Avalanche 2, Devils 1
NEWARK, N.J. -- Right winger Matt Duchene and defenseman Tyson Barrie scored in a 4 minute, 5 second span in the second period to spark the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Tuesday night.
Goaltender Reto Berra made 27 saves as the Avalanche (10-14-1) continued the trend of alternating wins and losses in its last six games.
The Avalanche won five in a row against the Devils, and eight of the last nine meetings.
New Jersey (12-10-2) lost three of their last five games.
Goaltender Cory Schneider made 23 saves, and right winger Kyle Palmieri scored the Devils' lone goal.
Duchene opened the scoring with his 13th goal of the season 2:10 into the second period. The third overall pick in the 2009 draft corralled defenseman Erik Johnson's clearing pass at New Jersey's blue line before speeding into the offensive zone and whipping a shot past Schneider.
It took all of 4:05 for Colorado to build upon the lead, as Barrie scored his second of the season at the 6:15 mark of the period.
Palmieri halved the deficit 2:09 into the third with his ninth of the season. Palmieri cut into the slot and snapped a quick shot past Berra after New Jersey center Travis Zajac won an offensive zone face-off.
That was as close as the Devils would come.
New Jersey finished the game outshooting (27-25) and out-attempting (48-34) the Avalanche.
NOTES: C John Mitchell played in his first game for Colorado since Nov. 14. He had missed the previous seven games with an oblique injury. ... Colorado scratched D Brandon Gormley and LW Andrew Agozzino. ... D David Schlmeko, RW Brian O'Neill and LW Stefan Matteau were New Jersey's announced scratches. ... The press box seating chart listed 10 scouts and executives from various NHL teams in attendance, including St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong. Also listed were Dan Craig and Kris King from the NHL, and Tommy Boustedt and Peter Forsberg from the Swedish Hockey League. ... New Jersey gave the first 10,000 fans to enter Prudential Center for the first of two regular season games between the Devils and Avalanche a bobblehead of C Adam Henrique. Fans who attend the Jan. 4 game against Detroit will receive a bobblehead of G Cory Schneider, and those in attendance at the Feb. 6 game against Washington will receive LW Mike Cammalleri's bobblehead.