Colorado Sees Green

Erasing two-goal deficits is nothing new for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Travis Green had two goals and an assist and Greg Adams added a third-period goal and assist as the Coyotes overcame a 2-0 deficit and dealt the Colorado Avalanche their first home loss, 5-3 Saturday.

"Maybe we should start the game that way," Phoenix coach Bobby Francis said.

Jeremy Roenick and Jyrki Lumme also scored for Phoenix, which is unbeaten in five straight meetings (4-0-1) with the Avalanche. Goalie Bob Essensa stopped 15 shots for the Coyotes, who last lost to Colorado on March 19, 1998.

Sandis Ozolinsh had two goals and Stephane Yelle a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who lost for the first time in three games in the Pepsi Center. Patrick Roy stopped 25 shots.

"We didn't generate enough shots, especially on special teams," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said. "We were playing our third game in four nights and coming off a long road trip."

The Coyotes fell behind 2-0, giving up a first-period goal to Ozolinsh and a shorthanded goal to Yelle early in the second. Ozolinsh sent a low drive pst Essensa from the slot just inside Phoenix's zone at 8:03 of the first period. At 4:06 of the second, Adam Deadmarsh poke-checked the puck ahead to Yelle, who sent a backhander past Essensa.

Phoenix scored twice in a 3:40 span of the second to tie it. Roenick picked up a puck that skipped over the stick of Colorado defenseman Greg de Vries and beat Roy on a breakaway at 6:06, and Lumme sent the puck over Roy's left shoulder at 9:46 with the Coyotes on the power play.

Adams put Phoenix ahead 3-2 at 4:17 of the third period. Roy stopped shots by Green and Rick Tocchet, but no one picked up Adams, the trailer on the play. Ozolinsh tied it again at 12:23 with his second goal of the game and third of the season, a shot that deflected off Essensa.

"We wanted to get the puck to the net, try to create some confusion and get some ugly goals," Green said. "You aren't going to beat them too much with clear shots."

Green, who has eight goals, got the game-winner at 13:55 after Roy stopped Keith Carney's shot.

"It wasn't really a tough one to put in, not into an open net," Green said. "I felt the puck hit my skate and kicked it ahead."

Green added an empty-net goal in the final minute.

"We have to take our shots whenever we have them," Deadmarsh said. "Any team can get 30-to-35 shots a night if they are determined."

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