Avalanche Beat Wings In Blood-Free Opener

NHL playoffs

Joe Sakic had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 as both teams were on their best behavior in the opener of the Western Conference finals Thursday night.

Patrick Roy stopped 34 shots as the Avalanche posted their 11th straight playoff victory at home.

Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan broke a scoreless tie at 1:13 of the third period, taking a pass from behind the net by Martin Lapointe and scoring from the left circle. It was Shanahan’s fifth goal of the playoffs.

Just 27 seconds later, however, Sakic countered. Eric Lacroix got the puck and, as he was being upended, passed it to Sakic in the left circle. Sakic beat Mike Vernon at 1:40 for his fifth goal of the postseason.

Colorado got the winner at 6:13 as Sakic brought the puck down the left side, passed to Claude Lemieux on the right side, and Lemieux found Mike Ricci, who scored from the slot.

Detroit pulled Vernon with 55 seconds left and had several chances, but the Avalanche survived the flurry.

The first period featured nine penalties - five by Colorado - but none of the bloody skirmishes - including a battle between goalies Roy and Vernon - that marred the most recent meeting between the two rivals, on March 26 in Detroit. Referee Terry Gregson kept a tight rein on the action.

Colorado had a two-man advantage midway through the period but, despite sending passes across the crease several times, had no serious scoring chances.

Roy, who had 10 saves in the period, stopped Vyacheslav Fetisov on a hard shot from the right circle, and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh prevented Kirk Maltby from scoring on the rebound.

Vernon had eight saves in the period, including a glove save off Rene Corbet. Colorado’s Peter Forsberg, who had missed the previous two games with a concussion, was wide on a partial breakaway during a Detroit power play late in the period.

Neither team scored on two power-play opportunities each in the second period.

Avalanche 2, Red Wings 1

Detroit 0 0 1 - 1

Colorado 0 0 2 - 2

First period-None.

Second period-None.

Third period-1, Detroit, Shanahan 5 (Lapointe, Yzerman), 1:13. 2, Colorado, Sakic 5 (Lacroix), 1:40. 3, Colorado, Ricci 2 (Lemieux, Sakic), 6:13.

Shots on goal-Detroit 10-13-12-35. Colorado 8-2-9-19.Power-play opp.-Detroit 0 of 5; Colorado 0 of 4.Goalies-Detroit, Vernon 8-3 (19 shots17 saves). Colorado, Roy 9-3 (35-34).A-16,061 (16,061).