Boston – The Avalanche is supposed to be playing out the string. Instead, the Avs are playing as if they really do want to play beyond April 8, as if they really do want to avoid that team photo that everyone can point to someday and say, “There’s the first Avs team that never made the NHL playoffs.”
The Avs continued merrily along in their five-game road trip Tuesday night, shutting out the Boston Bruins 2-0 at the sparsely attended TD Banknorth Garden. Peter Budaj was outstanding in goal for the Avs, and rookie Paul Stastny moved within one game of tying Teemu Selanne’s all-time rookie points streak record with a point in his 16th straight game.
The win was Colorado’s fourth straight – the first time all season it has reached that mark.
“We know we have to win most every game still,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said, “but I think there’s some good energy with our group right now. They’re excited where we’re at, and I thought tonight we played a real good road game.”
Third-period goals by Brett Clark and Milan Hejduk, the latter an empty-netter, broke up the goaltending duel between Budaj and Boston’s Tim Thomas. Budaj was excellent, but so was the defense in front of him, especially the penalty killing.
“Tremendous job by the guys in front of me,” Budaj said. “I think we outplayed them, I would say, almost all three periods. They have a good power play over there, but I think I only saw a couple shots when they had three in a row late in the game. Guys were sacrificing their body.”
Clark’s goal, originally credited to Brett McLean, came early in the third. It was a shot from the point that went through a screen of bodies in front of Thomas, who also was tremendous. The surging Hejduk extended his points streak to six games with his 26th goal, after being robbed by Thomas all night.
Hejduk credits a change in team defensive philosophy for the Avs’ first four-game winning streak. The Avs seem to be playing a bit more of a trap in the neutral zone, sacrificing some offensive chances for a more patient, opportunistic game.
“Our mentality is defense first,” Hejduk said. “We know we’re going to score some goals. That wasn’t our problem this year, but the coaches were saying when we think defense first, we’ll still score some goals.”
Budaj’s best save of the night was probably the glove stop he made on Boston’s Mark Mowers with one second left in the first period – a breakaway bid. Otherwise, the Avs defense did a good job of limiting Boston chances in close to the net.
“We played our game, and (Budaj) again tonight was perfect for us,” Avs captain Joe Sakic said. “We know it’s still an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but we’re going to give it our best. We changed a couple things up defensively, and I think everybody’s doing a good job focusing on keeping it out of our net. We’re not giving up in here.
“We’re just going to go out and try and win our game, and not worry about anything else.”
Staff writer Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com.
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Avs 2, Bruins 0
Colorado 0 0 2 – 2
Boston 0 0 0 – 0
First period – None. Penalties – Boston bench, served by Kessel (too many men), 5:09; Wideman, Bos (delay of game), 13:16; Hejduk, Col (hooking), 17:17.
Second period – None. Penalties – Mowers, Bos (hooking), 10:06; Clark, Col (holding), 12:47.
Third period – 1, Colorado, Clark 8 (Hejduk, Stastny), 2:57. 2, Colorado, Hejduk 26, 19:21 (en). Penalties – Wideman, Bos (tripping), 4:59; Klee, Col (tripping), 6:55; Finger, Col (hooking), 12:50; Laperriere, Col (hooking), 15:53.
Shots on goal – Colorado 10-9-11 – 30. Boston 7-7-7 – 21. Power-play opportunities – Colorado 0 of 4; Boston 0 of 5. Goalies – Colorado, Budaj 22-15-4 (21 shots-21 saves). Boston, Thomas 28-21-4 (29-28). Att. – 11,707 (17,565). T – 2:15.
DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Peter Budaj – Avs goalie didn’t have to stand on his head, but he made some good saves for the shutout.
2. Paul Stastny – Rookie again was outstanding, assisting on the winning goal.
3. Tim Thomas – Bruins goalie played well in the losing cause.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
The shutout was Budaj’s fifth of his career and third of the season.
NEXT
At Buffalo, tonight at 5 p.m.
