TORONTO -- The Colorado Avalanche in general, and goaltender Semyon Varlamov in particular, experienced a weekend of extremes.

Varlamov allowed six goals on 16 shots Saturday night in relief of Calvin Pickard in a blowout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He came back Sunday night and made 51 saves in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"We all know how important the game was today after an embarrassing game (Saturday, a 10-1 defeat at Montreal)," Varlamov said. "We needed to bounce back today, and we did it. It's always hard to forget the bad games, but we're all professionals and we have to move on quickly and focus on the next day. We told ourselves today is a new day and an opportunity to win a game."

Varlamov talked about the importance of the first goal, and the Avalanche got it from Mikko Rantanen on a first-period power play.

Nathan MacKinnon notched another power-play goal in the third period for Colorado before Toronto's Jake Gardiner cut into the lead with a power-play goal.

Blake Comeau added an empty-net goal for the Avalanche (11-15-1), who finished a four-game road trip at 2-2-0.

"(Varlamov) was good," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "It would have been nice to score, obviously. We did a lot of good things. They get a good road win, they rode their goaltender and got it done."

"We had lots of opportunity to score and we didn't. Our power play had good looks, but we've got to score on our power play, we can't just get good looks. Our penalty kill, which has been spot on, gave up two tonight."

The Maple Leafs (11-11-5) took their fourth loss in five games. They defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 Saturday.

Antoine Bibeau made his NHL debut in the Toronto goal and made 26 saves.

"I thought (Bibeau) in net did a real nice job, and we had every opportunity to have success tonight," Babcock said.

Bibeau said, "I was really calm. I think I surprised myself. I wasn't nervous at all. I think I was well-prepared for that game and I was feeling good in net. I was cutting the game by five-minute segments, and it helped keep myself in the game, especially in the first. I didn't get too many shots."

Colorado opened the scoring at 18:51 of the first period on a goal by Rantanen, his fourth of the season. It came with Tyler Bozak sitting out a tripping penalty.

"I like the response from our team," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "Guys competed hard and they were focused. It wasn't easy out there, that's for sure. We got a big night from (Varlamov), and guys played hard and found a way to get the job done and get the win.

"(The first goal) is big. It's been elusive for us all season long, and we tend to have success when we get it and haven't got it that much."

Toronto outshot Colorado 21-8 in the first period, the Maple Leafs' season high for shots in a period.

Colorado outshot Toronto 15-10 in the second.

The Avalanche went on their second power play of the game at 6:23 of the third when Toronto's James van Riemsdyk took a tripping penalty.

MacKinnon scored his eighth goal of the season on the power play at 7:27, beating Bibeau from the slot after splitting Maple Leafs defenders.

Toronto's Leo Komarov was called for a high-sticking double minor at the same time as the goal, impeding the Leafs' chances of a comeback.

The Maple Leafs had a power play at 15:55 when Colorado's Patrick Wiercioch was called for delay of game. It became a two-man advantage when Nikita Zadorov was penalized for cross-checking at 17:09.

Gardiner scored his fifth goal of the season at 17:24.

The Maple Leafs removed their goaltender, and Comeau's shot from the Colorado defensive zone went all the into the empty goal at 18:49.

"It's tough," Gardiner said. "I think we started the game really well and just didn't get the bounces in the first. We had a little bit of a lull and obviously their power play was good and buried one. That's tough when your special teams aren't really going. We've got to bear down on that."

NOTES: D Martin Marincin picked up an undisclosed injury Saturday in the Maple Leafs' 4-1 win over the Bruins, and he did not play Sunday. He returned for the game against Boston after missing the previous game because of illness. D Connor Carrick took his spot vs. the Avalanche. ... Saturday was the first of two meetings between the teams. The Maple Leafs visiting Colorado on Dec. 22. ... RW Jarome Iginla played in his 1,500th game Saturday in the Avalanche's 10-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He became the 16th NHL player to reach that plateau. ... The Maple Leafs will host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in the second of five games in a row at home. ... The Avalanche finished a four-game trip Sunday. They return home to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.