milan Hejduk scored twice in the middle session, including one goal that went off his face, and Paul Stastny recorded his first career three-point game as the Avalanche rolled to a 6-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings.

Colorado netted its first three tallies on 5-on-3 advantages, including goals by Hejduk and Marek Svatos 67 seconds apart early in the second period to make it 3-1.

Stastny, who scored his first career tally in Saturday's 8-5 defeat to Montreal, created a three-goal margin in this one when he took a feed from fellow rookie Wojtek Wolski and beat netminder Dan Cloutier on a 2-on-1 rush.

"You can't be complacent, you have to be ready every day," Stastny said. "The game in Montreal was a tough loss, but we had to forget about it quickly."

"I certainly liked our response (coming off the loss to the Canadiens)," Colorado coach Joel Quenneville added.

Hejduk made it 5-1 about six minutes later when Stastny deflected a shot off his face and into the net. Andrew Brunette capped the uprising just over two minutes thereafter with his third of the campaign.

"Whatever it takes. I guess it was worth it," said Hejduk, who took 11 stitches in his chin.

Cloutier did not come out for the third period after surrendering six goals on 32 shots, including five tallies on 17 shots in the middle session.

"We just have to be more disciplined and ready to play," Cloutier said. "I thought we gave them way too many chances in the first period. The second period started the same way. No excuses, the veteran players in this room, we all have to step it up and play better."

Colorado goaltender Peter Budaj finished with 27 saves and has allowed a total of five goals - none in the third period - in his three starts this season.

"The guys played well," Budaj said. "I think we outplayed them and outchanced them. And we really played well in the second period. When your team scores six goals, you feel more relaxed. If you let in one goal, you know your team scored six."

The game also marked the return of former Avalanche defenseman Rob Blake, who played for Colorado for five seasons before signing with Los Angeles in the offseason. The seven-time All-Star played nearly 19 minutes, recording two shots, and was a minus-3.

"There are always mixed emotions when you come home," Blake said. "I had some fun years here. I had a great time and met a lot of great people and played for a great organization. So yeah, there is definitely a part of me here."

"(Blake's departure) is a big hole that he left behind," Colorado's Ian Laperriere said. "We'll never fill the void completely. He's a Hall of Famer and you don't replace a guy like that."