Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - John-Michael Liles scored two goals to guide
the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air
Canada Centre.
Peter Budaj made 27 saves for the Avalanche, who won for the first time in
their last three games and improved to 2-2-2 on the season.
"It felt good to get another start," said Budaj. "The defense played great in
front of me and helped me out."
Ian Laperriere and Tyler Arnason each picked up two assists in the Colorado
victory.
Bates Battaglia tallied the lone goal for the Leafs, who have lost two of
their last three games.
Andrew Raycroft allowed four goals on 26 shots in the loss as Toronto fell to
3-2-2 on the young season.
"I think this was our worst game we have played yet," said Toronto's Alex
Steen.
With 4:02 remaining in the second stanza and the game tied, Colorado scored to
take a 2-1 lead. Arnason centered the puck to the low slot where Liles
backhanded the disc past a sliding Raycroft, who attempted to poke check the
puck away from Liles.
Liles' second tally of the game provided Toronto with a two-goal lead 6:22
into the final frame. Marek Svatos chipped the puck into the Leafs zone and
from the left circle, Liles' wrister beat Raycroft on the short side to make
it 3-1.
Midway through the third, Toronto had a chance to score as Darcy Tucker
deflected a shot from the point off the crossbar.
The Avalanche put the game away after Milan Hejduk took a pass from Wojtek Wolski on a 2-on-1 rush and one-timed the feed past Raycroft to make it 4-1
with 2:56 remaining in the contest.
Battaglia gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead scoring just 2:22 after the opening
faceoff. Battaglia knocked down a clearing attempt by a Colorado defenseman in
the right circle and quickly fired the puck over the right shoulder of Budaj.
The Avalanche tied the contest at 1-1 after Brett McLean's first goal of the
season at the 9:37 mark of the first period. Raycroft made two saves in close
before McLean pounced on a rebound at the right side of the crease and tapped
the disc into the net.
