NHL: Colorado 2, Minnesota 1

DENVER, April 20 (UPI) -- Ryan Smyth's second-period goal Saturday gave the Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 win over Minnesota, ending their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

The Avalanche won the series four games to two.

Smyth broke a 1-1 tie at 12:20 of the third period. The goal was his second of the playoffs.

Ben Guite's short-handed goal after an assist by Joe Sakic had given the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 8:02 of the first period.

Minnesota's Aaron Voros tied it with a goal 36 seconds into the second period, setting the stage for what turned out to be the game-winner by Smyth.

Colorado goaltender Jose Theodore made 34 saves and Minnesota's Nicklas Backstrom had 28.