from Semyon Varlamov

TORONTO -- A depleted Maple Leafs lineup was unable to keep pace with the surging Colorado Avalanche, reducing the list of NHL unbeatens by one. Steven Gerrard Liverpool Jersey . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. The Avalanche got another terrific start from Semyon Varlamov in net. The 25-year-old Russian has now stopped 88 of 91 shots in three games. Tied 1-1 going into the third, Colorado went ahead at 2:30 on a two-on-one with Jamie McGinn setting up Parenteau, who may not have known too much about it as the puck deflected in off his skate past a sliding defenceman Jake Gardiner. "Video review supported the referees call on the ice that Jamie McGinns shot deflected off P.A. Parenteau and entered the net in a legal fashion," the NHL said in explaining the call. "According to Rule 78.4 if an attacking player has the puck deflect into the net, off his skate or body, in any manner, the goal shall be allowed. Good goal Colorado." Avs rookie Nathan MacKinnon, the 18-year-old first overall pick in the 2013 draft, got an assist -- his fourth of the young season -- on Parenteaus third goal of the season. "It was a great team effort, great team effort," said Avs coach Patrick Roy. Joffrey Lupul scored for a depleted Toronto (3-1-0), which charged hard during a power play midway through the third period but was unable to score. "That was a big (penalty) kill for us," Roy said. "Guys were there for a long time, and then they sacrificed their body." Jay McClements absence due to his wife going into labour further stripped a Leaf lineup already missing Mark Fraser, Nikolai Kulemin and Frazer McLaren through injury and David Clarkson due to suspension. "Youre going to have to deal with adversity throughout the course of the season," said Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle. "And injuries and birth of children, family illness -- all those things roll into the things that you have to deal with. Were no different than anybody else." Said Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf: "We gave up too many chances. Bernie (Bernier) kept us in it. It was right there for us." While Torontos loss column grew by one, so did the Leafs family. McClements wife gave birth to a baby boy. Toronto seemed off its game, reflected perhaps at the morning skate when Carlyle huddled his troops early in a bid to focus them on the task that lay ahead. Colorado, playing an up-tempo exciting brand of hockey under Roy, outshot Toronto 33-28 including 15-7 in the second period. The Avs outhit Toronto 44-33 and won 60 per cent of faceoffs. The game, which started as a goatending display before 19,388 at the Air Canada Centre, was the first between the two teams since October 2011 and offered Toronto fans a first NHL look at MacKinnon. The centre from Cole Harbour, N.S., who is living with veteran goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and his family in Denver, is playing on the Avs third line with McGinn and Parenteau. He has collected a point in each of his games including two assists in his NHL debut Oct. 2 -- at the age of 18 years 31 days. That made him the youngest NHL player to collect two points in a game since Jan. 8, 1944, when Ted Kennedy registered four points for the Leafs at the age of 18 years 27 days. MacKinnon did not look out of place, although a failed clearance from his own defensive end led to Lupuls goal. Bernier got the nod in goal for Toronto after stopping 46 of 47 shots in one start and a relief appearance. Both goalies were rock-solid with Bernier continuing to impress with his positioning and rebound control. Varlamov, meanwhile, had plenty of help from his defence in clearing loose pucks. It was a free-wheeling start to the game with few stoppages and a lot of rushes. Bernier had the crowd ooohing when he showed a quick glove hand in stopping Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog five minutes in. Varlamov returned the favour with a little over five minutes remaining in the period, sticking out a leg to deny Lupul in full flight. Carlyle, meanwhile, tweaked his personnel by pairing Nazem Kadri with tough guy Colton Orr and Carter Ashton on the third line. The fourth line featured Troy Bodie, Trevor Smith and Jamie Devane. The smooth-skating first period was followed by a sloppy opening to the second. But play began to open up and Toronto went ahead at 13:12 of the second when Lupul stuffed the pack past Varlamov on a scramble that ensued after a Colorado giveaway. The Avs goalie was down and seemingly had the puck underneath him but did not get a whistle and the Leafs jammed it during the ensuing melee. Lupul, scoring his second of the season, helped his own cause by bodying MacKinnon in the corner as he tried to clear the puck. Ashton got an assist for his first NHL point. Bodie and Colorados Cody McCleod fought after a faceoff late in the period as Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke, Bodies father-in-law, watched from the second row behind the Leaf bench. A late flurry by Bodie had Leiweke on his feet. The Avs finally solved Bernier at 16:39 when Sarich beat him from an acute angle high to the short side. The Leafs goalie seemed to be expecting a pass rather than a shot. "He made a good shot but thats definitely a save that Ive got to make and its a routine save," lamented Bernier. "Thats a goal that I want to take back." It was the 35-year-old defencemans 21st career goal -- and his first since Jan. 10, 2012. And it snapped a stretch of 56 saves and 110 minutes 50 seconds without a goal for Bernier. "Hes given us a chance to win every time hes been in there. And been spectacular at some points," said Lupul. "We cant ask anything more of him." Samed Yesil Liverpool Jersey . Liverpool is at the top at Christmas for the first time since 2008 after scoring 42 goals. Only Manchester City has been more lethal in front of goal, with the team — a point behind Liverpool and Arsenal in third — scoring 51 goals in 17 games. Jordan Henderson Liverpool Jersey .J. -- If people were looking for Richard Sherman to get the weeklong hype for the Super Bowl started with another rant, the Seattle cornerback disappointed them.LA MOLINA, Spain - Canadas Dominique Maltais capped her snowboard cross season title by winning the final World Cup of the season on Saturday. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-François, Que., overtook and held off Lindsey Jacobellis to edge out the American and win the womens final under sunny skies in the Pyrenees mountains. Raffaella Brutto of Italy finished third after Yuka Fujimori of Japan crashed. Maltais, who won the silver medal at the Sochi Olympics, finished the season with 5,400 points. Jacobellis was next with 3,760, followed by Alexandra Jekova of Bulgaria with 2,850. "I knew that the crystal globe was waiting for me already," Maltais said. "But I love what I do, so I really wanted to end the season on a good way. Im very happy about my careers fifth title." Maltais called it a "great race on a great course." "It was tight racing from quarter-finals through finals," she said. "I pushed myself a lot because I wanted to finish the season with a big win." Paul Berg of Germany earneed his first career individual win. Jon Flanagan Jersey. Berg rode flawlessly to finish ahead of Olympic silver medallist Nikolay Olyunin, with Spaniard Regino Hernandez coming third after he and Calgarys Christopher Robanske slowed each other down early in the descent. On Friday, Omar Visintin of Italy claimed the mens season title when Australian Jarryd Hughes, the only rider with a chance to overtake Visintin in the standings, failed to qualify. Visintin didnt advance beyond Saturdays quarter-finals. Olympic champion Pierre Vaultier of France fell early in the round of 16. Berg and Robanske both moved ahead of Hughes in the standings. Bergs win lifted him into second place to end the season with 2,150 points, behind Visintins 3,076. Robanske ended the campaign in third with 2,120. "Im speechless," Berg said. "Yesterday, I was happy about my good result in the qualifications. Today, I just wanted to go for it and challenge the big names. I never thought about winning a World Cup this season. Its still such a surprise." ' ' '