Final - OT
First-place Ducks welcome Avs to Orange County
Feb 24, 2013 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The well-rested Anaheim Ducks will attempt to extend their longest winning streak of the season to six games when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Sunday's battle at the Honda Center.With wins in each of their past five games, the surprising Ducks are now 12-2-1 on the season and lead the Pacific Division by six points.
Anaheim improved to 9-1-0 in February after notching a 3-2 regulation win Monday against visiting Columbus. Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and an assist in the victory, which upped Anaheim's home record this season to 5-1-0.
Peter Holland and Corey Perry also tallied for Anaheim, while Jonas Hiller made 25 saves in the triumph.
"I thought I was working hard tonight," Hiller said. "I got the bounces and everybody was sacrificing themselves. Even when we don't play our best game, we still find a way."
Anaheim is on its first five-game winning streak since Jan. 13-22 of last year and the club last won six in a row from Nov. 3-12, 2010.
The Ducks could get defenseman Cam Fowler back in the lineup on Sunday for the first time since he suffered an upper-body injury on Feb. 2. Although Anaheim never specified the nature of Fowler's injury it appeared to be a head or neck issue that has caused him to miss the last eight games. Fowler was injured after getting ridden head-first into the boards by Los Angeles forward Jarret Stoll.
If Fowler doesn't return on Sunday he is expected to be back at the latest for Monday's road game against Los Angeles.
Anaheim centerman Saku Koivu is questionable for Sunday's game after dealing with flu-like symptoms during Anaheim's extended break from game action.
The Avalanche had won two straight before beginning a three-game road trip Saturday with a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Jonathan Quick stopped 23 shots, while Dustin Brown tallied in the first minute of regulation to help the Kings breeze to victory at Staples Center.
"We had some costly turnovers. We didn't play well at all and we have to learn to compete for a full 60 minutes," noted Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco.
Milan Hejduk posted the only goal for Colorado and Semyon Varlamov made 22 stops in defeat. Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a concussion on Jan. 26 and assisted on Hejduk's goal.
The Avs, who will close their swing Tuesday in San Jose, are just 2-6-0 as the visiting team this season.
The Ducks beat the Avalanche 3-0 back on Feb. 6 as Viktor Fasth stopped 31 shots for his first career shutout. Colorado has taken three of the last five meetings in this series, but Anaheim has eight wins over the past 11 encounters.
Colorado has dropped four of five and nine of 11 in Orange County.
- COLORADO: 3
ANAHEIM: 4
Final - OT
Feb 24 10:37 PM - COLORADO: 3
ANAHEIM: 3
End of Regulation
Feb 24 10:28 PM - COLORADO: 3
ANAHEIM: 2
End of 2nd
Feb 24 9:37 PM - COLORADO: 2
ANAHEIM: 0
End of 1st
Feb 24 8:41 PM - COLORADO: 0
ANAHEIM: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Feb 24 8:08 PM
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