Avalanche bury Thrashers, 6-0

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Posted 6:20AM on Thursday, April 4, 2002

DENVER - Steven Reinprecht gives the Colorado Avalanche speed, goal-scoring and versatility. He also helps make his teammates better. Take Chris Drury, who had only one goal in 20 games from Jan. 28 to March 23. Being paired with Reinprecht has helped Drury record two goals and four assists in the last four games. Reinprecht and Drury were a potent 1-2 punch on Wednesday night, each posting four-point games as the Avalanche beat the Atlanta Thrashers 6-0. Reinprecht had three goals and an assist, while Drury had one goal and three assists. Patrick Roy, meanwhile, earned his NHL-leading ninth shutout of the season as the defending Stanley Cup champions avenged a 2-0 loss to the NHL's worst team on March 14. Roy had 24 saves in earning his 61st career shutout. With five games remaining, Colorado moved three points ahead of San Jose in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Atlanta's Frederic Cassivi stopped 32 of 37 shots in the first two periods. Milan Hnilicka replaced Cassivi in the third and had 11 saves. Colorado's 49 shots matched a season high. Atlanta's Mark Hartigan, playing in only his second NHL game, left the ice early in the third with a torn right hamstring. Avalanche coach Bob Hartley said Reinprecht and Drury ``work very well together. They seem to have fun. What Rhino gives us is tons of good options. If a line is not working, you put Rhino at any position and you automatically gain a lot of speed on that line. Speed is tough to stop.'' Reinprecht said his first two goals ``weren't highlight goals, but I'll take them.'' His last one - when he carried the puck out of the corner and danced into the right circle before beating Hnilicka - was a different sort. ``His third goal was worth the price of admission,'' Hartley said. ``What a great play.'' Reinprecht couldn't recall ever having a hat trick at Wisconsin. ``It's the first hat trick in a long time, that's for sure, probably since I played in junior hockey,'' he said. Thrashers coach Curt Fraser said his team, which lost to Calgary on Tuesday, was ``exhausted. Back-to-back nights are tough on our club. Give Colorado high marks. They played us with all guns firing and kept us in our end most of the night. That's as good as we have seen them.'' Stephane Yelle and Alex Tanguay had first-period goals to give Colorado a 2-0 lead. Tanguay's goal broke a 19-game goal-scoring drought. Reinprecht had two goals and Drury one in the second period. Reinprecht got his hat trick on his 18th goal at 12:51 of the third. Atlanta, loser of four straight, had a 5-on-3 advantage for the final 56 seconds but couldn't capitalize. NOTES: Colorado D Adam Foote served the second of a two-game suspension for cross-checking Phoenix's Daymond Langkow in the face Saturday. ... Avalanche W Dan Hinote returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a dislocated shoulder.