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DALLAS (AP) -- The way Patrick Roy is playing, the Stanley Cup looks closer than ever for the Colorado Avalanche.
|  | | Milan Hejduk celebrates after scoring Colorado's first goal. |
First he has a score to settle with the Dallas Stars and goalie
Ed Belfour.
Fired up by Belfour's claims of supremacy and seeking payback
for last year's conference finals, Roy made 13 of his 24 saves in
the third period as Colorado beat Dallas 2-0 in the opener of the
Western Conference finals Saturday night.
Milan Hejduk scored on a power play midway through the second period and Aaron Miller added another goal in the period to end the
Stars' eight-game home winning streak in the playoffs.
"I see this club as focused as ever," Roy said. "Guys are
sharp and we're doing whatever we need to be successful. The level
of commitment is fantastic."
The Avalanche won their third straight game without Ray Bourque,
their sentimental leader and star of their power play and defense.
His injured left leg might heal enough in time for him to play Game 2
Monday night.
"It's not 100 percent," Bourque said. "I'm skating well, but I have to get over the next hurdle. I don't want to go out there and get hurt."
Belfour, who said months ago he was as good as Roy or better,
allowed as many goals in this game as he did in the previous 10
periods at Reunion Arena.
"I think we can play a lot better," said Belfour, who made 16
saves. "We didn't play hard from the start, and we can't do that
against this team."
This was the Stars' first shutout loss since Dec. 21 against Calgary. It was their first playoff shutout defeat in 34 games, dating to June 5, 1998, against Detroit.
Most of their best scoring chances were in the first period.
Dallas had four power plays, more than 10 minutes in the Colorado
zone and even centered a pass to an open net while Roy was trapped
against the end boards.
But the Avalanche defense limited Dallas to seven first-period
shots and just four in the second period. They peppered Roy with
shots in the third, but by then he was locked in.
"We had a couple of flurries in the third period, but they were
thinking defense and winding the clock down," said Stars center
Mike Modano, who took just three shots.
The key for Colorado was using its speed to chase down every
Dallas player near the puck, then pounding them. The Avalanche had
45 hits, including one that sent Modano into the Colorado bench.
The Avs also won 55 percent of the faceoffs.
"In the dirty areas, we did not play the way we can,"
defenseman Darryl Sydor said. "Everybody is really disappointed.
We didn't play our game. We gave them the game."
Colorado has won 10 of its last 12 on the road and has an
unusual streak of four straight victories in series openers played
on the road. That streak includes a Game 1 victory over the Stars
in last year's conference finals, which Dallas won in seven games
en route to the Stanley Cup.
Roy had some rocky games in last year's conference finals,
especially Game 6 when he couldn't hold a 1-0 lead in Denver with
Colorado up 3-2 in the series.
He's played much more solidly this entire postseason. This was
his second shutout and the 14th of his playoff career, tying
Jacques Plante for No. 2 in NHL history. Roy extended his own
record by winning his 119th postseason game.
Although Roy's wandering from the net almost hurt him early, it
paid off later with two goalie interference penalties -- one of
which led to Hejduk's goal with 11:09 left in the second period.
Adam Foote blasted a shot into Belfour's chest, and the rebound
went to Dave Andreychuk in front of the crease. He nudged the puck
to an uncovered Hejduk, who easily pushed it in for his third goal
of the playoffs.
"I had an open net," he said.
Colorado, which improved to 7-0 when scoring first in the
postseason, went up 2-0 with 2:28 left in the second period when
Miller finished a great play started by Peter Forsberg.
Forsberg skated up the right side, then swooped across the front
of the net, pulling the defense -- and Belfour -- to his left. But
Forsberg left the puck behind to his right, and Miller hit it in
for his first goal this postseason.
"I was all alone coming in and the puck came right to me," he
said.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Colorado Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Patrick Roy shuts down the Stars' offensive strike.
avi: 1055 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Milan Hejduk scores the power play goal against the Stars.
avi: 527 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Aaron Miller fires the puck over the shoulders of Ed Belfour.
avi: 714 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Patrick Roy explains the third period of Saturday's Game 1.
wav: 287 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Bob Hartley praises Patrick Roy after Colorado's Game 1 win.
wav: 110 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Ken Hitchcock says the Stars did not capitalize on their opportunities.
wav: 168 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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