Win Proves Costly for Colorado

While solidifying its status as the NHL’s best team, Colorado sustained two injuries Tuesday night that could cripple its Stanley Cup drive.

Defensemen Ray Bourque, Jon Klemm and Greg de Vries scored as the streaking Avalanche defeated San Jose, 4-1, at Denver.

But the victory might have been costly for Colorado as All-Star defenseman Rob Blake and goalie Patrick Roy left the game because of injuries.

Blake sprained his right knee early in the second period in a mid-ice collision with San Jose’s Bill Lindsay and did not return. Blake, acquired last month from the Kings, is to be reevaluated today.

“I think we’re going to be a few weeks without Rob,” Coach Bob Hartley said. “The injury is quite similar to what Ray [Bourque] had last year in the playoffs.”

Roy left early in the third period because of tendinitis in his knee and the Avalanche ahead, 3-1. He did not return.

“We feel that Patrick’s injury is minor,” Hartley said. “I don’t know which knee. It’s going to be a couple of days. He told me this morning he felt it a little bit. He couldn’t move around the net.”

Colorado, 10-1-0-2 in its last 13 games, extended its lead to eight points over Detroit in the race for the NHL’s best record and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Joe Sakic, the league’s second-leading scorer, had three points, including an empty-net goal in the final minute.

In a first period that saw San Jose outshoot Colorado, 7-3, the Sharks took a 1-0 lead on Owen Nolan’s goal at 7:39. Colorado got goals from Bourque and Klemm in the second period to take a 2-1 lead.

Shark Bryan Marchment returned after serving a three-game suspension for a knee-to-thigh hit on Montreal’s Martin Rucinsky that ended Rucinsky’s season.

New York Islanders 4, St. Louis 3--Roman Hamrlik scored 23 seconds into overtime at St. Louis as the Islanders spoiled Keith Tkachuk’s debut and Al MacInnis’ return to the Blues’ lineup.

MacInnis, who was sidelined for 23 games after his left eye was hit by a stick blade Jan. 27, assisted on the Blues’ first goal.

Boston 2, Pittsburgh 2--The Bruins shut down Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr and held on to a tie despite losing a two-goal lead at Pittsburgh.

Lemieux was held scoreless for the first time in 13 games. The Bruins trail Carolina by two points for the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot.

Boston’s tie clinched a playoff spot for Ottawa, the Northeast Division leaders.

Buffalo 3, Toronto 0--Dominik Hasek stopped 16 shots to earn his 54th career shutout at Buffalo, N.Y., and Steve Heinze scored his fifth goal in four games giving him eight points since the Sabres acquired him from Columbus last week.

Florida 3, Montreal 3--Jim Campbell had a goal and two assists, including setting up Craig Darby’s game-tying goal with 8:47 left, as the Canadiens overcame Pavel Bure’s league-leading 55th goal for the tie at Montreal.

Around the League

Marty McSorley, a 17-year NHL veteran whose one-year suspension for clubbing Donald Brashear on the head expired Feb. 21, was cleared to play in Europe by the International Ice Hockey Federation. McSorley will not to join the London Knights, who are coached by his brother, until next season. . . Jay McKee of Buffalo was sidelined a second consecutive game because of a sore left wrist. He’s listed as day to day. . . Detroit will be without right wing Darren McCarty for two to three weeks and defenseman Chris Chelios indefinitely because of injuries. McCarty sprained his right ankle Sunday when he slammed into the boards during a victory over San Jose. Chelios fractured his left thumb Saturday in a game at Colorado. Sergei Fedorov, who is recovering from a broken nose is expected to be back Thursday when Detroit plays Minnesota. . . Colorado’s Adam Foote sidelined since Jan. 4 because of a separated right shoulder, will accompany the team for upcoming road games but likely won’t play until next week at Edmonton. . . Columbus reassigned Matt Davidson and Martin Spanhel to Syracuse of the American Hockey League.