Roy Ties Playoff Shutout Mark

DENVER — Patrick Roy tied an NHL record with his 15th playoff shutout Friday night as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars, 2-0.

Shjon Podein and Adam Deadmarsh scored and rookie Martin Skoula had two assists as Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. Game 4 is Sunday at Denver, where the Avalanche is 7-0 in the playoffs.

Roy matched the shutout mark set by Clint Benedict of Ottawa and the Montreal Maroons in the 1920s, and extended his league record for playoff victories to 120.

Roy, whose 21 saves included a stop on Brett Hull on a breakaway early in the third period, also beat Dallas, 2-0, in the first game of the series.

Asked what the shutout meant to him, Roy said, “It’s not that important for me. I’ve never really been a shutout goaltender, but maybe I could have that habit now.

“It’s fun the way the guys are playing in front of me. Tonight, they were very sharp, and our penalty-killing was a big key. Killing those two penalties right off the start gave us momentum.”

Roy insisted he wasn’t aware of his lofty playoff shutout status “until the last time when I saw I was tied with Jacques Plante [for second place]. What’s more important is to see the team play the way it is right now.”

Defenseman Ray Bourque returned to the Colorado lineup after sitting out four games because of a knee injury. He helped replace defenseman Adam Foote, who is sidelined because of an eye injury.

“I didn’t have any problems at all moving around and felt very comfortable,” Bourque said. “This was a humongous win. Patrick was unbelievable. Really, all four lines played a super game.”

Dallas gave up 40 shots, its most in 13 playoff games. Ed Belfour had 38 saves.

Dallas’ top scorers in the playoffs--Hull, Mike Modano, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner--failed to get off any shots in the first two periods. Modano, who scored two goals in Dallas’ 3-2 victory in Game 2, didn’t get a shot in Game 3.