The Associated Press

Colorado fans had plenty of opportunity to throw hats on the Pepsi Center ice this weekend. First Milan Hejduk scored three goals, then Peter Forsberg turned the hat trick.

In a rare set of home games on consecutive days, the Avalanche swept Detroit and Calgary behind the cluster of goals by Hejduk and Forsberg. Hejduk had his three Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Red Wings. Then Forsberg got three as the Avs beat Calgary 4-2.

Colorado is on a 7-0-2 streak that has carried it to fifth in the Western Conference, and the Avs are closing in on Northwest Division leader Vancouver.

"We've got to keep riding this wave," Forsberg said. "I wasn't happy with the way I was playing earlier in the year, and the team wasn't playing well, either. Right now, we're playing solid hockey, and when you do that you have a chance to win every night.

"We moved past Minnesota tonight. We've got to keep on winning and moving up."

In other NHL games Sunday, New Jersey beat Minnesota 3-2, Anaheim edged Carolina 2-1, Montreal blanked Washington 2-0, and Dallas beat Los Angeles 3-1.

Forsberg, scored on his first three shots for his sixth career hat trick and second this season. He missed an empty net in the closing seconds for what would have been his first four-goal game.

"Some nights they go in," Forsberg said. "I was a little fortunate on the second goal. But when you get the chances, you have to bury them."

Forsberg almost singlehandedly buried Calgary, although backup goalie David Aebischer, winless in his previous five starts, had 38 saves for Colorado.

"We saw too much of Peter Forsberg," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said. "We couldn't match up against him, and he took advantage of it. You try to figure out when he's coming. You hope your best players can keep up with him. We couldn't do it."

Canadiens 2, Capitals 0

At Washington, Mathieu Garon made 25 saves in his first start of the season as Montreal snapped its four-game losing streak. Saku Koivu and Jan Bulis scored for the Canadiens.

It was the third shutout of Garon's career and first since Jan. 12, 2001, against Atlanta.

Devils 3, Wild 2

At East Rutherford, N.J., Martin Brodeur stopped 19 shots for his league-leading 30th win of the season. It marked the eighth straight season in which Brodeur has won at least 30 games. No other goalie in NHL history has done that.

The victory moved New Jersey within a point of the Ottawa Senators for most points in the Eastern Conference.

Patrick Elias, Colin White and Jamie Langenbrunner scored for New Jersey.

Mighty Ducks 2, Carolina 1

At Anaheim, Calif., Paul Kariya scored his 20th goal and Jason Krog got his first career short-handed goal as the Mighty Ducks dealt the Hurricanes their sixth straight loss.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 28 saves for the Ducks, who have won five of their last six games and 10 of 14. They have a two-point edge over Chicago for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

The Hurricanes have gone from Stanley Cup finalists last spring to last in the Southeast Division after their 14th loss in 15 games. They have dropped eight straight on the road, getting outscored 37-14.

Stars 3, Kings 1

At Dallas, Mike Modano and Rob DiMaio scored in a 48-second span of the second period, and Modano, playing in his 999th career game, added a third-period goal.

Marty Turco made 24 saves for the Stars, 17-0 at home when leading after two periods. Dallas is unbeaten in its last six games (5-0-1) and is 19-2-4-1 at home this season.

The injury-riddled Kings are missing 10 players.