DENVER (AP) -- The goal light went on, but Chris Drury's shot didn't hit home.

	Edmonton players congratulate Alexander Selivanov, second from right, after he scored the game-winning goal.

Tommy Salo made 37 saves, including a critical stop on Drury in the game's final minutes, and the Edmonton Oilers held on for a 3-1 victory over the fading Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

"It was a big game in this building and (Salo) stole the show," Oilers coach Kevin Lowe said. "Not that I disputed that Tommy could do it or couldn't do it. I just wondered when it was going to happen."

Doug Weight scored twice and Alexander Selivanov broke a tie midway through the final period to help Edmonton open a six-point lead over Colorado in the Northwest Division.

The Avalanche, who held an eight-point advantage over Edmonton earlier this season, outshot the Oilers 38-16 but remained winless in their last five games (0-4-1).

"That game was the definition of a team in a slump," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said. "The only way we'll get out of it is to play a perfect game. We made two big mistakes on their first two goals, and that was the game right there."

Selivanov's go-ahead goal came with 8:31 left after Peter Forsberg turned the puck over on a crossing pass in the Edmonton zone. Salo came up with his improbable save on Drury with 3:49 remaining.

After a errant shot caromed off the boards behind the net, Drury briefly had an open shot, but the puck hit the left post and bounced precariously upward.

Salo dived back toward the goal and was able to grab the puck before it crossed the line. The goal judge turned on the red light behind the net, but it was quickly ruled no score.

"No way," Salo said when asked if the puck went over the line. "It hit the post, and it came out."

"I was right there," Forsberg said, "so I saw it wasn't in."

Weight added an empty-net goal in the final seconds as Edmonton prevented Roy from tying Jacques Plante (434) for second place on the NHL career victory list.

More importantly, the Oilers put some distance between themselves and Colorado. The teams play three more times in the season's final five weeks.

"They are by no means done," Edmonton forward Bill Guerin said. "They have too much firepower for that. It was an important game for us because we didn't play as well as we could and we still won. We have Tommy Salo to thank for that."

Colorado dominated the first two periods, outshooting Edmonton 31-7, but Salo came up with 30 saves as the teams headed to the third period in a 1-1 tie.

Edmonton, seeking its first division title since the 1986-87 season, tied the game at 7:44 of the second when Weight beat Roy on a breakaway just seconds after Salo stopped Joe Sakic from close range.

Salo, who played one season of minor-league hockey in Denver, was credited with his first assist of the season and fourth of his career.

"It's always nice to play back here in Denver," Salo said. "I had a really good time when I was here my first year, so it's nice to come back and play good."

Sakic gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 13:21 of the first as he redirected Jon Klemm's slap shot from the blue line. The puck sailed under Salo's left leg and bounced in off the right post, giving Sakic his first goal in eight games.