DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche was without veteran forward Milan Hejduk in Game 4 of its Western Conference playoff series against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night.

Hejduk left Sunday’s Game 3 after a collision with forward Stastny early in the first period. Hejduk did not return, and the Avs have said he has “an upper-body injury.”

The Avalanche also played without center Kevin Porter for the second game in a row.

Hejduk, in his 11th season with the Avalanche, has scored 34 career playoff goals, third-most on the franchise’s all-time list, including a tally in Game 2 of the series with San Jose.

San Jose, meanwhile, had Dany Heatley back in the lineup. Heatley, one of the Sharks’ top offensive players, did not play in Game 3 because of an unspecified injury

Sharks strike earlyThe Sharks needed just two shots to get on the board Tuesday, as Dan Boyle scored a power play goal just 1:12 into the game.

Jeers for BlakeBlake, a former Avalanche defenseman, was booed each time he had control of the puck.

Colorado’s Milan Hejduk was injured in Game 3 against the Sharks. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS