Theodore Plays, but Avalanche Loses

The Pepsi Center crowd went wild after Peter Budaj surrendered two goals to Minnesota 42 seconds apart early in the first period Sunday.

That’s right. They cheered.

Because into the crease skated Jose Theodore for his Colorado Avalanche debut a month and a day after his trade from Montreal.

The cheers didn’t last long, however, as Theodore couldn’t prevent the lowly Wild from hurting the Avalanche’s playoff aspirations with a 5-2 victory at Denver behind Marian Gaborik’s eighth career hat trick.

The loss left the Avalanche 2-2 on a five-game homestand, tightening the race in the West, where three teams are within striking distance of their 92 points and sixth-place status.

New Jersey 3, New York Rangers 2 -- Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta scored 39 seconds apart in the third period to help lift the host Devils to their seventh straight victory.

St. Louis 2, Edmonton 1 -- Rookie Jason Bacashihua carried a shutout into the final minute, and the Blues, inspired after Al MacInnis’ jersey was retired, beat the visiting Oilers to end a club-record 13-game losing streak.

The Oilers refused to join in the MacInnis ceremony, saying it was inappropriate before a late-season game that held meaning to them.

San Jose 4, Dallas 1 -- Captain Patrick Marleau tied the Sharks’ single-season points record with his 84th, Jonathan Cheechoo scored his 49th goal and host San Jose won its fourth straight game to move into a seventh-place tie with Edmonton in the Western Conference.

Florida 6, Tampa Bay 3 -- Juraj Kolnik and Olli Jokinen each scored two goals for the host Panthers.