Game report: Ducks 3, Canadiens 2 (shootout)

Key play: Jakob Silfverberg scored the only goal in a shootout as the Ducks extended their winning streak to nine consecutive games with a 3-2 victory Wednesday over the Montreal Canadiens at the Honda Center. The Ducks also tied the first-place Kings with 78 points.

Pivotal performer: Canadiens left wing Alex Galchenyuk scored twice to help Montreal take a 2-1 lead 56 seconds into the third period, his 18th and 19th goals of the season. He also scored in the second to give the Canadiens a 1-0 advantage at 4:25.

Smashing debut: Left wing Jamie McGinn scored in his Ducks debut, a second-period goal from point-blank range that tied the score 1-all at 14:28. McGinn played on a line with center Rickard Rakell and right win Corey Perry. He was credited with four shots in 15:35 of ice time.

Quote, unquote: “It’s definitely good to get it out of the way quick,” McGinn said of scoring his first goal with the Ducks after a trade Monday from the Buffalo Sabres. “You don’t want it to take too long. You want to feel part of the team right away and contribute any way you can.”

Between the pipes: John Gibson started for the Ducks for the second consecutive game after he was in goal for a 4-2 victory Sunday over the Kings. Frederik Andersen is expected to play Thursday against the Coyotes in Glendale, Ariz., with Gibson likely back to face the Kings on Saturday.

Lineup shuffle: Ducks defenseman Simon Despres couldn’t play because of an illness. Clayton Stoner replaced him, returning to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 15. He sat out 14 games because of a hip flexor injury and was a healthy scratch for four more contests.