Forsberg, Hejduk help Avalanche close in on West playoff spot

NEW YORK: The Colorado Avalanche produced four goals in the second period to earn a crucial 6-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night in Denver.

Milan Hejduk scored twice and Peter Forsberg had three assists as the Avalanche moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference, two points up on the Canucks.

Forsberg doubled his points total since rejoining the team earlier this month and signing a $1 million deal for the rest of the season.

The Swede has still yet to score a goal, however, in his second spell with the Avalanche.

"At least I was playing a little better today than I was in the past couple of games," Forsberg told reporters. "Those weren't the prettiest points, but I'll take them anyway.

"It's great to be playing with Milan - he's such a natural goalscorer."

Paul Stastny had a goal and two assists for Colorado with Jordan Leopold, Cody McLeod and Ben Guite also scoring for the Avalanche. Jose Theodore made 28 saves in a winning effort.

Colorado also moved four points ahead of the Nashville Predators with the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference poised to come down to the final two weeks of the regular season.

Vancouver, meanwhile, dropped to eighth spot in the West, just two points ahead of Nashville after a third straight loss.

Robert Luongo was pulled after the fifth Colorado goal, Guite's marker at 11:31 of the second period, after allowing five goals on 23 shots.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, the Minnesota Wild took top spot in the Northwest Division with a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

The Wild, who started a four-game homestand with a victory, moved a point above Calgary in the Northwest.

Minnesota started fast, scoring two goals on its first four shots to make things tough on Edmonton, which stayed last in the division but within three points of the last Western Conference playoff berth.

In Anaheim, California, the home team clinched a playoff berth with a shootout 2-1 win over Los Angeles.

Mathieu Schneider and Teemu Selanne scored for the reigning Stanley Cup champions in the shootout.

In Columbus, Ohio, Clay Wilson had a goal and his first assist in his second NHL game to lead Columbus over Chicago 4-1.

The Blue Jackets, who scored three times in the third period, ended a three-game losing streak.

Agencies

(China Daily 03/28/2008 page24)