DENVER (AP) - Goalie Ed Belfour said he simply misplayed the
puck. Shjon Podein didn't disagree.
Podein stole the puck from Belfour behind the net and scored a
short-handed goal with 47 seconds left in overtime, lifting the
Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Colorado, posting its fifth straight victory, extended its lead
over Edmonton to six points in the Northwest Division, nearly
securing the division title. Colorado has three games remaining
and Edmonton four.
"This was a huge game for us since Edmonton won last night,"
Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said. "This keeps us six points ahead
of them."
Late in overtime, Belfour roamed far from the crease, controlling
the puck from near the right corner to behind the net. Podein,
approaching from the right side, stole the puck and tucked it
between Belfour and defenseman Darryl Sydor just left of the
goal.
"Podein's goal was a matter of pressure, of going to the goalie
and forcing him to move the puck," Hartley said. "Too often,
players don't want to get too close to goalies. Podein never gave
Belfour a chance. He caught him with his head down."
Podein said he wasn't worried about getting a goalie-interference
call.
"I just came on the ice and I saw he bobbled it," Podein said.
"It looked like he just lost it at the last second. I kind of
poke-checked it from him, went around and jammed it in. I was
thinking, 'Hurry up and get it in before the defenseman from the
other side gets over.' It's always nice to pitch in when the team
needs it."
"I misplayed it," Belfour said. "I thought he turned away and he
didn't. He came back and I left the puck. He didn't try to knock
me down."
Asked about the strange finish, Belfour said, "I don't think I
have ever had any like that in my career. Once in a while you
mishandle the puck and it winds up in your net. That's the first
time it has happened all year."
It was only the second short-handed goal for the Avalanche this
season.
Patrick Roy had 22 saves to record his 443rd regular-season
victory, leaving him just four shy of NHL career leader Terry
Sawchuk. Belfour made 25 saves.
Colorado's Ray Bourque scored the only goal of the first period,
on a power play from the left point at 10:37. Adam Deadmarsh
corralled a deflected puck and scored from the slot at 1:10 of
the second period, putting the Avalanche ahead 2-0. But the Stars
rallied to tie it.
Brett Hull, shooting through defenseman Jon Klemm's screen,
scored from the right circle at 12:01. Moments later, Sylvain
Cote earned his 399th career point, taking a pass from Brenden
Morrow and beating Roy from the slot at 15:30.
COLORADO AVALANCHE 3, Dallas Stars 2 (OT)
1ST 2ND 3RD OT FINAL
--- --- --- --- -----
Dallas 0 2 0 0 2
Colorado 1 1 0 1 3
FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Colorado, Bourque 18 (Drury,
Ozolinsh), 10:37 (pp). PENALTIES: Andreychuk, Col (interference),
5:59; Langenbrunner, Dal (tripping), 9:49; Foote, Col (roughing),
17:29.
SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 2, Colorado, Deadmarsh 18, 1:10. 3,
Dallas, Hull 23 (Hatcher), 12:01. 4, Dallas, Cote 8 (Morrow,
Modano), 15:30. PENALTIES: Manson, Dal (unsportsmanlike conduct),
10:57; Dingman, Col (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:57; Keane, Dal
(roughing), 15:53; Sakic, Col (holding), 19:00.
THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Hejduk, Col
(ob.-holding), 16:27; Hatcher, Dal (roughing), 19:22; Forsberg,
Col (roughing), 19:22.
OVERTIME - SCORING: 5, Colorado, Podein 11, 4:13 (sh). PENALTIES:
Foote, Col (tripping), 2:45.
SHOTS ON GOAL
1ST 2ND 3RD OT FINAL
--- --- --- --- -----
Dallas 6 8 8 2 24
Colorado 9 10 6 3 28
POWER PLAY: Dallas 0 of 5; Colorado 1 of 2. GOALIES: Dallas,
Belfour 32-20-6 (28 shots-25 saves). Colorado, Roy 31-21-8
(24-22).
Referee: Bill McCreary, Dan O'Halloran. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers,
Darren Gibbs.
A: 18,007 (18,007).