Ducks 4, Nashville 3, OT.
The Ducks got the two points they needed to salvage their season, and picked up some style points in the process.
Yet they also gave up a standings point to their opponent by not deciding Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators until overtime, when Teemu Selanne scored to let the Ducks live to see another day -- as he has done so often in his storied career.
Yet they also gave up a standings point to their opponent by not deciding Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators until overtime, when Teemu Selanne scored to let the Ducks live to see another day -- as he has done so often in his storied career.
Though the Ducks would not have been mathematically eliminated with a loss, their dreams of seeing the playoffs would have been significantly dashed. Anaheim (33-31-6, 72 points) now trails the Edmonton Oilers (33-27-9, 75 points) by three points for eighth place in the Western Conference standings. By losing in the extra period, Nashville (35-30-6) moved one point ahead of Edmonton into seventh.
"We got two points. Yeah, we're not happy that we gave up one when we had a one-goal lead late in the hockey game in your building," head coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll take the two points and now we move on. We have to prepare ourselves for tomorrow night at Phoenix."
The Ducks still have to leapfrog three teams (Minnesota, Dallas and St. Louis) in the standings if they are to make the playoffs. If they're looking for momentum-builders, at least there were plenty to draw on Wednesday. They outshot an opponent for the fifth straight game, and took just three minor penalties to Nashville's five.
Selanne's overtime goal came during a crafty 4-on-3 setup in which the veteran snuck in, almost unnoticed, on the backdoor to redirect a deep Chris Pronger pass behind Predators goalie Pekka Rinne. The goal marked Selanne's 1,200th career point and his 205th career power-play goal, to pass Wayne Gretzky and tie Joe Sakic for 11th place on the all-time list.
"The last few games I have had so many chances and when the puck doesn't bounce your way, it's a little frustrating," Selanne said. "It was a big relief for me, but more for the team. We need these two points. It was a great pass by Prongs. It was good to see that go in. When they scored the tying goal, I said, 'You know it would be pretty nice to get the game-winner and get the 1,200th point away at the same time.' For sure, I wanted to do it at home if I could choose. It was a pretty happy ending."
It was a happy beginning for Bobby Ryan, who found himself (at long last) skating on the team's top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Against a stout defensive team in Nashville, Ryan responded with a first-period assist and a third-period power play goal that gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead. He also had a potential goal deflect off a skate -- possibly that of Getzlaf (it wasn't clear on TV) -- just before it was about to cross over the goal line.
Ryan was in a tough position to prevent the game-tying goal, which was redirected by Joel Ward with 2:45 left in the third period. He had lost his stick defending Shea Weber 1-on-1, as Weber skated through the right faceoff circle, giving the Predators' defenseman a clean shot near the boards. Ward was given credit for the deflection, his second goal of the game.
"When those mistakes happen, it's important for guys to get right back on it," Ryan said. "Teemu, obviously being our heart and soul and a veteran for us, goes and gets it done. We got the two points and we needed it.We have 12 games left after tonight, so to get started with that 12 with a win at home was huge."
Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 21 of 24 shots in his first start since March 6, and picked up his first victory since Feb. 28. Jonas Hiller, who's been playing well lately, will have three days' rest going into the Coyotes' game and is the logical choice to start.
Game summary here; event summary here.
"We got two points. Yeah, we're not happy that we gave up one when we had a one-goal lead late in the hockey game in your building," head coach Randy Carlyle said. "We'll take the two points and now we move on. We have to prepare ourselves for tomorrow night at Phoenix."
The Ducks still have to leapfrog three teams (Minnesota, Dallas and St. Louis) in the standings if they are to make the playoffs. If they're looking for momentum-builders, at least there were plenty to draw on Wednesday. They outshot an opponent for the fifth straight game, and took just three minor penalties to Nashville's five.
Selanne's overtime goal came during a crafty 4-on-3 setup in which the veteran snuck in, almost unnoticed, on the backdoor to redirect a deep Chris Pronger pass behind Predators goalie Pekka Rinne. The goal marked Selanne's 1,200th career point and his 205th career power-play goal, to pass Wayne Gretzky and tie Joe Sakic for 11th place on the all-time list.
"The last few games I have had so many chances and when the puck doesn't bounce your way, it's a little frustrating," Selanne said. "It was a big relief for me, but more for the team. We need these two points. It was a great pass by Prongs. It was good to see that go in. When they scored the tying goal, I said, 'You know it would be pretty nice to get the game-winner and get the 1,200th point away at the same time.' For sure, I wanted to do it at home if I could choose. It was a pretty happy ending."
It was a happy beginning for Bobby Ryan, who found himself (at long last) skating on the team's top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Against a stout defensive team in Nashville, Ryan responded with a first-period assist and a third-period power play goal that gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead. He also had a potential goal deflect off a skate -- possibly that of Getzlaf (it wasn't clear on TV) -- just before it was about to cross over the goal line.
Ryan was in a tough position to prevent the game-tying goal, which was redirected by Joel Ward with 2:45 left in the third period. He had lost his stick defending Shea Weber 1-on-1, as Weber skated through the right faceoff circle, giving the Predators' defenseman a clean shot near the boards. Ward was given credit for the deflection, his second goal of the game.
"When those mistakes happen, it's important for guys to get right back on it," Ryan said. "Teemu, obviously being our heart and soul and a veteran for us, goes and gets it done. We got the two points and we needed it.We have 12 games left after tonight, so to get started with that 12 with a win at home was huge."
Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 21 of 24 shots in his first start since March 6, and picked up his first victory since Feb. 28. Jonas Hiller, who's been playing well lately, will have three days' rest going into the Coyotes' game and is the logical choice to start.
Game summary here; event summary here.
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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