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DENVER (Ticker) -- If the Colorado Avalanche had more games like this, Tony Granato still might be an assistant coach. Steven Reinprecht scored the go-ahead goal 6:54 into the second period as the Avalanche held on for a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Colorado improved to 2-0 since Granato was promoted to replace Bob Hartley, who was fired Thursday, 18 months after leading Colorado to a Stanley Cup title. When Hartley was dismissed, Colorado was in fourth place in the Northwest Division with 33 points and was one of five Western Conference teams that had surrendered more than 80 goals. The Avalanche have allowed three goals since the coaching change. Reinprecht sparked a three-goal second period and defenseman Rob Blake converted a pass from Jeff Shantz into his first shorthanded goal of the season. It came 35 seconds after teammate Derek Morris was penalized for holding. The two wins under Granato have players setting their sights on first-place Vancouver, which is eight points ahead of the Avalanche in the Northwest Division heading into Monday's game at the Pepsi Center. "We are four wins behind Vancouver and that's our objective," Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy said. "We want to catch Vancouver. We have two games in hand and we play them on Monday and it's a good chance for us. The Canucks are the best team in the NHL since December of last year. Look at their record, it speaks for itself." Saturday's win also left an impression on Wild coach Jacques Lemaire, who noticed a difference from the Colorado team he faced three previous times this season. "They're a better team than where they are in the standings," Lemaire said. "It's a good team. There's good players out there. It's a plus for them because they started to jell a little more and have more fun and that will bring wins because they have the talent. "I think it's just the change. Even when they were at their best under the other coach, this was a skating team, moving the puck, shooting, good on the power play, and that's what they did tonight." The goal that seemed to reflect Colorado's playmaking abilities was Blake's second career shorthanded tally. With Minnesota's power-play unit getting mixed up in the neutral zone, the Avalanche had a 3-on-1. Defenseman Adam Foote left a drop pass for Shantz, who set up Blake's one-timer from the left faceoff circle past goaltender Manny Fernandez. Blake first goal in 13 games cam after a couple of near-mies. "Offensively, it cama little better tonight," Blake said. "I think we're plying better as a team. Obvusly, tonight we got the victory, but we gave up a ton too many shots." Six minutes later, Jim Dowd's power-play goal got Minnesota within 3-2. But Dean McAmmond restored Colorado's two-goal cushion with 19 seconds remaining in the period. Dowd ended a 30-game scoring drought 93 seconds into a power play when his slap shot from the point deflected off the stick of Colorado winger Mike Keane. But after Reinprecht won a faceoff deep in the Minnesota zone, he backhanded the puck to McAmmond, who was streaking down low and put a one-timer past Fernandez The Wild had a 31-24 advantage in shots through two periods but were denied by Roy, who has allowed five goals in his last three games after surrendering 13 in his previous three. "With Bob leaving, I think the whole team is fired up and they want to start playing hockey and winning games," Fernandez said. "They're trying to turn it around. I think they're doing a great job now that key players are coming back." Colorado took a 1-0 lead at 6:43 of the first period on Peter Forsberg's ninth goal. Returning from a three-game absence due to a neck injury, he opened the scoring on a spectacular play. After getting a loose puck behind the net, Forsberg fought through a pair of defenders and circled the right side of the net. Minnesota's Wes Walz trailed him but skated past as Forsberg spun and lifted the puck over Fernandez's stick. The Wild answered nearly four minutes later as Marian Gaborik beat Roy with a backhander for his 21st goal. |
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