Avalanche 4, Ducks 1

Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist, and the NHL-worst Avalanche prevented Anaheim from clinching a playoff spot Wednesday.

Two days after ripping his teammates' work ethic and focus, Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves in his first win in nearly two months for Colorado, which snapped a five-game skid.

The Avs responded to their veteran goalie's criticism with their most impressive victory in a month, scoring three goals in the second period of just their third road win all season to snap a 14-game winless streak away from Denver.

Teemu Selanne scored his 674th career goal for the weary Pacific Division leaders, who had won five of seven. Anaheim could have finalized its postseason plans, but Jonas Hiller stopped just 12 of 16 shots behind a porous Ducks defense.

Coyotes 3, Oilers 1

David Moss and Boyd Gordon each had a goal and an assist as the Coyotes stayed firmly in the playoff picture.

Antoine Vermette also scored for the Coyotes, 5-1-2 in their last eight games. They sit in ninth place in the Western Conference, one point back of the idle Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff berth.

Nail Yakupov responded for the Oilers, who are sliding out of contention, having lost four in a row. They trail Detroit by four points.

Phoenix and Edmonton each have eight games remaining.

Canucks 4, Flames 1

Roberto Luongo, in a surprise start, made 40 saves and Maxim Lapierre scored the go-ahead goal.

Andrew Ebbett centered a pass that Lapierre swatted behind Miikka Kiprusoff from the top of the crease, breaking a 1-1 tie with 9:23 left in regulation.

Up until that goal, most of the play in the third period was in Vancouver's end, where Luongo was sharp, turning aside dangerous chance after chance.

Calgary outshot the Canucks 41-29, including 18-9 in the final 20 minutes.

Alex Burrows, Mason Raymond and Daniel Sedin also scored for Vancouver, winner of nine of its last 12. The Canucks, who began a five-game road trip, opened a six-point lead atop the Northwest Division over Minnesota.

Curtis Glencross with his team-leading 15th had the lone goal for Calgary, which has lost six of its last seven.