Edmonton goalie Michael Morrison had an interesting way to keep calm Monday night in his first career NHL start: He played dumb when an Avalanche player turned his back on the rookie from Medford, Mass.
“I wanted to not psyche myself out and don’t worry about (reading) the names on the back of their jerseys,” Morrison said after stopping 31 shots in the Oilers’ 5-2 victory at the Pepsi Center. “I think about it now and realize who I stopped.”
Morrison, a former Maine Black Bear, only allowed power-play goals to Rob Blake and Ian Laperriere.
“I just tried to stay relaxed out there and not do too much,” he said. “I just wanted to be big, stay in my angles. If they are going to score, make them put it where they have to put it.”
Turgeon out
Avalanche center Pierre Turgeon, who had five points in three previous games against Edmonton this season, was scratched because of a sore hip.
Turgeon had played in Colorado’s 16 previous games, producing 14 points. He was replaced in the lineup by Cody McCormick, called up from the minors Sunday, and Brett McLean took Turgeon’s spot on a line with wingers Steve Konowalchuk and Marek Svatos for most of the game.
Winger Dan Hinote (knee injury) and defenseman Kurt Sauer also didn’t play.
“Hopefully, ‘Turge’ will rejoin us here at practice (today),” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s day to day.”
Hejduk replaced
Struggling Avs forward Milan Hejduk was replaced on the top line with Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay in the third period.
“Things are not going well, so (Quenneville is) probably doing what most coaches would do. He’s trying to mix it up a bit,” Hejduk said.
“I think he’s trying,” Quenneville said of Hejduk. “The puck hasn’t been friendly to him.”
Footnotes
Blake’s goal and assist moved him to 599 career points, one shy of becoming the 29th defenseman in NHL history to reach 600 points. … Sakic came into the game with 76 points in 62 career games against Edmonton but went scoreless Monday. … Jim Falkenstine, a season ticket-holder since 1995, won the second of 10 prizes in the Avs’ 10th Season Sweepstakes. The Englewood resident won a pool table and hot tub.
