In Anaheim Friday night, Matt Duchene’s breakaway midway through the third period broke a two all tie and lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 win over the Ducks.
The Avs tallied from a 2-1 deficit for the win.
“If we win out, you never know what can happen,” Duchene said. “We’re going to give ourselves the best opportunity possible, and even if we don’t make it, we’ve got a lot of pride in here. We’ve got a lot of character. Whatever we do to finish it off here is going to lead into next season.”
Goalie Reto Berra made 35 saves for the win the Avs net.
“Honestly, he’s been playing really well lately,” Colorado coach Patrick Roy said of Berra. “It’s exactly the guy we made the trade for (at the 2014 NHL Trade Deadline). I think he’s starting to pay off for us. He’s been playing some very good hockey.”
Ryan Getzlaf did not play Friday for the Ducks and was described as “banged up” by Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau.
“It’s a huge difference without him on the ice,” Ducks forward Jiri Sekac said. “That’s how I feel when there’s not a top goal-scorer on their team, then you feel a little bit better. Maybe he could have changed something. It’s a tough loss, but it doesn’t change anything. We just have to keep going.”
It was a game where the Ducks had little to play for except the league’s top spot and the Avs are clinging to slim hopes of a post season berth.
“They’re not going to make it, but good teams have a lot of pride,” Boudreau said. “You take away their first 20 games, and they’re right up there where they should have been. They’re not going to quit. They didn’t quit tonight.”
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