Avs Drop Third Straight, Fall To Oilers 2-1
DENVER (AP) -Ryan Smyth scored twice in a 1:53 span in the second period - including Edmonton's first short-handed goal of the season - and Dwayne Roloson had 33 saves to lead the Oilers to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.
They were Smyth's 11th and 12th goals of the season.
With 28 seconds left in the game, Smyth gingerly skated off the ice after taking a shot in the knee from Colorado's John-Michael Liles as Smyth tried to skate past him on a breakaway along the boards. Liles was called for kneeing.
The Oilers were one of just four teams without a short-handed goal before Monday night.
On Patrick Roy Night, Roloson turned in a performance reminiscent of No. 33, making one Roy-esque save after another, including a stop of Karlis Skrastins on a breakaway early in the third period.
Roy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Monday and the Avalanche honored him by showing video clips between periods, including a shot of him hoisting the 2001 Stanley Cup over his head.
Roy is the career leader among goaltenders in wins (551) and regular-season games played (1,029). Roy was traded from Montreal to Colorado in December 1995. He's the only goaltender to win more than 200 games with two teams.
Colorado goalie Jose Theodore finished with 31 saves as the Avalanche dropped their third straight game.
Milan Hejduk scored his seventh goal of the season on a shot from the right circle 7:13 into the first period. Andrew Brunette delivered the pass to Hejduk from behind the net.
Moments earlier, Joffrey Lupul had a shot on an open net - Theodore was on the other side of the crease - but sent the puck over the crossbar.
Notes: Colorado traded F George Parros to Anaheim on Monday for a second-round pick in the 2007 NHL draft. The deal also included an option for the Ducks to swap places with the Avalanche in the third round. ... Edmonton F Peter Sykora skated in his 700th NHL game. He nearly had a goal in the second period but it clanged off the right post. ... The Avalanche played in their 500th home game since moving to Denver in 1995-96. ... Smyth had his fourth multi-goal game of the season.