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Streaky Avalanche go for third straight vs. Oilers

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:31 AM Colorado (7-8-0) at Edmonton (8-7-1) 10:00 p.m. EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- The Colorado Avalanche have yet to solve their goal-scoring woes, but a pair of quality performances from goaltender Peter Budaj helped them snap a five-game losing streak.

Budaj will hope for a bit more support on the offensive end when the Avalanche take on the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

It has been a streaky start for Colorado, which opened the season with three consecutive losses before winning five straight. That run was followed by a losing streak of five games in which the Avalanche managed just eight goals.

Colorado needed a single goal in each of its last two games to earn victories as Budaj stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 1-0 win over Nashville last Saturday, then followed up that performance with 31 saves in a 2-1, shootout triumph over Vancouver on Wednesday.

Milan Hejduk leads the Avalanche with eight goals while center Paul Stastny's 14 points are a team-high.

The Oilers play their second straight home game after a two-week road trip in which they posted a 4-3 record.

Rookie netminder Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers won back-to-back starts against New Jersey and the New York Rangers, stopping 77 of 80 shots, before allowing five goals on 28 shots in a 5-2 loss to Toronto on Thursday.

Alex Hemsky, who leads Edmonton with five goals and 12 assists, scored in the 2-1 win over the Devils and netted the game-winning tally in the 3-2, shootout win over the Rangers.