Francouz has 34-save shutout for Avalanche in victory against Ducks

ANAHEIM --Pavel Francouz made 34 saves for the Colorado Avalanche in a 2-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Wednesday.

It was the second shutout in 35 NHL starts for Francouz, who also shut out the Ducks 1-0 at Honda Center on Feb. 21, 2020.
"The way the game was going from the start, it looked like it was going to be a tight game, and this was exactly the same scenario like [the first shutout against the Ducks], when we scored late in second and we battled through it in the third," Francouz said. "So it was just the exact same game."

Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche (26-8-3), who are 9-0-1 since the Christmas break.
John Gibson made 26 saves in his return after missing five games in NHL COVID-19 protocol for the Ducks (19-16-7), who have lost four straight and five of six.
Anaheim played without defensemen Josh Manson, Cam Fowler and Simon Benoit, and leading goal-scorer Troy Terry, all of whom are still in COVID-19 protocol.
"I commend our guys," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. "It's not often you feel good about a loss, but there is some good in this one."
Samuel Girard gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 18:29 of the second period. Following a turnover by Anaheim in the neutral zone, Girard scored on a shot from the slot that deflected off Kevin Shattenkirk.

Kadri shot into an empty net with 1:09 left in the third period for the 2-0 final. He has scored 51 points this season (15 goals, 36 assists), 10 short of his NHL career high set in 2016-17 with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Just trying to stay focused, just trying to stay ready," Kadri said. "I think it's easy to get sidetracked, especially with such a long season."
Gibson, making his first start since he was named to the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 13, was tested early. He made a glove save on Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar from in close at 3:10 of the first period.
Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras drew two penalties in the first period, but Colorado killed both power plays.
The Ducks outshot the Avalanche 11-8 in the first period and 7-1 through 10:52 of the second period.
"We had a few there, if we put the puck in the back of the net, it's obviously a different hockey game," Shattenkirk said.
The Avalanche killed a third straight power play after the Ducks had the puck in the offensive zone the entire penalty. Jack Johnson played a 3:33 shift, and fellow Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews played a 3:05 shift.
Francouz made a save on a breakaway by Sam Steel at 16:11 of the second period, and the Avalanche took a 1-0 lead 2:18 later.
"I thought his performance was excellent tonight," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "He just seems to be getting better and better the more he plays, so he was a big part of that one tonight because I didn't think we were at our best from the defensive side of it."
The Ducks came in fourth in the NHL on the power play at 25.9 percent, but went 0-for-4 against the 29th-ranked penalty kill (74.1 percent).
"Our power play has been excellent this year," Eakins said. "That's where we would've liked to have stung them for one."
NOTES: The Avalanche, who won 5-0 at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, have consecutive shutouts on the road for the first time in their history. ... Colorado has won seven straight games against Anaheim. … Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon played his 600th NHL game. He scored his 600th NHL point in a 4-3 shootout win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday. .... Colorado forward Andre Burakovsky had an assist to extend his point streak to six games (two goals, six assists). … Makar had his six-game point streak end (two goals, seven assists). … Ducks defenseman Greg Pateryn blocked two shots in 9:51 after missing three games in protocol. … The Ducks were shut out for the second straight game following a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.