Colorado Takes Game 1

Phoenix
Coytotes

"When you want to go the distance in the playoffs, you've got to have everybody chipping in," Podein said. "I thought we did a good job with everybody coming up to the plate and playing a hard game."

Colorado took a deciding 4-0 lead in the first period and Phoenix never came closer than two goals.

"I didn't think it was as bad as the score indicated," Phoenix coach Bob Francis said. "When you make a mistake against a quality opponent, it is going to end up in your net. The moral of the story is to eliminate your mistakes."

Phoenix pulled within two goals in the third period with a goal by Teppo Numminen. Four minutes later Podein scored for Colorado as Ray Bourque got his second assis of the game.

"That sixth goal was huge for us to keep it a three-goal cushion," Bourque said. "If they get the next one, we're in trouble. It's a long way from being over. It's going to be a battle the whole way. We've got one win under our belts, but we know it's going to get tougher as we go on."