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Aebischer earns Avalance a draw against the Devils

David Aebischer is used to competing with star goaltenders.

It showed on Sunday night.

Aebischer, who spent last season as Patrick Roy's backup, stopped 27 shots and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur made 25 as the Colorado Ava-lanche and the visiting Devils skated to a 1-1 tie.

Aebischer, who made 14 saves in the second period alone, is 7-1-1 his last nine starts.

"He was there when we needed him," Colorado's Teemu Selanne said. "That's what good goaltenders do."

Not surprisingly, Brodeur was there for the Devils, too.

He opened the third period by stopping Jordan Krestanovich and Rob Blake on consecutive shots, then got his stick over just in time to block Travis Brigley's shot from just outside the crease midway through.

Brodeur also dived to poke the puck from Milan Hejduk a few seconds later, stopped a Colorado power play that started with 2 minutes left and blocked a tipped shot in overtime.

"It's important when you go on the road you give your team a chance to win, and that's what I did tonight," Brodeur said.

Hejduk gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead with 4:29 left in the second period.

Just 1:13 later, Erik Rasmussen tied the score with his first goal since last Feb. 5.

Rangers 4, Maple Leafs 2

At New York, Mats Sundin scored the go-ahead goal and assisted on an insurance tally, and Trevor Kidd made 33 saves in his first game this season to lead Toronto.

Kidd made his season debut after sitting out 24 games following shoulder surgery.

Tom Fitzgerald, Darcy Tucker and Mikael Renberg also scored for the Leafs, who won their fifth straight following a five-game winless streak (0-2-2-1).

In other NHL games: Mighty Ducks 1, Wild 1; Bruins 3, Coyotes 3; Kings 2, Stars 1; Sharks 2, Oilers 1
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