Denver, CO (Best E Casino) - David Krejci's even-strength marker late in the third period proved to be the game-winner, as the Boston Bruins kicked off the 2008-09 campaign with a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

Marc Savard registered a goal and an assist for Boston, which proved many prognosticators wrong last season by securing the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference -- its first postseason appearance since 2004 -- and pushing the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens to a decisive seventh game in the opening round.

Blake Wheeler, making his NHL debut, also found the back of the net for the Bruins. The talented Patrice Bergeron, who missed all but 10 games in '07-08 because of a concussion sustained last October after he was checked into the boards from behind by Flyers defenseman Randy Jones, collected two assists.

Tim Thomas allowed four goals on 39 shots to get the win.

"For the first game, as long as it's a win, that's what matters," said Thomas. "They (Avalanche) came out flying tonight."

Milan Hejduk recorded a goal and an assist to pace the Avalanche, who overcame a slew of injuries to significant players in 2007-08 to finish second in the Northwest Division before getting swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Red Wings in the second round of the playoffs.

Peter Budaj stopped 15-of-20 shots in defeat.

"We came out okay tonight," Colorado defenseman John-Michael Liles said. "We played well. We can improve on some things, and one of those things is we have to generate chances. We need to buckle down (defensively). It's a long year, and we'll keep improving."

The game marked the beginning of Tony Granato's second tenure as Colorado's head coach, replacing Joel Quenneville. Granato, who was an assistant coach with the club the past three years, held the same position from December 18, 2002 through the 2003-04 season.

Michael Ryder, the only off-season addition of note for Boston, gave the Bruins a 4-3 lead at the 5:36 mark of the third. Then Jordan Leopold, trailing the play, gathered a rebound in the high slot and fired a snap shot that beat Thomas on the glove side with 9:43 left on the clock.

Krejci slid the puck in behind Budaj with 2:36 to go in regulation. Bergeron went off for tripping shortly after, but Colorado failed to net the equalizer.

Although the first-period shot totals heavily favored Colorado, 20-5, the clubs were locked at two after the opening 20 minutes. Phil Kessel got things started at the 6:21 mark, snapping a wrister from the high slot. Boston captain Zdeno Chara then went off for boarding, and Colorado evened the score on the power play, but not before Budaj denied Bergeron on the breakaway.

Paul Stastny fired a backhand feed from behind the visitors' cage right on the tape of Hejduk at the edge of the crease. Hejduk then fired a perfectly placed shot over the glove of Thomas with 9:58 remaining.

Wheeler, a winger chosen fifth overall by Phoenix in the 2004 draft, tallied 49 seconds later, capping a magnificent passing sequence with a one-timer from the between the circles.

Shortly after Colorado failed to capitalize on a lengthy two-man advantage, a sprawled Thomas attempted to get his glove on a loose puck in the crease, but Wojtek Wolski poked it past the fallen netminder with 5:08 to play in the first.

Cody McLeod buried a rebound between the legs of Thomas 6:34 into the second period to put Colorado ahead. Savard, though, answered on the power play, redirecting a Chara point shot past Budaj with 9:17 remaining.

Game Notes

Hejduk's two points gave him 600 for his career...Ryder reached the 100-goal plateau...Colorado legend Joe Sakic, playing in his 20th season, picked up an assist. Sakic has recorded 27 career points in season openers, tied with the great Wayne Gretzky for third-most in NHL history...The Bruins made their first trip to Denver since December 7, 2005...Boston's Chuck Kobasew registered two assists...Last season, the Avs scored just once with a two-man advantage to rank last in the league...Colorado finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while Boston went 1-for-2.