Oilers Remain Alive With Win at Denver

The Edmonton Oilers simply weren’t ready for their season to end. So they prolonged it, for at least another two days.

Mike Grier scored two goals and Bill Guerin one, all in the third period, as the Oilers avoided playoff elimination by beating Colorado, 3-1, Thursday night at Denver.

The Oilers, who also rallied to win in the final period of the series opener here, reduced the Avalanche’s series lead to 3-2.

Game 6 is scheduled for Saturday night in Edmonton. A seventh game, if necessary, would be played Monday night in Denver.

Edmonton denied Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy’s attempt for his 100th career playoff victory--most in NHL history.

Dallas 3, San Jose 2--Mike Modano broke out of a scoring slump with two goals, including the controversial game-winner with 8:44 to play at Dallas, as the Stars took a 3-2 edge in this series.

Game 6 scheduled for Saturday night in San Jose. If Game 7 is needed, it will be played in Dallas on Monday night.

Modano, playing for $3.5 million this year, but doubling his salary when his recently signed six-year, $43.5-million deal kicks in next season, scored his second goal on a perfect centering pass from Darryl Sydor, flicking the puck behind a sprawling Mike Vernon. Modano hadn’t scored since an empty netter in the first game.

After the game, San Jose claimed Jamie Langenbrunner of the Stars was in the crease. The television replay seemed to back the Sharks’ argument.

New Jersey 3, Ottawa 1--Don’t count out the New Jersey Devils just yet. Martin Brodeur had 22 saves and also set up a short-handed, first-period goal that helped the Devils win at East Rutherford, N.J., and stay alive.

The Senators, looking to become the third No. 8-seeded team to knock off a top-seeded team, still lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

“Tonight was a gut check for us,” said Doug Gilmour, who iced the game with a third-period goal just 74 seconds after Ottawa defenseman Igor Kravchuk cut the lead to 2-1.

Game 6 will be played in Ottawa on Saturday night, with a seventh game, if necessary, in New Jersey on Monday night.

Detroit 3, Phoenix 1--Spectacular goals by Vyacheslav Kozlov and Sergei Fedorov keyed the Red Wings’ victory at Detroit, which gave them a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6 has been switched to Sunday in Phoenix. It had been scheduled for Saturday night. Game 7, if necessary, will be back in Detroit on Tuesday night.