Avs cool off red-hot Blues with 3-2 victory

Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 37 shots and Jay McClement scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday for their seventh consecutive home win.

Paul Stastny and Cody McLeod also scored for the Avalanche, while Matt Hunwick, Kevin Porter and Shane O'Brien each had an assist. Colorado has won seven consecutive at home for the first time since 2003.

Brian Elliott made 19 saves, while David Backes and Chris Stewart scored for the Blues, who lost in regulation for just the second time the last 13 games.

The score was tied late in the second period when a pile-up in front of the St. Louis net produced the winning goal. McClement's backhand was blocked by defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, but the puck went over the line as Pietrangelo and forward Matt D'Agostini slid into Elliott and knocked the net off its moorings with 5:53 left in the period.

There was no goal indication on the ice, but McClement was credited with his sixth of the year after a review.

The Avalanche's David Van Der Gulik, left, rushes the net as the Blues' Matt D'Agostini, center left, and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo collide with goalie Brian Elliott on a goal by Colorado's Jay McClement during the second period Wednesday in Denver. (Chris Schneider ~ Associated Press)

Elliott went off for an extra attacker with 1:06 left, but St. Louis couldn't tie it again.

The Blues trailed 2-0 after the first period but got even in the second. Backes got St. Louis on the board when he beat Giguere with a shot from the right circle 3:01 into the period. It was his 11th goal of the season.

Stewart tied it midway through the period when he knocked in Patrik Berglund's rebound for his fifth goal.

Backes nearly gave the Blues the lead when he had a breakaway a minute later, but Giguere made the save.

Stastny put Colorado ahead 1-0 when he deflected Hunwick's shot from the point past Elliott 3:52 into the game.

McLeod made it 2-0 when he hustled for his second goal of the season. Porter dumped the puck in on Elliott, who softly tried to clear the rebound to defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. McLeod intercepted the pass and beat Elliott with a backhand at the 5:13 mark.

The Blues had opportunities to get on the board with three power-play chances in the first. They hit the post and failed to get a shot on goal with 14 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage.