NHL: Colorado 5, Minnesota 1

DENVER, April 16 (UPI) -- Jose Theodore stopped 24 shots Tuesday in Colorado's 5-1 win over Minnesota that tied up their Western Conference quarterfinal series 2-2.

Tyler Arnason and Ruslan Salei each scored a goal and an assist to lead the Avalanche's offense. Andrew Brunette, who spent three seasons with the Wild, also scored, as did Wojtek Wolski and Milan Hejduk. Jordan Leopold had two assists.

Minnesota's only goal came from Mikko Koivu while short-handed in the third period. Niklas Backstrom coughed up five goals on 29 shots before being swapped for Josh Harding for the final period. Harding made seven saves.

The Avalanche jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back.

The series resumes in Minnesota Thursday.