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Avalanche defeat Ducks

Feb 28, 2012 - 5:03 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Semyon Varlamov posted 27 saves to help the Colorado Avalanche take a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Matt Duchene, Jay McClement, Ryan O'Reilly and Cody McLeod all scored for the Avalanche, who have won four straight.

"It took a while for us to get some chemistry," said Colorado right winger Steve Downie, who had two assists. "I feel there's still more for us to do. They played a tight game tonight, but in the third period we came out strong and we were able to get the two points."

Bobby Ryan got the only goal of the game for the Ducks, who had won six of eight coming in. Jonas Hiller was tagged for all four goals on 23 shots in the loss.

"It's tough with the way the schedule is, but that's just part of the game," said Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf. "Sometimes you have easy schedules, sometimes you don't. That's on us with the way we came out in the third. That's a good team over there taking advantage of the opportunities we gave them."

Colorado scored near the midway mark of the first period when a backhand shot from McLeod down low at the right got into the net, but the Ducks tied the game with 90 seconds left on the second period clock as Ryan's shot from the right circle trickled past Varlamov for a power-play tally.

The Avs took a 2-1 lead just 37 seconds into the third when O'Reilly pounced on a rebound at the left side and chipped it in.

Duchene scored two minutes later when he redirected a saucer pass from Paul Stastny for a 3-1 game.

Colorado sealed the win with 5:14 to play as McClement's sharp wrister from the left circle got into the net.

Game Notes

Before the game, the Avs acquired forwards Jamie McGinn, Mike Connolly and Michael Sgarbossa from San Jose for forwards T.J. Galiardi, Daniel Winnik and a 2013 seventh-round draft pick...Colorado had lost its previous seven home games to Anaheim...Anaheim went 1-for-3 on the power play while Colorado failed to score on its one chance.