DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
But they were unable to hold the momentum as the Ducks struck for three goals in the middle frame en route to a 5-3 win over the Avs.
It wasn’t easy for the Ducks as the Avs tied it early in the third for a 3-3 score but Corey Perry his second goal of the night to give the Ducks a 4-3 lead with less than a minute left on the regulation clock.
Daniel Sprong scored for the Ducks in Friday win over Avs – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“It was just lying there for me,” Perry said. “It’s definitely nice to contribute and be a part of it. Hopefully, you score some goals at crucial times, and we came through tonight.”
Daniel Sprong and Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Ducks.
“We are where we are in the standings,” Getzlaf said. “That was our fate that we built. It was our opportunity to play the way we want to and understand what it takes to play in this league night after night.”
John Gibson made 41 saves in the win.
“We build the lead and it looked like we got comfortable with it and stopped working,” Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. “I didn’t think our work ethic was exceptional in the first period either, to be honest with you.”
The Ducks are 5-3-0 in their last eight matches.
“We came out and competed,” Getzlaf said. “I felt we did a lot better job being hard on pucks and making the little plays, making them turn all night. It paid off when we took pucks to the net. The first period, it wasn’t like we had a really horrible period. We had a couple breakdowns that they capitalized on.”
Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Sven Andrighetto scored for the Avs.
“Yeah, there’s still a possibility (of making the playoffs),” Bednar said. “As long as there are games left (11), we still got a chance. Until we’re mathematically eliminated, we have a chance.”
Colorado dropped to 30-29-12.
“We have to win hockey games,” Ian Cole said. “We can’t keep letting games slip away. Not only do you have to beat the teams that we should beat, which I guess at this point is up in the air, but we need to win games. That’s really all there is to it.”
Hampus Lindholm finished the scoring with an empty-net goal.
[WATCH: All Ducks vs. Avalanche highlights]
Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves in the loss.
“We didn’t play an inspired game like we really needed it, like it was mandatory that we won,” Bednar said. “The urgency, for me, wasn’t there. If it was, we would have checked harder than what we did.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.