(My Sportsbook) - Patrick Roy made 18 saves for his first shutout of the season, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-0 rout of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Pepsi Center on Thursday.

"We went as hard as we could last night," Columbus interim coach Doug MacLean said. "After a game like that where you go full out, it makes it a tougher hill to climb. Plus, you've got a desperate team over there that's fighting for their (playoff) lives."

The Blue Jackets, who have lost two straight and five of their last six (1-5-0), were also shut out for just the second time this season.

Marc Denis started in net for the Blue Jackets, but was pulled after allowing five goals on 36 shots. He has lost all six of his starts against his former team.

Roy stopped eight shots in the first period, then turned aside five each in the second and third to preserve his 62nd career shutout. He improved to 8-0-0 lifetime against the Blue Jackets and Colorado has won all 10 meetings with Columbus.

Colorado cashed in a power play just 3:36 into the contest to take a 1-0 lead. The puck made its way to the right point for Rob Blake, who sent it toward the left point. Derek Morris had already wound up and rifled a one-timer past a screened Denis for his fifth goal.

The Avalanche had a chance to make it 2-0 with 7:52 left in the opening period when Dean McAmmond was hooked on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. Denis was able to get a piece of McAmmond's penalty shot to keep it a one-goal game.

Steven Reinprecht scored his ninth on another Colorado power play just 46 seconds into the second period for a 2-0 edge. Peter Forsberg tried to send a pass from the low right circle toward the crease, but the puck deflected off the skate of a Columbus defender and went directly to Reinprecht, who quickly flipped a shot from the right side of the crease past Denis.

The Avalanche scored on another power play with 4:08 left in the second to build a 3-0 edge. Blake was tripped in the left circle and lost the puck, but Adam Foote snuck in from the point and snapped a shot from the slot past Denis for his fourth goal.

"They get up 3-0 on three power-play goals, it's tough," MacLean said. "Their power play was clicking. Give them full marks."

Mike Keane knocked the puck past Denis from a sharp angle at 6:23 of the third for his fifth goal and Smith scored just over five minutes later with a shot from the left circle. D.J. Smith's first NHL goal also ended Denis' night.

WHAT'S AHEAD

The Blue Jackets will start a four-game homestand against the New York Islanders on Saturday and will close the stand with visits from Colorado, Nashville and Vancouver.