DENVER (AP) -- Without Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, the Colorado Avalanche got goals from unexpected sources.

Defensive-minded Brian Rolston and Dave Reid provided goals for the Avalanche, who also got one from a usual source, Milan Hejduk, as Colorado ended the Carolina Hurricanes' five-game unbeaten streak with a 3-1 victory Saturday night.

"We don't have our superstars in the lineup and those guys are a big loss," said Rolston, who came from New Jersey along with a conditional draft choice in a Nov. 3 deal for Claude Lemieux and a second-round pick. "There aren't a lot of guys that can fill their shoes and that means everybody has to play."

Patrick Roy made 27 saves for the Avalanche, who played without Sakic and Forsberg for the second straight game.

"We know Brian Rolston pretty well from his days in the Detroit (minor-hockey) system and he is not a bad player," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "I think what happens when there are players like Forsberg and Sakic you have a tendency to under rate good players like him."

Roy's 421 victories rank him fourth on the career list, as he trails only Tony Esposito (423), Jacques Plante (434) and Terry Sawchuk (447).

Ron Francis had a goal and former Avalanche player Andrei Kovalenko added an assist for Carolina, 0-5-2 the past four seasons against the Avalanche. Eric Fichaud made 24 saves in his first start in 15 games, filling in for Arturs Irbe.

"We got some big goals, but more importantly we had a great team effort," Colorado Bob Hartley said. "Reid gives us everything he has game-after-game."

Colorado led 1-0 after the first period on Reid's goal at 10:53. Reid deflected a shot from the left point by Greg de Vries over Fichaud's shoulder.

"We're trying to play such a simple game of playing solid defense and creating turnovers," said Reid, who pumped his fist high in the air after the goal. "And on offense, we want to get the puck in deep and pounce on turnovers when they come."

The Hurricanes barely missed tying the game 58 seconds into the second period after an errant pass by Colorado's Sandis Ozolinsh ended up on the stick of Bates Battaglia in front of the net. Roy stopped a shot with a sprawling stick save.

Francis tied the game 1-1 for Carolina at 3:57, converting Andrei Kovalenko's pass from behind the net at 3:57. Rolston gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal at 11:54 of the second period with a wrist shot from the right circle.

Hejduk gave the Avalanche some insurance with an unassisted goal, his 16th of the season, at 5:35 of the third. Hejduk stole the puck inside the blue line and fired a low shot past Fichaud's glove.

"They had some good shots, but ones I should have," Fichaud said. "I have to find the shooters and the defensemen have to get the passers."