The Colorado Avalanche ended a two-game skid with a 5-4 victory in regulation over the Detroit Red Wings. The Avalanche scored a flurry of goals in the first period, leading 4-2 at the end of it. Colorado's Paul Stastny (16) and Detroit's Jan Mursak (1) exchanged goals less than a minute apart early in the period, but the Avalanche scored the next three goals. Matt Duchene scored two of the three, with Kevin Porter's breaking the two up. Brian Rafalski added the Wings' second goal with two minutes left in the period.
David Jones increased Colorado's lead to 5-2 in the second period with his 14th goal of the season. An assist went to Duchene for his third point of the night. Henrik Zetterberg, however, brought the game closer when he scored a power play goal at 15:30. Tomas Holmstrom added another power play goal to bring the Wings within one goal at 5-4, but Colorado was able to hold them off.
Detroit pulled goalie Jimmy Howard for allowing four goals on 10 shots, giving Joey MacDonald time in net. MacDonald made 15 saves on 16 shots. MacDonald was recently recalled following an injury to backup goalie Chris Osgood. Colorado goalie Peter Budaj made 26-of-30 saves.
The Avalanche (21-15-6, 48 points) have Tuesday off before they play the Blackhawks in Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Heading into the final game of their season series with Chicago, the Avalanche are 3-0 against the Blackhawks.