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Waved-off goal allows Avalanche to edge Stars

Oct 18, 2008 - 10:47 PM By Amit Kaluskar PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars appeared to have come back from a big deficit, but it was not to be.

The Stars had the potential tying goal wiped out midway through the third period en route to a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

After falling behind, 5-2, in the closing moments of the second period, Dallas scored twice in the first seven minutes of the third to narrow the deficit. The Stars then appeared to have netted the game-tying goal with 7:31 remaining, when Brenden Morrow tipped in a pass in front of the goal mouth.

However, the tally was disallowed after it was ruled that Morrow directed in the puck with his hand despite what appeared to have been inadvertent contact, as the captain had his hand gripping his stick when he attempted the tip.

"I got a different explanation," Morrow said. "If it hits me and goes in the net or if I hit the puck and it goes in the net are two separate things. It's two times that Toronto has made a (garbage) call."

"I didn't see it. Someone said he may have hit it with his hand," Colorado coach Tony Granato said. "We had a little bit of hope there, but I still wasn't sure. It was nice to get a break."

Morrow clearly was bothered by the call, receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty just under 1 1/2 minutes later.

"Unfortunately, my frustration took over then and left us a little shorthanded," said Morrow, who also was whistled for slashing with 68 seconds to play.

Morrow's anger made life tough for the Avalanche, but Colorado goaltender Andrew Raycroft turned aside 11 of the 13 shots he faced in the third.

Loui Eriksson's first goal of the season two minutes into the third jump-started the rally for the Stars. The left wing fired a slap shot from the high slot that went over the glove of Raycroft.

"They started off (the third) with a power play. We can't give them one like that," Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote said.

Less than five minutes later, Brad Richards scored on a wrist shot from outside the crease at 6:47 to keep the momentum going before the ill-fated call by the video replay officials.

"They were coming hard in the third period and we were able to weather the storm," Colorado captain Joe Sakic said. "We feel like we should be better than we are."

Colorado took control of the contest with three consecutive goals in the middle session, opening a 5-2 lead.

Tyler Arnason scored the final goal of the period for the Avalanche with a wrist shot from the slot with 1:55 left. Wojtek Wolski picked up his second assist of the game after he stole the puck from goaltender Marty Turco and flipped a pass to Arnason for the easy shot.

"Just because the goalie wasn't in net doesn't mean it's empty," Arnason said of his tally. "I had to go around two people to score."

Turco, who entered having allowed 4.59 goals per game, continued to struggle, giving up five over the first two periods for the second straight contest.

"It's just frustrating losing," Turco said of his struggles. "I've got plenty of faith in myself."

Milan Hejduk scored his second goal of the game on the power play 5:29 into the second to snap a 2-2 tie. Hejduk took a pass from Sakic and placed a shot into the right corner of the net from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

The Avalanche extended their lead to 4-2 when Ryan Smyth knocked in a rebound on a man advantage with 6:54 left in the second. Sakic's slap shot from inside the blue line bounced off the right leg of Turco and was touched by John-Michael Liles before Smyth netted his second goal of the season.

"I thought the power play moved the puck all night," Sakic said. "Getting a couple goals really helped."

Hejduk opened the scoring at 6:44 of the first with his fourth goal of the season. Paul Stastny picked up the first of his two assists on the play with a pass across the crease to Hejduk, who placed a wrist shot into the top left corner of the net.

Darcy Tucker gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead with a slap shot from the high slot with 2:21 left in the opening session.

After rookie Fabian Brunnstrom tallied on the power play in the first, the Stars needed just 13 seconds into the middle period to knot the game at 2-2, as James Neal fired a one-timer from the slot past Raycroft.

Raycroft finished with 26 saves, while Turco turned aside 17 shots.

"I'm on a much better team than I was on last year," said Raycroft, who managed just two wins with Toronto last season. "Scoring five goals a game makes my life much easier. I haven't played a lot. My rhythm isn't great. But I feel like it's coming."