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Brunette scores twice as Avalanche edge Canucks

Nov 5, 2006 - 5:40 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Contrary to popular belief, brunettes sometimes have more fun.

Andrew Brunette scored twice, including the go-ahead goal early in the third period, as the Colorado Avalanche posted a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in a matchup of Northwest Division rivals.

Brunette has scored in only four of Colorado's 14 games this season, but he has multiple tallies in three of those contests. His latest strong effort allowed the Avalanche to rebound from Thursday's lethargic 4-1 defeat to St. Louis and win for the second time in as many meetings with the Canucks this season.

After Markus Naslund gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the first period, Brunette drew Colorado even 92 seconds into the middle session. The goal initially was credited to defenseman Brett Clark before replays confirmed Brunette deflected the shot.

The teams exchanged goals midway through the second period before Brunette recorded the decisive tally 3:22 into the final session.

Clark stepped in front of a clearing attempt at the blue line and flipped the puck to the front of the net, where Brunette had snuck behind the defense. The veteran left wing waited for Roberto Luongo to go down, shifted the puck to his backhand and slipped it around the fallen netminder.

Jose Theodore was outstanding on the other end, turning aside 36 shots to win for just the second time in his last 10 starts against the Canucks. The former Hart Trophy winner made 14 saves in the third period, when the Avalanche controlled the bulk of the play.

Luongo stopped 17 shots and Daniel Sedin scored the other goal for Vancouver, which has dropped three straight games.