Brunette scores three times to lead Avalanche past Oilers 7-6
The Hockey News
Colorado (17-15-2) moved into a tie with Edmonton (17-14-2) in the Northwest Division standings. Edmonton pulled to within 5-4 just 31 seconds into the third after Ales Hemsky made a beautiful pass through the crease to a wide-open Petr Sykora. But Colorado restored its two-goal lead just over three minutes later when Stastny beat Dwayne Roloson on a mad scramble in front.
However, the Oilers rallied to tie the game 6-6.
Hemsky intercepted the puck at Colorado's blue-line, then set up Sykora for another easy goal. Then just over a minute later, Joffrey Lupul beat Colorado starter Peter Budaj on a rebound to tie the game.
But Brett McLean's wraparound goal with 8 1/2 minutes remaining proved to be the winning goal for Colorado.
Edmonton opened the scoring at 4:06 of the first when Toby Petersen's attempted pass deflected off a falling Brett McLean and past Budaj. Jarret Stoll put the Oilers ahead 2-0 at 6:03.
Pierre Turgeon pulled Colorado to within 2-1 at 12:37 when his shot from behind the net hit Roloson's right pad and went in. Raffi Torres made it 3-1 for Edmonton at 15:11 but 49 seconds later Brunette's power-play goal cut the Oilers' lead to 3-2.
Colorado surged ahead 5-3 with a three-goal outburst in the second.
Mark Rycroft tied the score at 7:25 before Burnette added power-play goals at 16:44 and 19:26, setting up a wild third period.
Both teams are in action Thursday as the Oilers head to Phoenix and Colorado hosts the Calgary Flames.
Notes: Oilers forward Ryan Smyth has resumed practising but his broken thumb hadn't healed enough to allow him to play Tuesday . . . Torres registered his 100th career NHL point with an assist on Stoll's first-period goal. Shawn Horcoff recorded his 200th on Sykora's third-period goal . . . Colorado forward Ian Laperriere has just one goal this season after scoring a career-high 21 goals last season.
