Stastny shines as Avalanche smother Sharks

DENVER (Reuters) - Paul Stastny sparked a four-goal third period assault to help the Colorado Avalanche crush the San Jose Sharks 6-2 in the only NHL game played on Sunday.

Stastny scored 51 seconds into the period to put the Avalanche 3-1 ahead and assisted on two more goals in the final frame to finish the game with four assists.

"Tonight, he was special," Avs coach Joel Quenneville told reporters after Stastny pushed his three-game total to four goals and eight points.

Stastny tried to deflect the praise.

"It was more of a big win against one of the top teams in the West the last couple of years," he told reporters.

However, team mate Ryan Smyth insisted Stastny played a major role in the win.

"He's a great player, very smart with the puck," Smyth added.

Milan Hejduk added two goals and an assist in the overpowering home win.

Avs captain Joe Sakic used a first-period goal and an assist to move past Phil Esposito into eighth place in career points with 1,591.

"Obviously I've been around a long time so it's an honor," Sakic said. "For me to have played this long and get to those guys, they meant a lot to the game."

Sakic scored Colorado's first goal at 15:18 and Hejduk added a powerplay score less than three minutes later.

Stastny assisted on both of the first-period goals.

After Ryane Clowe brought San Jose within 2-1 in the second period, Colorado scored four consecutive goals in the third before Clowe closed out the scoring on a powerplay.

Hejduk's second goal made it 4-1, before Marek Svatos and Smyth scored 18 seconds apart.

Stastny assisted on Hejduk's second goal and the short-handed goal by Smyth.

"Tonight, I thought everybody contributed in all areas," Smyth added. "We capitalized early and put them on their heels.

"Any time you contribute offensively to a team, you want to gain some confidence and respect on the team, and this is one way to do it."