DENVER -- In a series loaded with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy have distinguished themselves.

With Roy's goaltending keeping the games close and Forsberg's prolific scoring adding to his incredible comeback, the Avalanche are one win away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals after beating the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in overtime Monday night.

Roy stopped 26 shots, while Forsberg set up Colorado's first goal and scored the game-winner as the Avalanche took a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Game 6 is Wednesday night in Denver (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET).

"It seems like he finds another notch to his game, game after game,'' Colorado coach Bob Hartley said of Forsberg's spectacular run in the playoffs after missing the entire regular season because of injuries. "I don't know what else I can say. He's unbelievable.''

Forsberg leads the league with 27 points in the playoffs and is tied with teammate Joe Sakic for the NHL lead with nine goals. But he's also giving the Avalanche the little things that can make the difference between a win and a loss.

He has worked hard to fish pucks out of the corners, taken abuse from the Red Wings throughout the series and has been the best two-way player in the series.

Forsberg set up Steven Reinprecht's goal in the first period of Game 5 by feathering a pass though a defender's legs, and he also harassed Detroit's Brendan Shanahan into hitting the left post on a wide-open shot in the closing minutes.

"He amazes me at least once a period, if not every shift,'' said Reinprecht, who plays on Colorado's second line with Forsberg and Chris Drury.

Roy struggled with inconsistency early in the playoffs, but has been the main reason the Avalanche have a chance to close out the Red Wings instead of just trying to stay alive in the series.

Roy has allowed four or more goals four times in the playoffs and made two gaffes that directly led to two goals in Game 2.

Since then, he has stopped an incredible 96 shots in three games while helping the Avalanche keep the series close despite being outplayed at times.

He stopped 40 shots in Game 3, a 2-1 overtime loss, then saved 16 in the first period of Game 4 to allow the Avalanche to rally for a 3-2 victory. Roy had perhaps his best game of the series Monday night, turning away 26 shots, including four in overtime.

"He's so poised in there, very sharp,'' Hartley said. "He's moving the puck very well and he's very confident. By him being very confident, it makes us confident.''

Detroit must win two straight games against the defending Stanley Cup champions to avoid elimination, but the Red Wings' road record in the playoffs at least gives them hope that the series can return to Detroit for a Game 7 on Friday.

Detroit is 5-2 on the road, including three straight victories in Vancouver after losing the first two at home in the opening round.

The Red Wings also dominated Colorado in Game 3 in Denver, out-shooting the Avalanche 33-14 after the first period in a 2-1 overtime victory.

"We have a good road record in the season, plus the playoffs,'' Detroit coach Scotty Bowman said. "That's what you've got to take with you.''

Detroit goalie Dominik Hasek was critical of his team following losses in Games 4 and 5. He didn't let up Tuesday.

"We've made some mistakes. I would say mental mistakes,'' said Hasek, who stopped 27 shots in Game 5. "They've played a little bit smarter. Both teams work very hard, but I think they play a little bit smarter.''

Hasek said the Red Wings' biggest mistakes have come in the neutral zone.

"We make some mistakes in the neutral zone, give them some speed and they score the goals,'' Hasek said. "All of the goals they've scored, except one, have been power-play goals or we give them the speed through the neutral zone and they scored.''

Colorado forward Dan Hinote will be out indefinitely after breaking a bone in his left leg. Hinote was injured while blocking a shot in the third period of Game 5.

Forward Mike Keane missed two games with a rib injury and forward Alex Tanguay sat out Game 5 with a leg injury, but Hartley would not say if either would play in Game 6.