Avs score early, rout Canucks

Milan Hejduk scored 11 seconds into the game and Dan Hinote finally got his first goal of the season Sunday night to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks and archenemy Todd Bertuzzi in Denver.

Every time he touched the puck, Bertuzzi was booed by Avalanche fans still bitter about the cheap shot the Canucks forward put on Colorado forward Steve Moore that broke Moore’s neck in a 2004 game in Vancouver. Moore has not returned to hockey since the hit.

Thrashers 5, Hurricanes 2: In Raleigh, N.C., Ilya Kovalchuk had two goals and two assists, and Marian Hossa scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to lead Atlanta past Carolina.

Sabres 3, Capitals 2: In Washington, D.C., Jason Pominville scored his first NHL goal, and Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht also scored to help Buffalo stretch its unbeaten streak to six games with a victory over Washington.

Lightning 4, Penguins 1: In Tampa, Fla., Fredrik Modin scored two power-play goals and John Grahame stopped 20 shots in Tampa’s victory over Pittsburgh. Penguins captain Mario Lemieux didn’t play because of a stomach virus.

Mighty Ducks 3, Blackhawks 1: In Anaheim, Calif., Teemu Selanne and Joffrey Lupul broke open a scoreless game in the third period, lifting the Mighty Ducks to a victory over Chicago.