Avs take victory lap on road

Laperriere comes back from injury to secure a win

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 14, 2007 at 12:45 a.m.

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Photo by Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

The Predators' Dan Hamhuis checks the Avalanche's Brad Richardson into the boards Thursday night. The Avalanche won for only the fifth time in 16 road games this season.

Road wins have been so scarce for the Avalanche this season that goalie Peter Budaj wasn't too concerned about losing a shutout in the waning seconds Thursday night.

"The most important thing is they didn't score a second goal," Budaj said after the Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 before 12,456 at the Sommet Center.

Jaroslav Hlinka set up third-period goals by Ryan Smyth and Ian Laperriere, and Budaj outdueled Predators goalie Chris Mason to give the Avalanche a split of its two-game trip and fifth win in 16 games away from home.

Budaj, making his first appearance since Dec. 5 in Columbus, when a third-period Avalanche meltdown resulted in a stinging 5-4 loss, made 24 of his 30 saves during the final two periods against the Predators.

"There were a lot of scrums around the net," coach Joel Quenne ville said. "They really pressured us in that third period and (Budaj) challenged them and fought for his space, fought for his sight lines."

Alexander Radulov finally broke through on a screen shot with 21 seconds to play after Mason went to the bench for a sixth attacker, and the Predators continued to press until the final buzzer.

"I think they had a chance right at the end," Budaj said. "I think the puck bounced over somebody's stick."

The return of Laperriere, who missed 12 of the previous 13 games with a right knee injury, seemed to energize the Avalanche even before he scored what proved to be the decisive goal with 3:15 remaining.

" 'Lappy' had a heck of a game," Quenneville said. "And his presence is really noticed in the locker room."

Laperriere was stationed in the slot when Hlinka came from behind the net and passed the puck in front. Laperriere redirected it by Mason's right pad.

"Wow, what a pass by 'Jaro' there," Laperriere said. "I thought he was going to shoot it and I stayed in front for a rebound. He made a heck of a pass and I just tipped it in. It's good to chip in every once in a while like that. I've been out for a little while. I felt great, a lot better than last week."

Smyth ended the scoreless tie at 4:58 after Hlinka pressured David Legwand into a turnover at the Nashville blue line. Smyth corralled the puck and took a shot from near the left-wing boards that skimmed between Mason's pads for his 10th goal.

"We played a well-rounded game and it was a battle of the goaltenders," Smyth said. "Both of them played really well and 'Boots' hung us in there for the big win. I thought we were solid at both ends of the rink."

The Avalanche caught a break at 12:24 of the second period when it appeared Predators forward Radek Bonk had scored, but referee Rob Martell immediately waved it off even though the puck clearly crossed the goal line.

"I was told (Budaj) was pushed into the net, that's why it was disallowed," Quenneville said. "A lot of goals go both ways during the year and they usually even out. Whether it was a lucky break or the right call, you just play with it and deal with it."

Actually, the initial explanation was the whistle had blown, but the play eventually was reviewed by the league office in Toronto and Martell's call stood.

Later, it was said that Martell had intended to stop play with a whistle before Bonk jammed the puck underneath Budaj, an account that caused more confusion.

"The referee was saying that the puck went in the net after the whistle," Budaj said. "He said it right away. It was a break for us."

Predators coach Barry Trotz still was baffled by the call after the game.

"I'm going to have to get clarification on that," he said. "They said they were in the process of blowing the whistle, and I was told there was a push of the goalie. Radek really had nothing to do with the goal other than putting it on net.

"But they said they blew the whistle. I'm still not understanding the rule. If they reviewed it, then it had nothing to do with the whistle."

Regardless, the Avalanche was just happy to board its charter flight bound for home with two important points.

"I thought it was a very complete game, a heck of a battle," Quenneville said. "We needed a road win here."

Avalanche 2, Predators 1

Colorado0 0 2 - 2

Nashville0 0 1 - 1

First period - None. Penalties - None.

Second period - None. Penalty - Bonk, Nas (hooking), 6:12.

Third period - 1, Col, Smyth 10 (Hlinka), 4:58. 2, Col, Laperriere 3 (Hlinka, McCormick), 16:45. 3, Nas, Radulov 7 (Zidlicky, Legwand), 19:39. Penalties - Weber, Nas (holding), :35; Stastny, Col, (hooking), 1:46; Finger, Col, (interference), 12:04.

Shots - Col 7-14-11 - 32. Nas 6-10-15 - 31. Power plays - Col 0 of 2; Nas 0 of 2. Goalies - Col, Budaj 10-6-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Nas, Mason 8-11-2 (32-30). A - 12,456 (17,113). T - 2:20. Referees - Wes McCauley, Rob Martell. Linesmen - Scott Cherrey, Derek Nansen.

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