Last Game: Colorado Avalanche 3 at St. Louis Blues 1

ST. LOUIS -- Another injured star didn't slow down the Colorado Avalanche.

Joe Sakic had a goal and two assists, and Peter Forsberg had two first-period assists before injuring his right arm in the Colorado Avalanche's 3-1 victory Thursday night over the St. Louis Blues.

The Avalanche, who lead the NHL with 109 points, have won four in a row and have lost only once (12-1-1-2) in 16 games. They began the game without goalie Patrick Roy, who is day to day with knee tendinitis, and defenseman Rob Blake, who has a sprained knee.

Forsberg, who assisted on both of the Avalanche's first-period goals, was not on the bench for the second or third periods due to a bruised forearm.

"It's not bad," Forsberg said. "It's bruised and was tough to move. It's pretty tough to continue when your arm hurts."

Playing without Blake and, after the first period, Forsberg, Colorado leaned heavily on rookie backup goalie David Aebischer the last two periods as the Avalanche shifted gears into defensive hockey. The Blues had a 10-4 shot advantage in the second period and 15-4 the third, but got only a third-period power-play goal from Jochen Hecht.

"I didn't have much to do in the first period, but then they really came on," Aebischer said. "They were desperate."

Ville Nieminen wrapped it up for Colorado, beating rookie Brent Johnson on a power play with 1:28 to go. Sakic, who has a goal each of the last five games, assisted on the play. We're trying to secure the best possible playoff spot and there's no sense giving life to anyone," coach Bob Hartley said. "We're going for the jugular."

The victory set a franchise record for points for Colorado, which had 107 in 1996-97. The Blues have the NHL's best home record at 25-5-4-3, but have lost twice at the Savvis Center this month to the Avalanche. Colorado also won 5-2 on March 8.

St. Louis also lost 4-3 in overtime at home on Tuesday to the New York Islanders, who are last overall in the NHL. The Blues, who were first overall in the league in the middle of February, have won only once (1-6-3-1) in 11 games.

Colorado dominated the first period, outshooting the Blues 9-0 before Keith Tkachuk nearly scored on a deflection at about the 11-minute mark, and 14-3 overall. Both early goals came on the power play.

"The game was basically lost in the first 20 minutes," Blues coach Joel Quenneville said. "The start wasn't what we look for."

Sakic got his 45th on a 2-on-1 with Forsberg at 6:24. Milan Hejduk got his 41st at 9:04 with a quick shot off a setup from behind the net by Forsberg, with Sakic also assisting. Hecht deflected a slap shot from Al MacInnis for his 19th goal at 2:11 of the third. "I think we're all used to each other, and a lot of teams made trades," Tkachuk said. "We can use that as an excuse but that's all it is, an excuse."

Game Notes: Blues forward Tyson Nash reinjured his right knee in the first period. Nash missed 16 games with a torn ligament and this was his second game back. Pierre Turgeon played in the 1,000th game of his career. Colorado is 61-15-9-1 the last two seasons when scoring the first goal. Hejduk has four goals and five assists over the course of his current six game point streak. Joe Sakic now has an eight-game point streak (8g/7a) and a five-game goal streak. Peter Forsberg has a four-game point/assist streak (7a). Colorado won the season series against the Blues 2-0-1-1.

First Period: Scoring: 1, Colorado, Sakic 45 (power play) (Forsberg, Drury), 6:24. 2, Colorado, Hejduk 41 (power play) (Forsberg, Sakic), 9:03. Penalties: Nieminen, Col (hooking), 3:25; Young, Stl (holding the stick), 5:06; Khavanov, Stl (interference), 8:34; Stillman, Stl (hooking), 16:04; Skoula, Col (hooking), 18:56.

Second Period: Scoring: None. Penalties: Podein, Col (interference), 10:15; Parker, Col (holding), 16:11.

Third Period: Scoring: 3, St Louis, Hecht 19 (power play) (MacInnis, Turgeon), 2:11. 4, Colorado, Nieminen 13 (power play) (Drury, Sakic), 18:32. Penalties: Hejduk, Col (interference), 1:51; Tkachuk, Stl (goaltender interference), 16:51.

Power-Play Conversions: Colorado - 3 of 4, St. Louis - 1 of 5. Goalies: Colorado, Aebischer (28 shots, 27 saves; record: 11-5-3). St Louis, Johnson (22 shots, 19 saves; record: 19-8-2). A: 19,829. Referees: Koharski, Peel. Linesmen: Rody, Scapinello.