NHL: Columbus 3, Colorado 1

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Mathieu Garon allowed only a first-period goal and made 29 saves Friday in carrying Columbus to a 3-1 victory over Colorado.

The game marked the return to action for Colorado forward Peter Forsberg, who announced last month he would attempt a comeback. Forsberg has been bothered by foot problems and had not appeared in an NHL game in almost three years.

He signed a contract last Sunday and in his first appearance had one shot in 17 minutes while skating on a line with Matt Duchene and Milan Hejduk.

Colorado has lost eight of its last nine.

The Blue Jackets faced a 1-0 deficit heading into the second period, but took the lead in that stanza on goals by Rick Nash and Derick Brassard.

Derek MacKenzie added an empty-net goal with 4 seconds left in the third. Peter Budaj stopped 29 shots for the Avalanche.