Ducks 4, Avalanche 3

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DENVER (AP) - In his franchise-record 617th game as a Duck, Teemu Selanne scored the game-winner to lead Anaheim past the Avalanche 4-3 at Pepsi Center.

Selanne scored his 15th goal of the season (and his first since returning from a lacerated thigh that sidelined him for 17 games) 5:04 into the third period to break open a 3-3 tie. Ryan Getzlaf and Scott Niedermayer each added three points in the victory.

Jonas Hiller started for the third straight game in place of Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who's 1-5-2 with a 3.68 average in his last nine starts. Hiller stopped 34 shots for his 13th win (which now leads the Ducks) of the season.

The Avs have lost four in a row, seven of eight and are 1-5-0 on their season-high eight-game homestand that they had hoped would serve as the catalyst for salvaging a season quickly turning sour.

Selanne's goal made a loser of Peter Budaj, who returned to goal by default more than anything else.

Budaj had gone 1-4-0 with a 3.88 goals-against average in his previous six starts, and he had been pulled early in the second period of his previous start, on Jan. 21 against Los Angeles, after he allowed four goals in 15 shots.

Andrew Raycroft, who allowed seven goals on 30 shots in a 7-4 loss to Toronto on Thursday night, has lost five straight starts with a 3.97 average during that span.

The Ducks weathered a four-minute high-sticking penalty by Corey Perry, who bloodied Marek Svatos' chin, and grabbed a 2-1 lead after one period. George Parros scored just 80 seconds after the Avs took a 1-0 lead on John-Michael Liles goal, and the Ducks went ahead on Ryan Getzlaf's goal after the Ducks turned back the Avs on Perry's double-minor penalty.

As Bret Hedican spun and looked to pass the puck on a power play 8:45 into the second period, Milan Hejduk came up from behind, swiped the puck and put it past Hiller to tie it at 2.

Ian Laperriere's goal less than two minutes later gave Colorado a 3-2 led, but Scott Niedermayer tied it again with a power play goal.

Notes: Adam Foote missed his 11th game with a torn triceps. ... The Avs had won seven of eight at home against the Ducks. ... Anaheim has power-play goals in eight straight games. ... The Avs have played in 28 one-goal games, most in the NHL. They are 16-11-1 in those games.