Bourque Wins in Debut

Ray Bourque made an instant impact on the Colorado Avalanche.

The defenseman, acquired after 21 seasons with the Boston Bruins, had an assist in his Colorado debut Tuesday night as the Avalanche had its largest offensive output of the season in an 8-3 victory over the Flames at Calgary, Canada.

Joe Sakic had three goals, Stephane Yelle scored twice and Chris Drury had four assists for the Avalanche, 5-0 against Calgary this season. Colorado has outscored the Flames, 27-8.

The Avalanche moved four points ahead of Calgary in the Western Conference and into a tie with the Edmonton Oilers for the Northwest Division lead.

Bourque and forward Dave Andreychuk were acquired Monday as part of a five-player deal with Boston, where Bourque had spent his entire NHL career.

“In Boston, we weren’t going to make the playoffs. It wasn’t a positive feeling and it wears on you,” Bourque said. “This game is great when you’re winning and that’s what I need right now.”

Bourque sat out the third period for precautionary reasons because of a slight groin strain.

Adam Deadmarsh, Dave Reid and Milan Hejduk also scored for the Avalanche, which won its third in a row.

Washington 4, Florida 2--The Capitals completed their improbable climb to first place, a position they haven’t held this late in 11 years, by winning at Washington.

Steve Konowalchuk, Adam Oates, Peter Bondra and Uhf Dahlen scored as the Capitals moved two points ahead of their Southeast Division rivals with 15 games left.

On Jan. 16, the Capitals were at .500 and trailed the Panthers by 16 points. But they are 23-5-6 since Christmas and are unbeaten in six games (5-0-1).

Nashville 3, Chicago 1--Sebastien Bordeleau, Drake Berehowsky and David Legwand scored at Nashville as the Predators snapped a five-game losing streak and escaped last place in the Central Division, one point ahead of the Blackhawks.

St. Louis 4, Phoenix 0--Roman Turek made 16 saves to record his fifth shutout as the Blues extended their unbeaten streak to four with a victory at St. Louis.

Jeff Finley, Michal Handzus, Marty Reasoner and Scott Young scored for the Blues, 9-1-1 in their last 11 games.

Toronto 2, Edmonton 0--Curtis Joseph made 33 saves at Edmonton, Canada, as the Maple Leafs earned their seventh victory in their last eight games.

Tie Domi and Yanic Perreault scored first-period goals for Toronto.

Around the League

Veteran defenseman Lyle Odelein was traded by New Jersey to the Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Deron Quint and a conditional 2001 draft choice, allowing the Devils to bring highly regarded minor league prospect Colin White into the lineup. . . . Philadelphia Flyer Coach Roger Neilson will have a stem cell transplant Friday as part of his cancer treatment, which is earlier than originally planned “because he’s doing so well,” his doctor said. . . . Dallas Star center Joe Nieuwendyk, sidelined the last 20 games by a separated shoulder, is expected to return Friday against the New York Islanders, but center Guy Carbonneau went on the injured list because of a broken right wrist. Carbonneau is expected to be sidelined about three weeks.