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Ducks seek turnaround in clash with Avalanche

Feb 27, 2011 - 4:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Ducks are in danger of matching their longest losing streak of the season, but the Avalanche could offer a good chance at a turnaround.

Anaheim tries to halt a five-game losing streak with a fourth straight victory over struggling Colorado tonight at the Honda Center.

The Ducks are 0-4-1 in their last five games to fall two points behind the Flames for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Anaheim's current slide is its longest since a season-worst six-game skid from Nov. 14-26.

The most recent loss did earn the Ducks a point, a 3-2 overtime setback to the Wild on Friday. Francois Beauchemin scored late in regulation to force the extra time, but Minnesota's Pierre-Marc Bouchard netted the game-winner with 6.3 seconds left.

"We have to look at the positives," said Beauchemin. "We got one point. That is not enough, but we'll take that. We'll have a good practice [Saturday] and go back to work on Sunday. We have to take it one game at a time."

Bobby Ryan scored his 100th NHL goal and Dan Ellis made 28 saves in his Ducks debut. He was acquired from Tampa Bay for goaltender Curtis McElhinney on Thursday and should get the bulk of the time in net until Jonas Hiller returns from fatigue and lightheadedness issues.

The Ducks have lost four straight at home, including a 0-1-1 mark on seven- game homestand, and haven't won as the host since Jan. 16. However, Anaheim has won six of its last seven at home over Colorado and has bested the franchise in eight of the last nine meetings overall.

The Ducks recorded a 3-0 win in the only meeting so far this season in Denver on Feb. 5. Corey Perry had a hat trick for Anaheim and McElhinney made 25 saves.

Colorado's struggles have included a loss in two straight and 12 of their last 13 games, dropping the club to 14th overall in the West and 12 points out of a playoff spot.

The Avalanche opened a three-game road trip on Saturday in Los Angeles and couldn't recover from an early hole in a 4-3 loss.

The Kings scored the game's first four goals before David Jones scored twice in the third period to give the Avs life. Paul Stastny was then credited with a goal with 29.3 seconds left after his backhander toward the slot was accidentally kicked in by Los Angeles' Jarret Stoll, but Colorado could not net the equalizer.

Brian Elliott turned aside 38 shots in the setback, Colorado's sixth in its last seven on the road.

"We did a good job coming back," Elliott said. "We've got to focus on that and know that we can score and have confidence that we can do it. We need to be a unit of five out there and I think we'll have success."

The Avalanche will try to stay out of the penalty box tonight after taking 12 infractions versus the Kings, who had nine power plays and 2:26 total time of two-man advantage.