Avalanche 4, Ducks 1
AVALANCHE 4, DUCKS 1: Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves and host Colorado exploded for three third-period goals en route to its fourth straight win while delivering another hit to Anaheim’s playoff hopes.
Ryan O’Reilly, Matt Duchene and Jay McClement tallied in the third period and Steve Downie, Gabriel Landeskog and Jan Hejda each recorded a pair of assists for the Avalanche, who pulled into a tie with the Dallas Stars for the No. 8 spot in the West.
The Ducks, who entered the game with an 8-1-2 record in their previous 11 contests, remain in 13th place, six points behind Colorado and Dallas.
O’Reilly wasted little time snapping a 1-1 deadlock at the beginning of the third. The Ontario native came in on the left side 37 seconds into the period and grabbed a rebound, pounding it past Jonas Hiller for his 16th tally.
Duchene struck 2:18 later with his 13th goal and McClement put it away with 5:14 left in the game.
After Cody McLeod had given Colorado the lead in the first period, Bobby Ryan scored his 23rd goal on the power play in the second period to tie it.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Downie has seven points in four games since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning … Landeskog has multiple points in three straight and at least one point in six games in a row … Anaheim had not lost by more than one goal since a 6-2 setback against the Stars on Feb. 1.