Apparently, Avalanche fans are going to need a little more proof that their team is as good as its record before they start showing up in larger numbers.

The smallest crowd in Avs history witnessed Colorado’s Western Conference-leading 11th win and 24th point Wednesday night, a 4-1 triumph over the Phoenix Coyotes. The announced attendance of 11,012 was more than 2,000 fewer than the previous low crowd, but that didn’t stop the Avs from staying perfect (5-0) on home ice.

“Our job is just to go out and play hockey and our job is to provide entertainment for our fans,” Avs coach Joe Sacco said. “I think that we’ve done a good job of that this year so far.”

Two goals by veteran right wing Milan Hejduk and three assists from linemate Paul Stastny supported goalie Peter Budaj in his first start of the season. He stopped 28-of-29 shots in his first game since April 11.

“It was a long time since the last time I was in net, so I was happy to play tonight, and the guys played good in front of me,” Budaj said. “I was seeing the puck well, and the guys cleared out the front of the net well. I wasn’t screened much, and that made a big difference.”

The Avs are still struggling offensively, but the top line, with Stastny and Hejduk, broke out of its mini-slump. The duo combined on the first goal of the game, just 57 seconds in, when Hejduk tipped in Kyle Quincey’s pass on the power play, with Stastny getting the second assist.

Colorado nursed that 1-0 lead until the 6:43 mark of the third period, when Marek Svatos — moved up to the top line with Hejduk and Stastny for the period — got his first point in 10 games. Svatos made a gorgeous little poke shot off a rebound in front, tucking the puck up high to the far post of Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

“Sometimes you’re not going to get the nicest goals,” Stastny said. “You need a bounce here or there to get everyone going. It was not too pretty offensively, but Budaj gave us a chance to win tonight.”

The Coyotes — the butt of many a joke the last 12 months given their precarious ownership situation and attendance problems — look like a much improved team and could have won the game with a little better marksmanship and smarts.

Veteran Ed Jovanovski scored Phoenix’s only goal but hurt his team’s cause with a foolish cross check against Stastny 54 seconds into a Coyotes power play, with the score 2-1 and 6:46 remaining in the game.

“When they took that penalty, it did alleviate some of the pressure,” Sacco said. “Overall, our penalty killing (second in the NHL entering the game) has been a lot better over the course of the last eight to 10 games.”

David Jones added an empty-netter for the Avs, and Hejduk added one more for good measure, drawing a hearty cheer from those still on hand.

“It was a tough game,” Hejduk said. “They played pretty well. We’re just so happy for Peter to get back in and get a win, after what he’s been through lately.”

Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com