NHL: Edmonton 8, Colorado 1

DENVER, March 20 (UPI) -- Sam Gagner put together a hat trick as part of an offensive display Thursday that carried the Edmonton Oilers to an 8-1 blasting of Colorado.

In a bizarre game, the Oilers scored on half their shots. Colorado's Peter Budaj was left in the contest the entire way despite giving up the eight goals on just 16 shots.

Edmonton already had a 3-1 lead when Gagner scored his first goal with 4:21 to go in the second period. He came through on the power play with 7:29 to go in the third and then produced the game's final goal with 2:40 remaining.

Ales Kotalik had a goal and three assists and Dwayne Roloson made 26 saves to get the easy win.

Edmonton opened a three-game road trip with a one-point lead over Minnesota and Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Oilers have won two straight after suffering three consecutive overtime losses.

Colorado, in last place in the West, lost its third in a row.