Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ryan Smyth's second-period goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 6 of their quarterfinals series at the Pepsi Center.

Ben Guite also scored, while Jose Theodore stopped 34-of-35 shots for the sixth-seeded Avalanche, who avenged an opening round loss to the Wild in 2003.

"One step closer," Theodore said. "Now we get a chance to watch the other teams. I thought we played a solid 60 minutes, tonight was our best game. We knew it was going to be tight, but we have more experience and it helped."

Aaron Voros scored the lone goal for third-seeded Minnesota, while Niklas Backstrom allowed two goals on 30 shots in defeat.

"Before the series started, everyone was confident," Minnesota's Marian Gaborik said. "We split the first two (games) and got the lead in the third and then they took off from there. Everyone tried hard, tried their best."

The Avalanche opened the scoring with a short-handed goal at the 8:02 mark of the first period. As David Jones served a two-minute minor for goaltender interference, Minnesota turned the puck over at the offensive blue line. Joe Sakic collected the puck and dished to Guite, who skated straight down the middle of the ice on a breakaway and snapped a shot that beat Backstrom on the glove side.

Minnesota lit the lamp early in the second period. A turnover by Colorado deep in their zone resulted in an odd-man rush for the Wild. Gaborik sent a perfect pass that Voros hammered over the glove of Theodore 36 seconds into the stanza.

Colorado reclaimed the lead with 7:40 to play before the second intermission. Jones gathered the puck behind the net and dished to Smyth, whose quick one- timer from the bottom of the left circle went up and under the crossbar.

The Wild pressured the Avs in the third, taking nine shots on goal, but Theodore was a brick wall. In the final minute, Backstrom raced to the bench in favor of an extra attacker, but the Wild couldn't net the equalizer.