Avs Blow Out Devils

Colorado vs. New Jersey
series

"Joe Sakic has been carrying this team since the first game of the season, and this was no different," Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said.

At least for one night the defending champion Devils had no answers to Colorado's flying West Coast offense. The Avs outplayed, outrun and simply overwhelmed New Jersey.

"We were very excited before the game, and we prepared ourselves really well to take the play to them," Sakic said. "If you let them come to you, they're going to do some damage. But we also know we saw them play one of their worst games in the playoffs."

Rob Blake had a goal and two assists and Chris Drury and Steve Reinprecht also scored for the Avalanche.

"Joe (Sakic) never got hit the whole night. He could have played with eggs in his pants," Devils coach Larry Robinson said. "We stood around and watched all night. Our big guys didn't play well, and we didn't put out much of an effort. We were outhustled and outworked."