RYAN GETZLAF had a goal and an assist as he Anaheim Ducks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 Friday night (Flickr/Bridget Samuels).

After falling behind by two goals in the first period, the Anaheim Ducks rallied for three scores in the second and two in the third to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 in Denver on Friday night.

The victory was the Ducks’ fourth in six games and improved the team’s record to 29-35-9, worth 67 points. They remain in seventh in the NHL Pacific Division, but are just one point out of sixth and two points back of fifth.

Corey Perry had two goals for the Ducks and Ryan Getzlaf a goal and two assists in the victory. Other tallies were by Daniel Sprong and Hampus Lindholm, the latter being an empty-net goal in the last 23 seconds.

“We competed a little harder in the second period,” Getzlaf said. “Playing last night, and with travel, I thought we were a little flat. That’s not an excuse. It’s just reality. We did a good job rebounding and playing the game we wanted.”

The key goal belonged to Perry, his fifth of the season. With assists from Nick Ritchie and Getzlaf and the score tied at 3-3, Perry buried what was essentially the game-winner at the 19:03 mark of the third period.

Anaheim goaltender John Gibson had 41 saves on 44 Colorado shots.

The Ducks will next be in action on Sunday hosting the Florida Panthers at Honda Center at 6 p.m.