CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -Jean-Sebastien Giguere put a disappointing game behind him in a hurry - at the Calgary Flames' expense.
Giguere made 38 saves to help the Anaheim Ducks beat Calgary 4-1 on Thursday night.
Benched in the third period Tuesday night in the Ducks' 4-0 loss in Vancouver, Giguere allowed only Alex Tanguay's power-play goal early in the first period.
Todd Marchant, Chris Kunitz, Corey Perry and Rob Niedermayer scored for Anaheim, and Ryan Getzlaf and Chris Pronger each had two assists.
Kunitz gave Anaheim a 2-1 lead with 41 seconds left in the first period.
Getzlaf, showcasing the playmaking ability that made him a fan favorite in his four seasons with the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen, carried the puck into the Flames' zone, made a slick fake on defenseman Dion Phaneuf, then slid the puck across to Kunitz left uncovered in the slot for an easy tap-in.
"I just went to the front of the net and he made a nice backhand pass and I had a wide-open net," said Kunitz. (Getzlaf) has world-class hands, a great shot, he's big, and he's physical. We call him the franchise because that's what he is. He goes out there and plays with his heart on his sleeve."
Getzlaf, the 22-year-old star who signed a $26.5 million, five-year contract extension last week, has points in nine of the past 10 games, amassing six goals and eight assists over that span.
"He's an elite level player," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "Not too many people can carry the puck into the offensive zone and make those kinds of moves. He's a special player."
With the victory, the Ducks improved to 8-3-3 in their last 14 games, and moved within two points of first-place Dallas in the tight Pacific Division.
Calgary has lost four of its last five games.
"It's a critical time for us. We're three games under .500, we're playing teams that we have to catch to make the playoffs," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said. "We have to find ways to win and we have to do it now and get ourselves back in this playoff hunt. It's time."
Notes: Iginla played in his 804th career game, moving him past Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis into first place on the Flames' career list. Iginla ranks second in goals (337), third in points (698) and fourth in assists (361). ... Calgary D Adrian Aucoin (shoulder) did not play. The Flames called up 23-year-old Tim Ramholt from Quad City of the AHL to take his place. The 2003 second-round draft pick from made his NHL debut. ... Calgary is 3-for-35 with the extra man in the past eight games.
