Recap: Comeback Bid Falls Short in 4-2 Loss to Avs

Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored but the Ducks could not spark a third straight third-period comeback tonight in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Honda Center.

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The loss denied Anaheim its second three-game winning streak of the season and dropped the club to 12-15-4 overall.

Carlsson and Killorn scored for Anaheim, the latter bringing the home side back within one late in the third period. Jacob Trouba, Pavel Mintyukov and Brock McGinn collected assists. John Gibson made 19 saves in his 11th outing of the season.

Parker Kelly, Valeri Nichushkin, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon scored for the Avalanche, who swept a road back-to-back and improved to 20-15-0 on the season. Backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood earned his fifth win of the season with stops on 29-of-31 Anaheim shots.

Much like in Wednesday's win over Winnipeg, Anaheim controlled the play throughout a scoreless opening frame before breaking through for the night's first lead early in the second - this time a skillful deflection in front by Carlsson off a point shot by Trouba.

Trouba's assist marked his first point as a Duck.

Colorado would answer just four minutes later though with a shorthanded goal, a wrister off the rush by Kelly past Gibson to the blocker side.

Nichushkin then put Colorado ahead just past the midway mark of the second, punching home a rebound that had trickled through Gibson in the Anaheim crease.

The 29-year-old Nichushkin, now in his sixth season with Colorado, has scored nine of his 10 goals this year on the road - including one in each of his last three games. Nichushkin set career-high totals in goals (28) and points (53) last season.

Makar provided what ultimately became a crucial insurance goal early in the third period, beating Gibnson over the blocker from the right circle after a cross-ice pass by MacKinnon.

Named to Canada's roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, Makar leads all NHL defensemen in points and assists this season.

Anaheim would get back within one though and set up a dramatic finish on home ice when Killorn crashed the net and got a bounce, redirecting Mintyukov's backhanded bid with his leg and into the net.

Killorn owns three goals and four points in his last three games.

Colorado's Samuel Girard was awarded a penalty shot with five minutes to play in regulation, but Gibson denied the defenseman with a right shoulder save.

Anaheim would have a chance at the tying goal on a power play in the game's final minutes, but would be unable to find enough time and space in the offensive zone to generate a good scoring chance before MacKinnon hit the empty net.

The Ducks begin a two-game road trip Sunday in Utah.