BOSTON — In a hard-hitting, old-school hockey game, the Avalanche hung on to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in a matinee today at TD Garden. It was Colorado’s first victory on the road this season, and makes its record on a current seven-game road trip 1-1-1.
The Avs entered the third period with a 4-2 lead, scoring twice after the Bruins had come back from an earlier 2-0 deficit. Marek Svatos got the lead back for Colorado with a power-play goal, and David Jones made it 4-2 with a short-handed goal late in the second.
Jones stole a puck at center ice and beat Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask on the forehand for his first of the season. It was also Jones’ first game of the year, after missing four games with a bruised chest.
The Bruins got back to within a goal early in the third, and kept the pressure on against goalie Craig Anderson.
The Avs got first-period goals from Milan Hejduk and Scott Hannan to get out to a quick 2-0 lead. Hannan scored all of one goal in 81 games last season, but had an open net after Rask allowed a rebound of Jones’ big slap shot from the right side.
The Bruins got goals from Mark Recchi and Blake Wheeler to tie it in the second, but the Avs took advantage of a Zdeno Chara interference violation, with Svatos scoring for the second straight game at 13:32.
The Avs (3-1-1) next play Tuesday at Toronto.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
