Avalanche Roll Past Ducks 4-1

DENVER (AP) — Ryan O'Reilly broke a tie 37 seconds into the third period and Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 on Monday night in a game between two surging teams trying to climb back into playoff contention.

Cody McLeod, Matt Duchene and Jay McClement also scored for the Avalanche, who won their fourth straight to move into a tie with Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Bobby Ryan had a goal for a weary Ducks squad that was playing for a third time in five nights. The fatigue showed in the third period when Anaheim surrendered three goals, including two within a span of 2:18 to help Colorado end a six-game skid to the Ducks on home ice.