Fuhr Feeling Anything but Blue in St. Louis

It didn’t take long for Grant Fuhr to answer questions about his right knee.

Fuhr, who underwent major reconstructive surgery on the knee in April, made 35 saves in the St. Louis Blues’ season-opening 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Friday night at St. Louis.

Fuhr was still working hard after the game. He was on a treadmill for more than 40 minutes and never made it out to meet the press in that time.

Jim Campbell and Chris Pronger had a goal and an assist apiece for the Blues. Steve Leach and Shayne Corson also scored for St. Louis.

It was a poor start for the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Scott Young and Eric Lacroix had the Colorado goals. Goaltender Patrick Roy stopped 25 shots.

Corson gave the Blues insurance early in the third period. He skated around Colorado defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh from the left wing and beat Roy with an off-balance shot. The goal gave the Blues a 4-2 lead.

St. Louis took a 2-0 lead after one period. The Blues’ first goal came 10:06 into the game when Leach deflected Pronger’s shot from the right point over Roy’s shoulder. Then with Mike Keane off for interference, Pronger rushed to the net and flipped Campbell’s pass past Roy with 30 seconds remaining in the period.

Colorado cut the lead to one when Young scored a power-play goal in the second period. Campbell answered by knocking in a rebound of Stephan Matteau’s shot minutes later. But Lacroix scored from right in front to make it 3-2.

Edmonton 4, Buffalo 3--Dean McAmmond continued to show the scoring touch he demonstrated in the preseason, producing the game-winner as the Oilers opened with a victory at home.

McAmmond, who had five goals in four preseason games, ripped a shot from the right circle at 4:04 of the third period on a pass from linemate Andrei Kovalenko, beating goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Buffalo rookie Curtis Brown pulled the Sabres within one at 10:35 of the third period, but Edmonton goaltender Curtis Joseph was sharp in the final moments.