In Denver, Frank Vatrano scored each period on Thursday for Anaheim to get a hat trick, and the Ducks rallied from a 3-1 deficit for a 5-3 win over the Avalanche. 
John Gibson made 41 saves in the win.
“This was a huge game for us,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. “I’m not so sure about them, but we talked before the game about [how] we don’t have to beat these guys four times in two weeks. We just have to beat them tonight, and that was going to be our measuring stick.
“We wanted to be above .500 on this road trip. We were able to accomplish that. But I think the biggest thing is our team beat the Stanley Cup champions, and we had to do it with a whole lot of sandpaper and hard work. And our guys should be proud of that.”
The Ducks improved to 15-29-5.
Mikko Rantanen hit for a double for the Avs, and Samuel Girard added a single marker as the Avalanche held a 3-2 lead after the second period.
“I liked I’ve really liked the intensity Sam’s playing with recently,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “Like his defending; he’s hard, he’s quick, he’s got a great stick. Tonight, he was involved offensively. A big difference maker for us tonight.”
The Avs dropped to 26-18-3.
“I really liked our first two periods,” Bednar said. “There’s some habits that are creeping in our game though, whether it’s for five minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes. I just don’t like getting outworked for stretches that cost you hockey games, and that’s what it was.
“Let’s call it what it is; the intensity that they came out with in the start of the third period and what we had was not comparable. If you look back on it, it doesn’t surprise you that you let the game slip away, and we’re too deep in the season now for that to happen.”
Adam Henrique scored midway through the third period to tie the game, 3-3.
“It was a long road trip, and it was great way to end it,” Gibson said. “Last period, we just wanted to go out there, give it everything we had, and we were able to battle hard enough and get the result we wanted. It was a good game. We’ve kind of been resilient all road trip and found ways to win. Wasn’t the prettiest, but big win for our group.”
Mason McTavish scored 24 seconds later to give the Ducks a 4-3 advantage.
Vatrano got his hat trick with 50 seconds left in the game, scoring into an empty net.
“The first one was a good transition from Cam [Fowler], a quick-up,” Vatrano said. “We talk about transition all the time, and fortunate enough to get a big rebound and put it in.”
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Pavel Francouz made 27 saves in the Colorado loss.
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