Ducks struggle on special teams in loss to Colorado Avalanche
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Cale Makar had a power-play goal and an assist, Parker Kelly scored short-handed and the Colorado Avalanche capitalized on special teams to get a 4-2 win over the Ducks on Friday night.
Nathan MacKinnon had an empty-net goal and two assists, Valeri Nichushkin also scored and the Avalanche picked up where they left off after scoring twice on the power play in a 4-2 win at San José on Thursday night. Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves.
Kelly tied it 1-1 on a two-on-one short-handed rush in the second, and Nichushkin put Colorado ahead midway through the period. Makar made it 3-1 with a wrist shot early in the third, picking up his fifth power-play goal and 18th point with a man advantage.
Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks. John Gibson made 19 saves, including a penalty shot by Samuel Girard with 5:24 left in the third, but lost for the fifth time in six starts.
Troy Terry scored with 24 seconds left, lifting the Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the NHL-leading Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night in Anaheim.
Takeaways
Avalanche: The decision to overhaul their goaltending has paid off so far, with Colorado winning six of nine games with Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood starting in net.
Ducks: Jacob Trouba got his first point as a Duck since being traded from the New York Rangers on Dec. 6 when Carlsson redirected the veteran defenseman’s shot early in the second.
Key moment: Makar’s shot is too good to be left with time and space on the power play, and he punished the Ducks’ over pursuit on the penalty kill 3:30 into the third.
Key stat: MacKinnon became the first player in the NHL to pass the 40-assist mark this season, picking up the secondary helper on Nichushkin’s goal and the primary on Makar’s.
Up next: The Avalanche host Seattle and the Ducks visit Utah on Sunday.
