Forsberg’s Goals Lead Avalanche

Peter Forsberg had two goals and an assist to help the Colorado Avalanche defeat the Dallas Stars, 3-2, Sunday at Denver in the second game between the teams in 29 hours.

“I thought it had playoff atmosphere,” Forsberg said. “Every time we play them we expect a hot battle and we had one today.”

Chris Drury also scored for the Avalanche, which increased its NHL-best point total to 101 and retained a seven-point cushion over the Detroit Red Wings for the top spot in the West.

Dallas remained three points ahead of San Jose in the battle for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The two games in two days resembled a playoff format for teams already familiar with one another. Dallas has eliminated Colorado in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in each of the past two seasons.

“I’d like it to be where we get to the finals without having to play them because they’re a dynamite team,” Star forward Grant Marshall said.

“I think the respect level’s there between the teams. Whoever pushes the most is going to be successful.”

Washington 6, Ottawa 5--Steve Konowalchuk scored with 1:28 left at Washington, capping a four-goal rally in the third period for the Capitals, who extended their winning streak to five games.

Calgary 3, Atlanta 3--Steve Staios and Hnat Domenichelli scored power-play goals in the final 9:29 of regulation for the Thrashers at Atlanta.

Edmonton 3, Carolina 2--Daniel Cleary scored with 2:15 left at Raleigh, N.C., as the Oilers tied a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory.

Detroit 3, Minnesota 2--Brendan Shanahan scored on a power play 37 seconds into overtime to lift the Red Wings--who rallied from a two-goal deficit--at St. Paul, Minn.

Florida 4, N.Y Islanders 1--Panther Pavel Bure had his third hat trick of the season--extending his league-leading goal total to 48--and added an assist in the victory at Uniondale, N.Y.

Around the League

Jason Blake of the New York Islanders will not play the rest of the season so he can be with his wife, who has thyroid cancer and is to give birth April 1. “She’s doing all right, but it’s tough for her to be at home by herself,” said Blake, who was acquired from the Kings in January. “It was the team’s idea to give me the rest of the season to be with her.” Sara Blake, 23, is carrying the couple’s first child. She has a lump in her throat the size of a golf ball. Blake said she would be induced in one week, then undergo surgery. . . . The Columbus Blue Jackets sent defenseman Radim Bicanek to Syracuse, a day after he was recalled from the American Hockey League affiliate. . . Vancouver reassigned defenseman Bryan Allen to Kansas City of the International Hockey League.