Avalanche 4 - 5 Ducks
Final
  for this game

Perry, Ducks go for sweep of Avalanche

Mar 28, 2011 - 2:37 PM (Sports Network) - Corey Perry's recent surge as elevated the Ducks forward into MVP talks. More importantly, it has Anaheim climbing in the Western Conference.

Perry will try to extend a five-game goal-scoring streak this evening and help his club to a season-series sweep of the Colorado Avalanche at the Honda Center.

The 25-year-old Perry has tallied eight goals over his impressive streak and has scored 13 times in his past nine games to give him an NHL-leading and career-high 44 goals on the season. His team-leading 85 points are also a personal best for the 2003 first-round pick.

Perry's two most recent goals were of the clutch variety as he scored twice in the third period on Saturday to lift his team to a 2-1 victory over Chicago. The Ducks moved a point ahead of the Blackhawks for the seventh spot in the West, three back of the sixth-place Predators.

"[The Blackhawks are] a team we we're chasing and with that win it puts us one point ahead and climbing in the standings," Perry said.

Linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan assisted on both of Perry's goals and Ray Emery made 27 saves for Anaheim, which bounced back from last Thursday's loss to Nashville to win for the fifth time in six games.

Tonight, the Ducks will try to sweep the Avs for the second time in three seasons. They have outscored Colorado 12-4 in the three meetings so far this year, giving them a win in five straight and 14 of the past 16 matchups. That run includes a victory in two straight and seven of the last eight at the Honda Center.

Perry has four goals and two assists versus Colorado this year, including a hat trick on Feb. 5 in Colorado, while Getzlaf has scored in all three meetings. Getzlaf has 10 assists in his last four games overall.

The Avalanche continue to glide towards the end of the season and are coming off Saturday's 4-1 setback in Los Angeles. Colorado has lost two straight since consecutive shootout wins to fall to 3-20-2 since Jan. 26.

"I thought the game was pretty even overall," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco. "I thought it was a well-played game. I think that their goaltender deserves a lot of credit. He played very well. We had some real good opportunities and he did a good job of smothering second and third opportunities."

Milan Hejduk provided the lone bright spot, lighting the lamp to give him a club record-tying 11th straight 20-goal season. He matched Joe Sakic's mark, while Peter Budaj made 21 saves as Colorado lost for the eighth time in its past nine road games.

The Avs have also lost 13 of their past 15 on the road and are 13-20-4 away from Denver this season.






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