Some games are entertaining. Some aren’t. This one was the latter.

A late goal in regulation by Colorado’s Artturi Lehkonen sent the game to overtime and then a shootout, where the Avalanche weren’t able to beat Lukas Dostal on their way to a 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

Dostal was the story as the Avalanche outshot Anaheim 41-16 but were only able to solve the Czech goaltender once in 65 minutes of action.

Through two periods, it wasn’t Colorado’s best offensive performance. They cranked it up in the third period, which led to them finding a way to at least get one point on the evening.

“I didn’t have any problems with (the game),” Jared Bednar said afterward. “At the end of the day, their goalie had a big night and we had a tough time with some of our execution early in the game so it wasn’t sustained for 60 minutes. … Overtime was an experience, probably the most open overtime we’ve seen all year. … And then the shootout just is what it is.”

In an innocuous January hockey game, one player who managed to stand out was forward Taylor Makar. Typically in a tight game, Bednar shortens the bench and young players like Makar don’t see much ice time in the third. That wasn’t the case against Anaheim, as Makar had some jump and managed to see multiple shifts while other youngsters like Gavin Brindley and Zakhar Bardakov sat on the bench.

“He is skating. That’s what I really like about (Makar’s) game,” Bednar said. “Every time he’s come up, he’s played well for us. His first shift of the game, he exploded up the ice and almost caught them on a 2-on-1. … We shortened our bench, they shortened our bench and some ice time disappears from some guys, but I felt like he had some pop and might be able to make a play to help us win the game.”

It’s been an up-and-down homestand for the Avalanche. They’ve dropped three of the six games, but they’ve managed to pick up points in all but one. They’ll have a chance to finish strong Friday when the Philadelphia Flyers come to town and close out the seven-game homestand.

***

Ducks 2, Avalanche 1

What happened: Dostal saved the day for the Ducks, frustrating the Avalanche most of the evening.

What went right: It doesn’t matter who you put with them, the Brock Nelson/Valeri Nichushkin combination finds a way. On Wednesday it was Artturi Lehkonen on their wing, who scored for the second-straight game.

What went wrong: Ross Colton might need to burn something to break out of his goal-scoring slump. The 29-year-old hasn’t scored since Nov. 26, but it’s not for a lack of trying. He had the two best scoring chances for the Avalanche in the second period but was stonewalled by Dostal. His frustration levels are high as he slammed his stick against the glass after the second chance.

Avalanche goal scorers: Lehkonen (17)

Ducks goal scorers: Viel (2)

Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood finished with 15 saves on 16 shots.

What’s next: The Avalanche close out the homestand on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m.