"Peter Budaj emerged from hockey's version of the witness protection program Tuesday night and became the Avalanche's star witness to its 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

Playing his first game since Jan. 8, Budaj overcame that layoff, a goal against in the first eight seconds of the game and the withering third-period pressure applied by a desperate Blues team trying to stay in the playoff chase.

Budaj's 36-save performance moved the Avs within three points of Vancouver in the Northwest Division, and nine points up on ninth-place Calgary in the Western Conference.

"We're not going to get ahead of ourselves," captain Adam Foote said. "Right now, we're playing teams that are desperate and making a playoff push, and it seems like since the Olympic break it's been nothing but playoff hockey. We saw St. Louis' best the second half of that game, and for (Budaj) to come in and do what he did against all the heat St. Louis put on him, I think that will be a big confidence-booster for himself."

The Avs got two goals and an assist from Peter Mueller, including the game-winner with 8:43 gone in the second period. It was a 4-3 game entering the third, and St. Louis put relentless pressure on at times, but Budaj stopped all 14 shots.

Chris Stewart continued his torrid play with a game-clinching goal on Blues goalie Chris Mason with 2:46 left — finishing off a 3-on-2 break.

When Budaj allowed an Alex Steen goal on the first shift of the game, eight seconds in, it looked to be one of those nights. Despite allowing two more and having a Keith Tkachuk goal questionably overturned by the referee's whistle, Budaj was unquestionably the game's best player in the money third period.

"I felt a little rusty, but when we came to the third period, I felt really well," Budaj said. "I was fighting it a little bit, with a bad start, but I just tried to stay ready. It was like a playoff game. St. Louis came out with everything, but guys were blocking shots and I was able to make some saves on the shots that came through.""