Colorado shuts out St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- David Aebischer stopped 29 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and the Colorado Avalanche extended their point streak to 11 games Thursday night with a 4-0 victory over the slumping St. Louis Blues.

Alex Tanguay and Peter Forsberg each had a goal and an assist for Colorado, 6-0-3-2 in the last 11 games. Steve Konowalchuk and Derek Morris also scored.

The Avalanche have lost just three of 28 road games this season. They have earned at least one point in 23 of their last 24 away from home, including 14 in a row. That's the NHL's best run of success on the road since the 1977-78 Montreal Canadians recorded a point in 24 of 25 road games.

St. Louis is 1-9-1 in its last 11 games and has been shut out five times this season -- three in the last 10 games. The Blues have won only three of their last 13 home games and lost their last five at home.

St. Louis is 3-7-2-0 in its last 12 games against Colorado, and 1-5-1-0 at home in the last seven meetings with the Avalanche.

Colorado took a 1-0 lead on its second shot of the game when Forsberg scored 3:42 into the first period.

A goal by Joe Sakic, who had two assists, was disallowed at 12:13 during a scramble in front of the net because the referee lost sight of the puck. Colorado had four shots on goal and the Blues had defenseman Bryce Salvador and center Petr Cajanek in the net along with goaltender Chris Osgood.

Osgood has not won in St. Louis since Dec. 18, when he was in goal for a 4-2 win over San Jose. Since Jan. 1, Osgood is 2-11-2.

The Blues went 0-for-4 on the power play and are 1-for-33 in their last eight games.

Colorado scored its second goal at 10:14 of the second period when Morris took a shot and the puck deflected in off the skate of Blues defenseman Christian Backman. The goal ended a 29-game scoreless drought for Morris.

A power-play goal by Tanguay at 14:52 gave Colorado a 3-0 lead. Forsberg started the play when he passed to Milan Hejduk, who took a shot. Tanguay got the rebound and scored easily into an open net for his 20th of the season.

A power-play goal by Konowalchuk in the third period gave Colorado a 4-0 lead.

Osgood has not won in St. Louis since Dec. 18, when he was in goal for a 4-2 win over San Jose. Since Jan. 1, Osgood is 2-11-2.

The Blues went 0-for-4 on the power play and are 1-for-33 in their last eight games.Colorado 4, St. Louis 0

Colorado 1 2 1 -- 4

St. Louis 0 0 0 -- 0

First Period -- 1, Colorado, Forsberg 16 (Foote, Tanguay), 3:42. Penalties -- Worrell, Col, major (fighting), 2:53; Lowe, StL, major (fighting), 2:53; Kariya, Col (high-sticking), 6:23; Konowalchuk, Col, major (fighting), 10:21; Mellanby, StL, major (fighting), 10:21; Drake, StL (boarding), 10:21; Forsberg, Col (slashing), 14:10.

Second Period -- 2, Colorado, Morris 5 (Konowalchuk, Sakic), 10:14. 3, Colorado, Tanguay 20 (Hejduk, Forsberg), 14:52 (pp). Penalties -- Worrell, Col (tripping), 2:45; Selanne, Col (high-sticking), 5:15; Tkachuk, StL (roughing), 13:10; McCormick, Col (roughing), 16:12; Danton, StL (roughing), 16:12; Weinrich, StL (roughing), 18:27.

Third Period -- 4, Colorado, Konowalchuk 15 (Skoula, Sakic), 14:34 (pp). Penalties -- Nickulas, StL (goalie interference), 13:38; Danton, StL (roughing), 16:06; McCormick, Col (slashing), 18:36; Low, StL, minor-major-misconduct-game misconduct (instigator, fighting), 18:36.

Shots on goal -- Colorado 8-12-4--24. St. Louis 12-7-10--29.

Power-play Opportunities -- Colorado 2 of 6; St. Louis 0 of 4.

Goalies -- Colorado, Aebischer 24-11-7 (29 shots-29 saves). St. Louis, Osgood 19-18-5 (24-20).

A -- 19,177 (19,260). T -- 2:22.

Referees -- Dan Marouelli, Jay Sharrers. Linesmen -- Mike Cvik, Thor Nelson.