GLENDALE, Ariz. _ Jonathan Bernier went three weeks between starts for the Ducks and the veteran goalie made the wait worth it.
Bernier stopped 26 shots to get his first shutout with them Saturday night and the first-place Ducks got goals from Hampus Lindholm, Nick Ritchie and Ryan Kesler in a 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes for their sixth win in seven games.
The Ducks (24-13-8) swept the quick two-game jaunt to Colorado and Arizona, handling the Western Conference's two worst teams in keeping the Pacific Division lead as they headed back home to face St. Louis on Sunday.
Bernier watched John Gibson keep the net for a career-high 10 straight starts as the Ducks used his strong goaltending to gain momentum in the standings. With his first opportunity since Dec. 20, Bernier made the most of it by notching his 13th career shutout.
Two of his saves particularly stood out. Arizona rookie Brendan Perlini got some room in the second period to fire a low shot that Bernier kicked out with the end of his right pad. Laurent Dauphin had a point-blank short-handed chance in the third but got turned away.
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle had maintained his belief in Bernier even though his prior two starts at Detroit and Montreal saw him allow nine goals on 55 shots. Bernier was pulled after two periods in a loss to the Red Wings and was beaten five times in another horror show at the Bell Centre against the Canadiens.
A knife-sharp effort Saturday likely pushed away any doubt that might have set in another his coach and teammates. Lindholm offered some offensive support just 5:49 into the game when he collected Ryan Getzlaf's pass and ripped in a shot just under the crossbar.
It stayed a one-goal game until the opening minute of the third. Ducks rookie Ondrej Kase drove a puck down to the end boards and Arizona goalie Louis Domingue was momentarily indecisive in attempting to play it when it caromed out to the front of the net.
Ritchie came in and put a shot between Domingue's pads for his 10th goal of the season. Kesler finished the win with his team-leading 18th into an empty net.
