Jones paces Avalanche past Blue Jackets

David Jones had two goals and an assist in his return from a hand injury and two former Columbus prospects scored 6 minutes apart in the second period in the Colorado Avalanche's 5-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Greg Mauldin scored his first career goal, short-handed at 10:57 off a pass from Jones, to put Colorado ahead 2-1. Philippe Dupuis added a goal with 2:48 left, and Paul Stastny made it 4-1 with 9 seconds left in the second period.

Columbus, coming off an 8-1 victory over St. Louis on Wednesday night, struck first when Antoine Vermette scored at 4:15, but Jones countered 2 minutes later after missing the previous two games. He scored his sixth of the season with 2:08 left in the third period.

The Avalanche have beaten the Blue Jackets six straight times.

The Avalanche took the lead on Columbus' first power play. Jones took an errant pass in front of the Colorado bench to create an odd-man rush. Mauldin took a centering pass in the slot and beat goalie Steve Mason to the stick side.

Mauldin, who played six games with the Blue Jackets in 2003-04 and one with the New York Islanders last season, was recalled from the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters on Thursday because the Avalanche have eight regulars injured.

Dupuis, who had his first NHL goal Nov. 6 against Dallas, made it a two-goal advantage, taking a feed from John-Michael Liles at the near post and ramming the puck between Mason's pads. Mason fell across the line because Dupuis was checked into him, but the goal stood after a review.

Dupuis was a fourth-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2003 but never played for them.

The Blue Jackets had a prime opportunity to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 2 minutes left in the second period, but Antoine Vermette missed an open net.