Kirivanta, Cogliano score 21 seconds apart, Avalanche beat Ducks 8-2

DENVER (AP) — Joel Kiviranta and Andrew Cogliano scored 21 seconds apart in a five-goal third period, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Anaheim Ducks 8-2 on Wednesday night.

Kiviranta, signed to a two-way contract earlier this week, added two assists. Valeri Nichushkin had two goals, Samuel Girard and Devon Toews had a goal and an assist each and Fredrik Olofsson and Ross Colton also scored for Colorado. Alexandar Georgiev hd 15 saves.

Max Jones and Sam Carrick scored and Lukas Dostal stopped 30 shots for Anaheim, which was playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Colorado led 3-1 after two but put it away when Colton and Nichushkin struck 1:58 apart early in the third to go ahead 5-1.

Jones scored to make it 5-2 but Kiviranta and Cogliano scored quickly and Toews capped the big third period with his second of the season at 15:18

Girard got Colorado on the board early 6:40 into the game with his first goal of the season. Nichushkin made it 2-0 at 12:40 when he deflected a shot by Toews but Carrick deflected Radko Gudas' shot at 19:27 of the first to make it 2-1. It was just the second shot on goal for Anaheim.

Colorado was without defenseman Josh Manson for the second straight game due to an upper-body injury but Cogliano, who missed two straight games with an upper-body injury, returned and scored his first of the season.

Cale Makar had three assists and Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Johnson had two assist each for the Avalanche. Colorado has won two straight since getting blown out 8-2 at home to St. Louis on Saturday night.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Host Florida on Friday night.

Avalanche: At Dallas on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/nhl