Edmonton led 3-0 after the first period and hung on when the teams scored seven times in the third.

Gagner's 11th goal this season was part of the three-goal first period and his 12th, at 10:48 of the third, proved to be a game-winner.

Dustin Penner, Fernando Pisani, Kyle Brodziak, Marc Pouliot and Marty Reasoner (empty net, unassisted) also scored.

Ales Hemsky had three assists while goaltender Dwayne Roloson gave up five goals on 34 Colorado shots for the Oilers, who have pulled within three points of Colorado of the final playoff Western Conference playoff spot.

Colorado got a goal and an assist from Milan Hejduk and one goal each from Tyler Arnason, Ruslan Salei, Wojtek Wolski and John-Michael Liles.

Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny both had two assists and Jose Theodore and Peter Budaj gave up six goals on 29 shots for the Avalanche, who have lost four straight.