Colorado 6, New Jersey 1

Milan Hejduk scored for the first time since being named captain as the Colorado Avalanche exploded for three first-period goals en route to a 6-1 victory over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

Semyon Varlamov made 18 saves to win for the second time in three games as the Avalanche (11-13-1) improved to 5-9-0 at home and 3-3-0 on their season-long eight-game homestand.

Martin Brodeur stopped 19 shots to fall to 5-6-0 and Ilya Kovalchuk scored his fifth goal of the season for the Devils (12-10-1), who lost for only the third time on the road in their last eight games.

Hejduk opened the barrage when he snapped a wrist shot past Brodeur from inside the right face-off circle at 7:37 for his eighth goal of the season and first since donning the “C’’ eight games ago.

T.J. Galiardi and Jan Hejda also had goals in the first as Colorado scored on three of its first five shots and matched a season high for goals in the opening period.

Galiardi stole the puck from Henrik Tallinder behind the net, swung in front and beat Brodeur with a backhander on the ice to make it 2-0.

Ryan O’Reilly, Jay McClement and rookie Stefan Elliott scored in the third period. McClement’s tally was the NHL-high sixth shorthanded goal allowed by New Jersey this season.

• Colorado will play their next game at home against St. Louis . The Avalanche have a W/L % of .364 after a win and .500 after a loss.
• New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Minnesota . The Devils have a W/L % of .462 after a win and .600 after a loss.