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Avalanche doesn't pay penalty

Despite more time in the box, Colorado still finds way to win

Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 25, 2006 at midnight

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DALLAS - It seemed for a while turnabout might be fair play.

In Saturday's 5-2 Colorado victory against Dallas in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at the American Airlines Center, the Stars took too many penalties and the Avalanche took advantage with two power-play goals in a comeback win.

On Monday night in Game 2, the Avalanche spent too much time in the penalty box and it was almost costly, but Colorado got a goal from Joe Sakic at 4 minutes, 36 seconds of overtime to win 5-4 and snag a 2-0 series lead.

Dallas, down 3-0 in the first period, scored three times in 4:17 early in the second period, and one of those scores came on the power play.

Then the Stars added a late power-play goal to take a 4-3 lead.

Alex Tanguay was called for high sticking at 18:34 and it appeared the Avalanche might at least get to the second intermission with the score tied.

However, instead of clearing the puck, Milan Hejduk tried to skate the puck out and turned it over in the neutral zone.

Dallas quickly rushed back into the Avalanche zone and Mike Modano knocked in the go-ahead goal with 3 seconds to play in the period when Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore left a rebound perched in the slot.

Referees Marc Joannette and Dean Warren were kept busy by Colorado as the Avalanche was whistled for seven penalties in the third period.

The Avalanche had one power play trimmed to 18 seconds because it took a penalty.

Once, Alex Tanguay was on the ice for only 10 seconds after getting out of the penalty box before he was directed back in.

The Avalanche twice skated two men short, but for only a total of 38 seconds, and somehow managed to tie the score and force overtime.

"The whole third period we spent in the penalty box," Hejduk said. "It was frustrating. I'm glad we came back. It's a big difference to be 1-1 or 2-0 for us."

Defenseman Brett Clark's shorthanded goal, off a nice fed from Hejduk, tied the score at 17:56.

However, Rob Blake's penalty for delay of game at 18:34 that set up Dallas' second two-man advantage of the period carried over for 34 seconds into the overtime.

The Avalanche held a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal when Hejduk scored at 12:23 of the first period to give the Avalanche a 3-0 lead, but because of the penalties and a fired-up Stars team, the Avalanche managed only 12 shots in the next 47:37 as Dallas managed a 25-22 advantage heading into overtime.

"They dominated the second period and we had to kill off a lot of penalties down the stretch," Blake said. "We got it done. We had to battle for a short-handed goal to tie it up, and we got the goal in overtime.

"Penalties are going to be called. If you look at all these series, that's how it's going. They are calling everything they see. You have to be able to kill them if you are going to do anything in the playoffs. Theodore was great again. He's strong, he's facing shots and he's going to front everything that comes at him."

The Avalanche took 10 penalties in the game, and the Stars were 2-for-8 on the power play. Colorado was 1-for-4.