Giguere helps Avs down Ducks
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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere recently called out his teammates.
Based on their play Wednesday night at Honda Center, they clearly got the message.
Behind 21 saves from Giguere and a three-goal second period, the Avalanche snapped a 14-game road losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
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Giguere was highly critical of his club following a 3-1 home loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday.
The Avalanche responded with a complete effort against the Pacific Division leaders and notched their first win away from home since Feb. 14.
"Giguere played well tonight. I thought our whole team played well. I thought the guys did a really good job in front of him," Colorado head coach Joe Sacco said.
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The Ducks could have clinched a playoff spot by just getting to overtime, but they fell behind early on a John Mitchell goal 1:04 into the game.
Colorado then scored three different ways in the middle frame.
Gabriel Landeskog powered his way to the net from the left side and put a backhander past Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller for a shorthanded goal at the 4:07 mark.
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With the Avalanche on a power play, Matt Duchene fired a one-timer behind Hiller at 7:54.
The Ducks got on the board when Teemu Selanne went to the far post and tapped in Kyle Palmieri's pass at 11:16, but Jamie McGinn restored Colorado's three- goal advantage with an even-strength tally at 17:30.
Hiller made 12 saves through 40 minutes before being replaced by Viktor Fasth, who stopped all 12 shots he faced in the third period.
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"We had no push back for them today," Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau said.
Game Notes
Colorado forward Paul Stastny returned to the lineup after missing eight games with a foot injury ... Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf was back after a lower- body ailment forced him to sit out three games.