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BOX SCORE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Devils are rolling,
and that's with the line of Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias and Petr
Sykora supposedly still working out the kinks.
|  | | Patrik Elias, left, fires the puck past Patrick Roy for one of his career-high three goals. |
Elias had a career-high three goals and Arnott and Sykora added
one apiece as the Stanley Cup champions extended their unbeaten
streak to nine games by cooling off the Colorado Avalanche 6-1 on
Tuesday night.
Since Arnott ended a holdout on Nov. 19 and rejoined Sykora and
Elias, the line has combined for 12 goals in seven games. They had
10 points against the Avalanche, who had a five-game winning streak
snapped.
"We're getting that feeling back like we had last year, that
coming into a game we can win games for this team or score some
goals," Elias said.
Arnott, who ended his holdout along with defenseman Scott Niedermayer, thinks the line can play better.
"It's a fun line to play on," Arnott said. "When those two
are going, we can create a lot and work off each other. And there
is no question we can get better if we stay focused and keep
listening to Larry (Robinson)."
John Madden had the other goal and Martin Brodeur made 18 saves
as the Devils turned what appeared to be a great matchup into a
mismatch. New Jersey is 7-0-2 following a six-game losing streak
and seven-game winless run.
"It was one of those nights for sure," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said after his team lost for only their fifth time (19-5-3) this season.
Shjon Podein scored for the Avalanche, who lost for only the fifth time in 35 regular-season games (27-5-3) dating to last season.
"We were really ready, we were scared of them," Brodeur said.
"This was a team that was really successful, with a lot of
different ways to beat you and we were focused on playing a solid
game offensively and defensively."
New Jersey took the game to Colorado and Patrick Roy right from
the start, peppering the roving goalie with 16 first-period shots.
"It was our worst game of the season," said Roy, who allowed four goals on 22 shots before being replaced by David Aebischer at the start of the third period. "We've had some bad stretches but for 60 minutes, this was the worst. This was a struggle."
Elias, who missed an overtime penalty shot in a scoreless tie with the Islanders last week, scored 5:22 into the game. He took a pass from Alexander Mogilny from behind the goal line and beat Roy in close for his 10th goal of the season.
Arnott scored his fifth goal a little less than three minutes later, one-timing a pass from Sykora from the left circle with New Jersey on a power play.
Sykora extended the lead to 3-0 in the second period, coming out
of the penalty box and beating Roy on a breakaway. Defenseman Ken
Daneyko set up the play by blindly clearly a loose puck up the
middle of the ice.
Madden put an exclamation point on a tough night for Roy shortly after another Colorado power play ended. Standing behind the net, he banked the puck off the goaltender's stick into the net. It was his 11th goal.
Podein spoiled Brodeur's shutout bid 8:45 into the third period
with a back-hand shot from the right circle that found its way past
two players in front.
Elias closed out his first hat trick, scoring at 10:43 on a play
set up by his linemates and again at 17:15, stuffing in his own
rebound past Aebischer.
Colorado's top forwards Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg were held
to only one shot, taken by Sakic in the third period.
Game notes
Colorado D Jon Klemm left in the first period with a
hamstring injury. ... Devils C Bobby Holik had a second-period goal
negated for directing the puck in with his shoulder. ... The
Avalanche are 13-4-3 in their last 20 road games over the past two
seasons. ... Colorado came into the game with a 2.08 goals-against
average, second best in the league. ... In its five losses,
Colorado has given up 26 goals. In their other 22 games, it has
given up 34 goals. ... Devils D Scott Stevens was a plus-4 in the
game. ... Elias, Arnott and Sykora combined for five goals and five
assists.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Pittsburgh 4
Ottawa 2
Buffalo 3
Montreal 2
New Jersey 6
Colorado 1
St. Louis 1
Anaheim 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrik Elias' goal in the third period gives him his first career hat-trick.
avi: 1330 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Shjon Podein's shot squirts between Martin Brodeur's legs, spoiling the shutout.
avi: 819 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jason Arnott blasts a shot from the top of the circle for a power-play goal.
avi: 1050 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Fresh from the penalty box, Petr Sykora scores on a breakaway.
avi: 1020 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Alexander Mogilny centers a pass to Patrik Elias for the opening goal.
avi: 909 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
John Madden hooks the puck behind goalie Patrick Roy for the score.
avi: 1120 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Jason Arnott comments on his return to the game after the Devils' victory over the Avs.
wav: 327 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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