DENVER (AP) -- An exhausting, seven-game road trip finally came

to an end for the Oilers. And now, maybe Edmonton will start

feeling a little more like home to Chris Pronger.

Pronger, the star defenseman traded away by St. Louis last

summer after nine seasons with the Blues, scored his first goal for

the Oilers on Monday night in a 5-2 victory over the Colorado

Avalanche.

"Yeah, absolutely," Pronger said when asked if it felt good to

finally get off the schneid.

Pronger, who now has the goal to go with his nine assists, broke

through against David Aebischer after taking a pass from Ales

Hemsky at the top of the circle just as a 5-on-3 power play was

ending. The goal made it 3-2 late in the second period and helped

make a winner of goalie Mike Morrison in his first career start.

"I felt fine out there," Morrison said. "I just wanted to

savor the moment and keep it simple, and do the things I've always

done."

Nursing the one-goal lead in the third, Raffi Torres of the

Oilers took a fabulous pass from Hemsky, who beat falling

defenseman Patrice Brisebois, and Torres slammed it past Aebischer

for the insurance goal. A few minutes later, Marty Reasoner made it

5-2 and sent Avalanche fans heading to the exits.

The Oilers, who went on a seven-game losing streak earlier in

the season that prompted coach Craig MacTavish to call their effort

in one game a "stand-alone product for ineptitude," moved back

above .500 at 10-9-1.

They finished the road trip 4-3 and avoided the fate they

suffered on their last trip to Denver, when they gave up three

goals over the final 6:15 in a 5-3 loss.

"This was a key game for me," MacTavish said. "We played 14

games away from home and only six at home. So we are poised to make

a move. This was a big turning point."

Morrison was recently called up from minor league Greenville to

take the spot of the injured Ty Conklin. In this, his first start,

he made 31 saves and staved off a 65-second 5-on-3 opportunity by

Colorado in the second period.

The Avalanche weren't surprised.

"Everybody that plays in the NHL is a pretty good player and it

doesn't matter if he's the backup goalie or not," Avalanche

forward Ian Laperriere said. "He showed that and proved he

belonged."

The Avs fell behind by multiple goals early for the second

straight game. On Saturday against Calgary, they trailed 4-0 en

route to a 5-3 loss. In this one, they gave up two goals over the

first 10½ minutes.

"I don't really have an explanation for that," forward Milan

Hejduk said.

Rob Blake scored late in the first and Laperriere tied it midway

through the second, but Colorado never could take the lead.

Aebischer, chased from the Calgary game, stayed in for the entirety

of this one. He made 17 saves and was hurt by some porous defense

in front of him.

Ryan Smyth opened the scoring with an uncontested shot placed

perfectly over Aebischer's left shoulder from just outside the

crease. Edmonton's second goal came on what looked more like a

centering pass than a shot by Jarret Stoll. It hit Ethan Moreau,

who was part of some heavy traffic in front of the net, and went

in.

Still, Pronger's go-ahead goal had to be the highlight for the

Oilers. Much was expected of the highly regarded defenseman, but

both he and Edmonton's other big offseason pickup, Michael Peca,

have struggled.

Both now have one goal on the season. Pronger celebrated his

with a big fist pump and got heartier-than-usual congrats from his

teammates, who now find themselves one point ahead of Colorado for

third place in the Northwest Division.

"This was a big step for us," MacTavish said.Game notes
Avalanche F Pierre Turgeon missed the game with a sore hip.

... The Oilers now go home for three straight games, starting

Thursday against Detroit.