Stars Stunned by Avalanche

Their lowest playoff seeding in nearly 20 years. Ten losses in their last 16 regular-season games. A two-goal deficit at Dallas.

None of that bothered the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff series against the favored Stars.

Rob Blake and John-Michael Liles scored power-play goals only 2:04 apart in the second period Saturday and seventh-seeded Colorado defeated Dallas, 5-2.

“We’ve had four really competitive games with Dallas and felt evenly matched,” Avalanche Coach Joel Quenneville said. “Sometimes starting on the road is not the worst-case scenario. You’re a little more relaxed.”

Colorado cut a 2-0 deficit in half before the end of the first period, and had three goals in the second. Rookie winger Wojtek Wolski tied the score, 2-2, before Blake and Liles scored.

Jose Theodore stopped 16 shots in only his sixth game for Colorado.

New Jersey 6, New York Rangers 1 -- Patrik Elias scored two of the Devils’ team-record five power-play goals and New Jersey earned its 12th victory in a row at East Rutherford, N.J.

Not only did the Rangers lose their composure in getting called for 13 penalties, their hopes of advancing to the second round suffered a staggering blow when leading scorer Jaromir Jagr suffered a shoulder injury in the third period. He is questionable for Game 2 Monday night.

Buffalo 3, Philadelphia 2 -- Daniel Briere tipped in Jochen Hecht’s centering pass 7:31 into the second overtime to give the Sabres the victory at Buffalo, N.Y. Tim Connolly and Jay McKee also scored for the Sabres, who won after squandering a 2-0 lead.

Simon Gagne forced overtime with a power-play goal with 1:51 left in regulation.

Montreal 6, Carolina 1 -- Cristobal Huet made 43 saves, 12 players recorded points and the Canadiens made up for four lopsided losses to Carolina during the regular season with a victory at Raleigh, N.C.

Alex Kovalev had two goals and Francis Bouillon, Radek Bonk, Chris Higgins and Sheldon Souray each added one for Montreal.