nhl roundup | Saturday’s games

Ducks 3, Devils 2

NEWARK, N.J.

After a franchise-record 12-game losing streak, Anaheim is rolling behind John Gibson and bunch of new faces. Gibson made 29 saves and Troy Terry scored his first NHL goal and set up another, sending the new-look Ducks past New Jersey for their second straight win after the losing streak.Gibson has been the big difference in the streak that has the Ducks in the playoff hunt again. He blanked Minnesota on Thursday night and was outstanding sending New Jersey to its third straight loss. “He’s huge to this team,” Ducks center Adam Henrique said. “We’ve known that and everybody knows that; it’s no secret. He’s one of, if not the best goalie in the league. There have been a lot of moments this year where we really haven’t helped him out and he absolutely stood on his head and made huge saves just to keep us in games and give us an opportunity.” While Gibson held the Devils at bay, the Ducks made the most of their 14 shots at Devils rookie goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. Daniel Sprong also had a goal and an assist and Derek Grant, playing in his second game with the Ducks after being acquired Wednesday, got the insurance goal early in the third period.Grant scored on a setup by Terry, who was recalled from the minors Wednesday.The Ducks made four trades in a three-day span leading to their shutout over Minnesota. Gibson was in goal for that one, and his only blemishes against New Jersey came when Marcus Johansson scored in close 6:50 after the opening faceoff and Jesper Bratt struck with 56 seconds to play. “You don’t want to win one and then go back to losing so I think this was as big a win as the game was in Minnesota,” Gibson said. “Maybe it wasn’t as pretty as the game in Minnesota, but we’ll take the two points. Take the win and move on to the next one.” Sprong and Terry scored 1:28 apart to give Anaheim the lead for good midway through the first period.

Avalanche 7, Kings 1

DENVER

The success on the ice quickly returned and so will Mikko Rantanen. Another score — along with a big exhale — for struggling Colorado. Rantanen scored two of Colorado’s franchise record-tying six second-period goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped 30 shots and the Avalanche routed Los Angeles. Rantanen was sidelined in the third period with a lower-body injury. He’s among the NHL’s scoring leaders with 73 points. “He’s all right,” captain Gabriel Landeskog confirmed. “It was a 7-0 game [when he left].” Colorado had six goals in a period for the first time since March 3, 1999, at Florida. In addition to Rantanen, Landeskog, Tyson Barrie, Sheldon Dries and Colin Wilson also scored during the decisive period. Dries’ short-handed goal made it 5-0 and chased goalie Jonathan Quick.

Associated Press