Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Jose Theodore made 26 saves as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-1, at the Pepsi Center.

Tyler Arnason, Jeff Finger and Ben Guite each had a goal for the Avalanche, who have won four of their last five games.

Fredrik Modin had the lone goal while Pascal Leclaire made 24 saves in the loss for the Blue Jackets, who have dropped their last two games.

"It was an important game," said Columbus defenseman Rostislav Klesla. "We didn't get the two points. We didn't do what we are capable of doing. We were fresh today so we have no excuse."

Colorado got on the scoreboard with 2:04 left in the first period as Finger's slap shot at the right point beat Leclaire through a screen for his fourth goal of the season.

"I got a great pass and it gave me a lot of time," said Finger. "Lappy (Ian Laperriere) read the play beautifully, crossed in front of the net and made it easy for me."

Theodore stopped seven shots in the first 20 minutes.

The Avs made it a 2-0 game at the 7:40 mark of the second period as David Jones got a shot on net that Leclaire stopped, but Guite got the puck in the net on his second try.

Theodore made nine saves in the middle frame to keep Columbus off the board.

Colorado took a 3-0 lead 3:33 into the third period as Wojtek Wolski flew into the Columbus end, faked a shot and dished it to the left side where Arnason tapped the puck into the open net.

Columbus got on the board just 40 seconds later as Rick Nash sent a backhand pass from behind the Colorado net to the slot, where Modin one-timed the puck into the net for his first goal of the season.