Final Score: Colorado 3, Phoenix 2

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Matthew Barnaby had a goal and an assist to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over Phoenix. Paul Kariya and Andrei Nikolishin also scored for Colorado, which has won three straight.

David Aebischer turned aside 23-of-25 shots for the Avalanche.

"This was a very important stretch in our schedule," Colorado head coach Tony Granato said. "We wanted to play the same way we have played all year and find a way to win."

Mike Comrie and Krystofer Kolanos scored for Phoenix, which is winless in its last 11 games (0-7-2-2). Brent Johnson made 27 saves in a losing effort.

Kariya scored a power-play goal at 6:48 of the opening period to give Colorado a 1-0 lead, but Kolanos tallied early in the middle stanza to even things at 1-1. The goal by Kolanos deflected past Aebischer off the stick of Avs forward Joe Sakic.

"It is good to give up a goal like that and still win," Aebischer said.

Goals by Nikolishin and Barnaby gave the Avs a 3-1 lead. Nikolishin put Colorado ahead just over a minute after Kolanos' goal, banging home the rebound of a shot by Adam Foote.

Barnaby's power-play goal 2:49 into the third period gave Colorado a two-goal advantage. The newly acquired Barnaby redirected a shot from the point by John-Michael Liles.

Comrie's short-handed goal with 40 seconds remaining in the final stanza cut the Avs' lead to 3-2, but Colorado held on for the win.

Game Notes

Comrie has a goal in three straight games...Phoenix is 0-6-1-2 since interim coach Rick Bowness replaced Bobby Francis on February 24...The Coyotes were without leading scorer Shane Doan, who sat out with a charley horse sustained in Wednesday's loss to Los Angeles...Kolanos scored for the first time since November 1 against the Kings... The two teams meet again Saturday night in Denver...Colorado finished 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Coyotes failed on three opportunities with the extra skater...Foote had two assists...The Avs lost left wing Alex Tanguay (knee) and Dan Hinote (shoulder) to injuries in the contest.

03/13 01:41:25 ET