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Sakic nets hat trick as Avalanche ease by Blue Jackets

Oct 14, 2007 - 5:11 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk solved Pascal Leclaire early and often to lead the Colorado Avalanche to victory.

Sakic recorded a hat trick and Hejduk added a pair of goals as the Avalanche posted a 5-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Leclaire had been one of the NHL's best goaltenders thus far this season and was looking for his third consecutive shutout. The 24-year-old netminder turned aside all 60 shots he had faced in his first two games, making 28 saves in a 4-0 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks on October 5 and blanking the Phoenix Coyotes in Wednesday night's 3-0 victory.

However, Leclaire has struggled against the Avalanche in his career, entering with an 0-3-1 record and a 3.42 goals-against average. He continued to have problems with the Avalanche on Saturday.

"They created a lot of traffic tonight and they have some pretty good shooters," Leclaire said. "It makes it tough to defend."

Sakic scored just over six minutes into the first period to end Leclaire's shutout streak and give Colorado a 1-0 lead. Columbus defenseman Rotislav Klesla tied the game 1:24 into the middle session before the Avalanche took over.

"It was a solid performance by the team," Sakic said. "We knew that Columbus was playing pretty well defensively. They haven't given up much, so it was a good third period for us."

Hejduk gave Colorado the lead for good with a power-play goal 2 1/2 minutes later. He added his second tally of the game, and fourth of the season, halfway through the period to extend the advantage to 3-1.

"Tonight, we were able to finally put some pucks in the net and it was a little different game," Hejduk said. "Tonight, we had some good setups. We moved the puck around and put some pucks in the net, and it worked well tonight."

Sakic made it 4-1 when he beat Leclaire with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle 81 seconds into the third period. He completed his 15th career hat trick 9:23 into the session by finishing a 2-on-1 rush with Wojtek Wolski.

Wolski brought the puck into the offensive zone on the right wing and fed Sakic, who redirected the pass into a wide-open net from the bottom of the left circle.

"I just hope I can get another one sometime," Sakic joked.

Leclaire made 21 saves for the Blue Jackets, who were 0-for-5 on the power play.

Peter Budaj stopped 24 shots for Colorado.

"It was a great win today," Budaj said. "The defense played well, and it shows on the scoreboard. When you play defense first, you're always going to create some chances off turnovers."