VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 6 (UPI) -- Milan Hejduk recorded a hat trick Thursday night as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1, to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Hejduk scored the first of his three goals just 25 seconds into the game, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead. Sami Salo scored at 7:59 of the first to tie the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless second period, Hejduk scored his 33rd and 34th goals of the season in the third.
Paul Stastny assisted on all three goals, and Peter Budaj stopped 17 of 18 shots for the Avalanche, who moved within three points of Calgary for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
They are 14-1-2 in their last 17 games.
Roberto Luongo made 27 saves on 30 shots for the Canucks, who could have clinched the Northwest Division title with a victory, after Minnesota beat Edmonton, 3-0.
