Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - Milan Hejduk was awarded the game-winning goal on a controversial call in the shootout, as the Colorado Avalanche edged the Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-1, at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Hejduk was the fourth skater in the shootout after the first three were unsuccessful, and veered to the left for a backhander. His shot was stopped by Mike Smith's blocker, but the officials huddled and ruled it a goal, judging that Smith had thrown his stick.

On the play, Smith moved his stick out for the poke check, gripping it near the end of the handle. As he moved to his right for the save, the stick came loose and flew out of his grip. Whether or not it was intentional, the goaltender was visibly displeased with the officials' judgment.

Despite the protests of Smith and Tampa Bay head coach Rick Tocchet, the call stood and Andrew Raycroft then made a glove save on Martin St. Louis, ending the contest for an Avalanche win.

"I mean, I know it's a quick game and things happen fast, but there's four refs on the ice...four, not one," Smith said. "They have the angles covered. I mean, I made the save and then I had to drop the stick cause my stick was gonna come up in the air. You can't make that call at that point in the game, you can't. The save was already made, it was after the fact that the stick went to the ice. It's frustrating, you make a big save like that to keep your team in it and you get a call like that."

Raycroft made 37 saves through regulation and overtime for Colorado, which moved to 2-1 on its current four-game road trip. Paul Stastny tallied the lone regulation goal for the Avs.

"It was a heck of a hockey game, and for the refs to make that call, it's a gutsy call, but it's the right call," said Avalanche head coach Tony Granato. "If the goalie throws his stick in an attempt to stop a penalty shot or shootout opportunity, it's an automatic goal."

Smith turned aside 34 shots for the Lightning, who have lost two in a row after a win last Thursday halted a nine-game slide. Jeff Halpern, who made his season debut after undergoing knee surgery during the summer, notched a goal for Tampa Bay.

Stastny's tally opened the scoring at 3:46 of the first period, though at the 7:35 mark of the middle frame Halpern fired a rebound from the slot past Raycroft to make it a 1-1 game.

Smith made 13 saves in the third period, while Raycroft stopped nine shots, sending the game to overtime.

Each goaltender needed to make a handful of stops in the extra session, though Raycroft caught a bit of luck with 1:09 left. St. Louis' shot from the right side hit off the right post, and the teams eventually went to the shootout.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay forward Ryan Malone returned from a five-game absence...Colorado forward Ben Guite played for the first time since November 8. He had been out with an injury to his ribs. Avs forward Darcy Tucker also returned, having not played since November 24 because of a knee ailment...The Avs complete their road swing against the Panthers on Sunday...Tampa Bay plays at Atlanta on Saturday.