NHL: Vancouver 1, Colorado 0

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 29 (UPI) -- Cory Schneider withstood a 43-shot barrage Wednesday to record his third shutout of the season and give the Vancouver Canucks a 1-0 victory over Colorado.

The Avalanche lost their fourth in a row and suffered a major setback in a bid to make the playoffs.

Colorado is in 10th place, two points out of a playoff position, but has played two more games than any of the teams it is trying to catch in the post-season chase. The Avalanche have just four games left to play.

Semyon Varlamov took the hard-luck loss while making 21 saves. The only goal he allowed came shorthanded from Chris Higgins late in the first period.

The Canucks, who have already wrapped up a playoff berth, moved within two points of both the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues for the best record in the NHL. All three teams have five games remaining.