Ducks Win in Shootout, Clinching Berth

[March 27, 2008]  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Mathieu Schneider and Teemu Selanne scored for the Anaheim Ducks during a shootout and the defending Stanley Cup champions beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Wednesday night to clinch a playoff berth.

Anaheim rookie goaltender Jonas Hiller, filling in for the ailing Jean-Sebastien Giguere, ended the shootout at the end of six rounds when he blocked Brian Willsie's shot. Dustin Brown had the only shootout goal for the Kings.

The Ducks already has assured themselves a spot in the postseason when they were tied at the end of regulation, since they needed only one point to clinch.

Patrick O'Sullivan scored for Los Angeles in the first period, and Anaheim's Bobby Ryan tied it in the second.

The Ducks made the playoffs for the third year in a row, and the sixth time since they came into the league as an expansion franchise in 1993.

The Kings, already eliminated from the postseason, haven't made the playoffs since 2003.

Hiller, starting for the third game in a row, made 31 saves for Anaheim -- including a dramatic one with time running out in regulation.

Los Angeles' Alexander Frolov stole the puck from Schneider in the Kings' zone and skated off on a breakaway. He bore down on Hiller, feinted to his left then tried to slide the puck behind the sprawling goalie on the other side. Hiller blocked the shot with his left skate, with 17 seconds on the clock.

Los Angeles goalie Erik Ersberg had a fine outing, stopping 39 shots.

The Ducks extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 10 straight, the longest such streak in the league this season.

Ryan drew Anaheim even on a power play at 12:25 of the second period.

O'Sullivan opened the scoring on a power-play midway through the first period with his 20th goal.

Notes: Giguere, sidelined by back spasms, missed his third consecutive game. The Ducks also were without C Ryan Getzlaf (shoulder) and D Chris Pronger, serving the fifth game of an eight-game suspension. RW Corey Perry, sidelined by a lacerated right quad tendon, is expected to be out for another three weeks or so. ... The game was the first of four home games to close out the regular season for the Ducks, and their lone road game remaining requires just a trip up the freeway to Los Angeles to face the Kings.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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