NHL

• Stastny helps Avs take 3-2 lead in series

  
  

  Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Wojtek Wolski and Paul Stastny scored goals 1:19 apart in the third period, as Colorado edged Minnesota, 3-2, in Game 5 of the teams' Western Conference quarterfinal series.

  Andrew Brunette also scored, while Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk added two assists apiece for the Avalanche, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-2, and get a chance to close it out in Game 6, set for Saturday in Denver.

  Jose Theodore made 38 saves, helping Colorado win despite being out-shot 40-17.

  Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard had the goals for Minnesota, while Niklas Backstrom allowed all three goals in the loss.

  Two quick goals in the third period broke a tie and gave Colorado the advantage in a defensive-minded game.

  With less than 10 seconds left in an Avalanche power play, Wolski wound up on a one-timer from the right circle that flew past Backstrom for a 2-1 Colorado lead, at 5:06.

  Then, just 1:19 later, Stastny -- Colorado's points leader during the regular season -- tallied for his first point of the postseason. As Minnesota was trying to advance the puck out of its defensive zone, Hejduk intercepted a pass, and skated near the left circle.

  Hejduk then sent a pass to the right of the net, where Stastny accepted it, pivoted, and lofted a backhander over Backstrom for a crucial 3-1 Avalanche lead.

  Colorado looked like it was cruising to the finish, holding Minnesota to single-digit shots for the only period of the contest. But with under 10 seconds left, the Wild won a face-off in the Avalanche end, and Rolston's blast from the high slot beat Theodore low to bring Minnesota back within one.

  However, with just three ticks left, the resulting face-off was benign, as the Wild could only get off a shot from beyond center ice that was well off the mark.

  Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the first period with its first power-play tally. With Todd Fedoruk in the box for hooking, Brunette lofted the puck over Backstrom at 12:24.

  But with just 40 seconds left in the stanza, Bouchard pushed the equalizer past Theodore. The second period was scoreless, with Theodore stopping 15 shots and Backstrom turning aside eight. Game Notes

  Rolston had a game-high eight shots...Colorado has scored the first goal in all five games in the series...Wild star right winger Marian Gaborik, who led the team in points and goals during the regular season, has yet to record a point in the postseason.

  04/18 00:00:17 ET