Avalanche rising

NHL teams

"I thought we played very well from the start," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said. "Luckily we were able to generate some chances in the third period. We keep building, finding ways to win. It's a game-to-game process."

The Avalanche won their fifth straight game improving to 13-11-2 following an 0-4-1 start, the worst in franchise history.

"We played well for a long time. Guys are sharp," Colorado goalie Patrick Roy said. "We don't make too many mistakes. When you play well defensively you always have a chance to win. When we scored those two goals, I just wanted to go home with a win."

Colorado moved a season-high two games over .500 and ended a four-game winless streak against the Rangers, winning there for the first time since November 6th, 1991. The Avalanche also moved into a tie with Edmonton for first place in the Northwest Division.

"I like to play here, it's fun," Roy said. "It's not an easy building to win in. I didn't know we hadn't won here since '91. I don't look too much at the stats, I just concentrate on what I have to do."

The Rangers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end as they fall to even .500 (10-10-7).

"It was a pretty good game," Ranger Wayne Gretzky said. "Obviously, we would love to have been up two- or three-nothing. To be in the position we were in with 10 minutes left, it was a tough way to lose."