Anaheim Ducks 1, Colorado Avalanche 3 FINAL

DENVER (AP) -- Although feeling strange and somewhat disoriented, Paul Kariya refused to take it easy on his former team.

In his first game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Kariya scored a second-period goal in the Colorado Avalanche's 3-1 victory Tuesday night.

"It was different for sure," Kariya said. "You don't spend nine years playing with guys and not feel different. Going against them was a strange experience.

"But once the game starts and you play a couple of shifts, it's hockey as usual."

Before signing a free-agent contract with Colorado last July, Kariya starred for nine seasons with Anaheim. He's the Mighty Ducks' career leader in goals and assists.

Colorado had played Anaheim twice previously this season, but Kariya was sidelined with a sprained right wrist both times.

Referring to Kariya, Anaheim defenseman Keith Carney said it was "tough to see him in another uniform. I was fortunate to play with him. He is a great player and teammate. It was sad to see him play against us. He meant a lot to the Ducks. He gave a lot to this organization."

Kariya has three goals and two assists in five games since returning from his injury.

"Five games he's been back and it was his third goal," Avalanche coach Tony Granato said. "Obviously, he hasn't lost his touch or his hunger around the net. It was good to see him put in a rebound."

Peter Forsberg and Rob Blake each had a goal and an assist for Colorado, 7-0-0-1 in its last eight games. Colorado remained two points behind Vancouver in the Northwest Division after the Canucks beat Phoenix 4-1.

Colorado's David Aebischer stopped 29 shots, including 13 in the final period. Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere had 15 saves.

"Penalty killing was very strong for us again," Granato said, "and the power play chipped in two goals. All in all it was a very solid effort."

Anaheim is winless in its last seven games (0-4-3-0).

"Night after night, the chances we get are unbelievable, and the goals we score are nil," Anaheim coach Mike Babcock said. "We created chances we didn't finish."

Despite being outshot 11-9 in the first period, Colorado took a 2-0 lead.

After an Anaheim turnover, Forsberg scored at 5:38. Forsberg brought the puck down the right side, passed to Alex Tanguay in the slot and took a return pass, beating Giguere from just inside the right circle.

Blake, who left the game in the third period with a sprained left thumb, added a power-play goal at 8:29 on a long shot past a screened Giguere.

Anaheim had a number of prime scoring opportunities in the period, including Carney's shot that hit the post.

Kariya had the lone goal of the second period, punching in a rebound on a power play at 5:30.

Anaheim had a four-minute power play when Peter Worrell went off on a double-minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and roughing, but the Mighty Ducks couldn't convert, getting just one shot.

The Mighty Ducks outshot Colorado 14-1 in the third period, but Sergei Fedorov got the lone goal, scoring from the left circle at 4:54.