Ducks Extend Home Streak With Shootout Win Over Kings
POSTED: 11:03 pm PDT March 26,
2008
Anaheim, CA -- (Sports Network) - Teemu Selanne and Mathieu Schneider both scored in the shootout, and Jonas Hiller was sensational at the other end as Anaheim escaped with a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings to clinch a playoff berth.The Kings struck first in the shootout, as Dustin Brown lifted a wrist shot over a diving Hiller in the second round. Selanne came right back though, and ripped a shot through the five hole of Erik Ersberg. Both sides then went scoreless until the sixth round, when Schneider slipped the puck between Ersberg's pads. Hiller closed out the game with a final save on Brian Willsie. "It was nice to clinch a spot tonight and it's nice to be at home," said Schneider. "The comfort of knowing that we're home basically for the rest of the season going into the playoffs I think gives us a little bit of peace of mind and a chance to really get our bodies ready." Bobby Ryan had the lone goal in regulation, and Hiller stopped 31 shots for Anaheim, which extended its team-record home winning streak to 10 games. The Ducks have not lost on their own ice since a 4-2 defeat against Dallas on February 15. They are 26-8-4 at the Honda Center this season, tying the franchise mark for home victories set in 2005-06 and matched last season. The Ducks have now won two straight and six of their last eight games overall. They sit in second place in the Pacific Division, four points back of San Jose. Anaheim is in fourth place in the Western Conference. Patrick O'Sullivan had the only goal for the Kings, who had a two-game win streak snapped. Ersberg finished with 39 saves. "It's tough," said Ersberg. "It was a close game. It was a great game by both teams. I think (my teammates) played great defensive hockey in front of me, clearing out rebounds and blocked shots and everything that they're supposed to do. That helped me out a lot. We've got another game coming up. We can't think about this one too much." The Kings notched the only goal of the first period, and it came on the man- advantage, as O'Sullivan corralled a rebound from off the right side of the crease and roofed the puck under the crossbar at 9:29. Ryan tied it up in the second period, as he moved laterally through the neutral zone and sent a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net at 7:29. Los Angeles had a chance for the win in the final moments of regulation, but Alexander Frolov was stonewalled by Hiller on the breakaway with 15 seconds remaining. The Kings managed four shots in overtime, while the Ducks had three. Game Notes It was the 71st consecutive sellout for the Ducks, setting a new franchise record...Anaheim's Jean-Sebastien Giguere (back spasms) and Ryan Getzlaf (upper-body injury) each missed their second straight game...Anaheim has won five of its last six against the Kings, and four straight at home in the series.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.





