Darcy Tucker has two points to help Colorado defeat winless Leafs

Tucker helps Colorado beat winless Leafs

TORONTO — Darcy Tucker had a goal and an assist against his former team to help the Colorado Avalanche beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Tuesday night.

It was his first game in Toronto since having his contract bought out in the summer of 2008. He’s still being paid $1 million per year by the Maple Leafs.

Brett Clark, David Jones and John-Michael Liles had the other goals for Colorado (4-1-1). Craig Anderson made 30 stops to earn his fourth victory of the season.

Francois Beauchemin scored the lone goal for the Leafs (0-5-1).

Toronto coach Ron Wilson tried to shake up its team by benching forwards Matt Stajan and Niklas Hagman, who had accounted for five of the team’s 12 goals prior to the game against Colorado. He also started third string goalie Joey MacDonald. It didn’t work.

“It has to be significant changes,” Wilson explained before the game. “Sitting out guys who play on a fourth line who are giving a really good effort makes no sense to me.”

None of the changes helped much against the Avalanche, one of the surprise teams so far in this young season.

Toronto gave Colorado two power plays in the opening 10 minutes of the game and Clark capitalized on the second one. His point shot beat MacDonald while the Leafs goalie was being screened by Ian White — his own defenseman.

Jones extended that lead to 2-0 just before the intermission. He made a pretty play on a solo rush to get around Tomas Kaberle before sliding the puck by MacDonald with 50.9 seconds left in the first period.

Falling into an early hole has been a big problem for these Leafs, who have been outscored 10-2 in the opening period this season.

Beauchemin briefly brought some life back to his team with his first goal in a Toronto uniform at 3:33 of the second period, but Tucker quickly nullified that by scoring his third goal of the season just over two minutes later.

Colorado got its fourth goal as Liles saw his floating shot go off the head of defenseman Mike Komisarek and into the net at 9:36.

Notes: The Leafs honored former captain Ted Kennedy before the game … Liles missed the third period with an injury to his right shoulder. … Teenagers Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly each had an assist for the Avalanche.