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Stars, Avalanche try to advance

DENVER, April 19 (UPI) -- Colorado and Dallas look to move one step closer to a potential meeting in the NHL's Western Conference finals on Saturday.

Colorado, the third seed in the West, holds a three games to one lead, and hosts the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon. The Avalanche won the franchise's second Stanley Cup in 2001 before losing in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings in last year's Western Conference finals.

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After a 4-2 loss to the Wild in Game One of their quarterfinal series, the Avalanche have scored three goals in each of the last three games. On Wednesday, Patrick Roy came within 2:40 of his second straight shutout, and Joe Sakic scored twice as the Avalanche posted a 3-1 win in Minneapolis.

Dallas, the top seed, has won the last two games against Edmonton, and visits the Skyreach Centre for Game Six on Saturday night. The Stars missed the playoffs last year after winning five straight divisional titles and the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 1999.

The Avalanche and Stars will not have to contend with the team that won three of the last six Stanley Cups, the Detroit Red Wings. Anaheim became the first team to advance to the conference semis on Wednesday, when Steve Rucchin scored 6:53 into overtime for a 3-2 win and stunning sweep of the Red Wings.

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With a win Saturday, the Stars will face the Mighty Ducks in the West semifinals, while the Avalanche would face either Vancouver or St. Louis.

In Saturday's other game, fourth-seeded Philadelphia hosts fifth-seeded Toronto in Game Five of the East quarterfinals.

The Flyers evened that series at two games apiece on Wednesday, when Mark Recchi's wrist shot trickled between the pads of goaltender Ed Belfour 13:54 into triple overtime for a 3-2 win at Toronto.

The Maple Leafs won Game Three, 4-3, in double overtime.

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