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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DENVER (AP) -- Frustrated by outshooting the Dallas Stars 110-56
in the previous three games but having won only once, the Colorado
Avalanche were desperate for a break.
Chris Drury provided it. Attempting to redirect Ray Bourque's
waist-high shot with his stick, Drury instead deflected the puck
off his knee for the game-winner with 3:51 left in the third period
in Colorado's 2-1 victory Thursday night.
|  | | Avs forward Chris Drury celebrates the game-winning goal as a stunned Ed Belfour, right, looks on. |
The Avalanche, staving off elimination, tied the best-of-seven
Western Conference finals at 3-3, with a decisive Game 7 set for
Saturday night in Dallas.
Bourque assisted on Drury's goal and scored Colorado's other
goal.
The Avalanche broke a 1-1 tie when Bourque took a long shot from
along the left boards that sailed high toward the net. Drury,
stationed in the slot, redirected it past goalie Ed Belfour.
"Ray made an unbelievable shot to get it through," Drury said.
"Initially, I felt something. I think it might have hit my stick a
little bit. It hit square on my knee and went right in.
"With all the shots we've been throwing at them, it's certainly
nice to get one like that, off the knee. I'll definitely take it."
Colorado coach Bob Hartley said his team "finally got a lucky
break. This could be the start of something."
Patrick Roy had 26 saves, extending his NHL record for career
playoff victories to 121. Belfour made 19 saves.
Bourque's goal early in the second period put the Avalanche
ahead, but Brett Hull tied it with a power-play goal later in the
period. It was Hull's ninth goal of the playoffs and fourth goal in
the last three games.
Dallas defeated Colorado in last year's conference finals,
rallying from a 3-2 deficit en route to capturing its first Stanley
Cup.
"I like our position," Hartley said. "With tonight's win, we
generate some momentum."
Stars coach Ken Hitchcock wasn't so sure.
"I don't know if one team has the momentum, because our team is
not down at all," Hitchcock said. "We're playing our way --
gritty, grindy, in-your-face hockey.
"We had them bogged down for most of the third period. We made
one mistake, and it was in our net. It got tipped off some guy's
knee or something."
Stars defenseman Derian Hatcher said the Stars "wanted it to
end tonight, but we aren't disheartened. It was just one of those
goals. If we give the same effort Saturday, we will be all right.
Now we have one game on our ice."
Colorado outshot Dallas 9-6 in a scoreless first period that saw
the Avalanche continue to flounder on the power play, failing to
capitalize on two man-advantage situations.
Each team lost a defenseman in the period. Dallas' Richard
Matvichuk, elbowed in the head by Dave Andreychuk, went down on the
ice behind the Dallas net, apparently losing consciousness
momentarily. Later, Colorado's Aaron Miller was high-sticked by
Scott Thornton and collapsed in pain. Both players had to be
assisted from the ice, but no penalties were called.
Matvichuk, who suffered a mild concussion, did not return, but
Miller was back for the second period.
"It had a pretty big effect," Hitchcock said of Matvichuk's
loss. "Matty plays the second-most minutes on the team."
Bourque, seeking his first Stanley Cup title in his 21st NHL
season, scored his first goal of the playoffs early in the second
period. Joe Sakic intercepted a pass and, after putting a spin move
on Sylvain Cote, fed Bourque in the slot. Bourque's shot went high
on Belfour's glove side at 4:30.
"Joe made a great play, blocking the shot and tracking it
down," Bourque said. "I was alone with Belfour and just caught
the top left corner of the net.
"I think we still have our best game in us. I'm expecting us to
play it in Game 7. This is why I came here (in a trade from Boston
on March 6), to be in this situation."
Penalties against Drury and Adam Foote gave Dallas a 5-on-3
advantage for 1:14 later in the period, and the Stars capitalized
on Hull's goal at 12:37. Sergei Zubov passed from the right boards
to Hull, situated just inside the left circle.
Dallas' Mike Modano had to be assisted from the ice after being
stunned by Foote's hit that drew a high-sticking penalty, but he
returned late in the period.
Belfour had a key save off Milan Hejduk in the third period, and
Roy stopped the dangerous Hull.
Sakic, his frustration continuing, missed an empty net in the
waning seconds. Sakic has scored only one goal in the last 13
games.
Colorado is in a 1-for-23 slump on the power play and is only
3-for-30 in the series.
The Stars were without forward Jamie Langenbrunner, sidelined by
a sprained knee sustained in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Chris Drury redirects the puck into the net for the goal.
avi: 732 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Brett Hull beats Patrick Roy for the power play goal.
avi: 1068 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ray Bourque snipes one in front of the net.
avi: 552 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Coach Ken Hitchcock felt the Stars needed to score more.
wav: 137 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Joe Sakic felt the Avs sat back in the 3rd period.
wav: 70 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Dave Reid talks about Chris Drury's deflection.
wav: 93 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Joe Nieuwendyk is looking towards Game 7.
wav: 77 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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