In Anaheim, the Ducks’ John Gibson made 32 saves in a 3-1 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Sunday evening.
Mikko Rantanen was the lone goal scorer for the Avs who dropped to a surprising 3-3-0.
“You’re going to have those nights where you run into a hot goaltender,” Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. “Maybe we could have placed shots in different areas of the net, but when you’re looking at it like that, you’re splitting hairs.”
Jakob Silfverberg staked the Ducks to a 1-0 lead with just 58 seconds gone in the first period.
“Anytime players like that can pick up a point, or score a goal, it’s just a massive weight lifted off their shoulders,” Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said. “They carry it because they care, and they carry it because they know there’s an expectation there.”
That goal held up until Rickard Rakell extended the lead late in the third period to 2-0.
“[Getzlaf] is still one of the best passers in the game. Big and strong,” Rakell said. “For me and (Max) Jones just find the open ice and he’s going to find us. We’re working on the chemistry and trying to work on plays that are going to help us score goals going forward.”
Rantanen scored at 14:46 of the third to ruin Gibson’s shutout big.
“Yeah it’s frustrating for sure. I think we played a pretty good game,” Rantanen said. “We had so many chances to score and just couldn’t find (a way). Probably have to give credit to the goalie obviously but, I think we could have done some things better in the O-zone. Just get more bodies in front of Gibson, I think we made it pretty easy for him.”
Hampus Lindholm‘s empty-net goal sealed the win.
“There were a few times in the game where we got hemmed in with their skill,” Eakins said. “Guys stayed positive through it, but lots of chatter. I liked our energy. I thought we were physical at the right times and, obviously, our goaltender was excellent.”
Philipp Grubauer made 12 saves in the loss.
“I loved our work ethic,” Bednar said. “I thought we competed in all areas of the game. We were creating some real good offensive zone time.”
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