Avalanche douse Flames in last minute

Calgary: The Colorado Avalanche retained control of the Northwest division on Tuesday, holding off their nearest challengers, the Calgary Flames, 3-2.

Milan Hejduk's scored with 54 seconds left in the second period to break a 2-2 deadlock, while Craig Anderson proved rock solid at the net to deny the Flames an equaliser in the third.

Cody McLeod converted a snap shot for Colorado at 18 minutes in a frenetic second period in which four goals were scored.

"We gave up those two goals there at the end of the second just when we were starting to get going," Calgary coach Brent Sutter told reporters. When you're playing for first place in your division you'd like to think you can overcome mistakes."