Avalanche close in on Stanley final

Turek was unlucky in goal

Colorado Avalanche 4-3 St Louis Blues
(Colorado lead best-of-seven series 3-1)

Colorado Avalanche's overtime victory gave them a commanding lead in the Western Conference finals over St Louis Blues.

Stephane Yelle gave Colorado a 3-1 lead with his first goal of the playoffs, tipping Rob Blake's feed over goaltender Roman Turek from in front of the net 4:23 into the extra period.

Turek had shaken off a bad run in the first period.

He allowed three goals in a 78-second period, allowing the Avalanche to build a seemingly impregnable 3-0 lead.

The Blues battled back, scoring twice in the second and once in the first minute of the third before the Avalanche put them on the brink of elimination.

Colorado can clinch their second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in six years with a win on home ice in Denver on Monday night.