Paul Stastny News

The United States won bronze at the world ice hockey championships after beating co-hosts Finland 3-2 in a penalty shootout on Sunday.

Paul Stastny, right, had two goals and two assists Thursday to give Team USA a spot in the hockey world championships semifinals with an 8-3 victory over Russia.

Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche had two goals and two assists, and Nashville's Craig Smith added five assists to help the United States rout Russia 8-3 on Thursday in the world hockey quarterfinals.

At the beginning of the season, nearly everyone expected the Avalanche to finish in the 7th-10th range in the West.

The Colorado Avalanche were fortunate enough to win the NHL Draft Lottery, which should help the franchise turn a corner.

Paul Stastny is currently playing under now former Colorado Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco at the IIHF World Championships, as the captain of Team USA.

Then a sophomore for Benilde-St. Margaret's High, Jablonski was paralyzed when he was accidentally checked from behind into the end boards at a holiday tournament.

Team USA opened their World Championships on Saturday with a 5-3 victory over Austria .

USA Hockey announced today that Avalanche center Paul Stastny has been given the captaincy for the 2013 U.S. Men's National Team in the upcoming IIHF World Championships.

Russia enters the 77th hockey worlds as a favorite following its dominant display in 2012, when the team had NHL players and won all 10 games en route to the title.

The Colorado Avalanche have won the 2013 NHL Draft lottery. The Avalanche had the second-best odds coming into Monday night's draft lottery at 18.8 percent.

In related news, it was announced today that Mile High Hockey will receive Avalanche press credentials sometime after hell freezes over but before pigs learn to fly.

A University of Colorado regent says he'll suggest at a meeting this week that liberal arts departments should recruit more conservative professors.

Not so much to remember this season by - it's one the Colorado Avalanche would rather forget - but possibly as a farewell memento of his career in the Mile High City.

General manager Greg Sherman says in a news release Sunday the "organization believes a change of leadership behind the bench is needed going forward." Sacco was hired in 2009 after coaching in the minors.

"Iron Man 3" is the heavy-lifter at theaters with a colossal overseas debut that overshadows a sleepy pre-summer weekend at the domestic box office.

Palushaj and Johnson will have plenty of familiar company, as they join fellow Colorado Avalanche Paul Stastny and Matt Hunwick ; both of whom were announced on the initial roster.

The Denver Post's Adrian Dater and Mike Chambers post analysis, notes, video, chats and more on this blog focusing on the Colorado Avalanche.

Dater has covered the Colorado Avalanche before they were even called the Avalanche, starting with the team's move from Quebec to Denver in 1995.

Brian Elliott notched 17 saves for St. Louis Tuesday to preserve a 3-1 win over Colorado and clinch a playoff spot for the surging Blues.