Ducks Defeat Stars in SO

[March 31, 2008]  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Ducks defenseman Mathieu Schneider scored twice in regulation, goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere made a pair of stops in a shootout and Anaheim defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Sunday.

Teemu Selanne and Chris Kunitz had goals against Dallas goalie Marty Turco in the shootout. Brad Richards had the only goal for the Stars in the three-round showdown, and Giguere blocked shots by Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen.

The victory gave the defending champion Ducks, who are fourth in the Western Conference, a 98-93 edge over the fifth-place Stars as both jockey for playoff position.

Giguere, back after missing three games with back spasms and being the backup to Jonas Hiller in the Ducks' last game, made 23 saves.

Turco had 30 saves, including a couple of fine stops in the overtime when the Ducks outshot the Stars 5-3.

Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks' leading scorer, returned after being out three games with a sore shoulder, and assisted on both of Schneider's goals.

Dallas' Niklas Hagman scored at 1:53 of the third period to tie it at 2. Hagman was just to the right of the crease when the puck when the puck slid out to him during a battle behind the goal line, and he one-timed it in for his 27th goal.

After the Modano evened it at 1 at 6:45 of the second, Schneider put the Ducks in front again at 14:54 of the period with his second goal of the game and 12th of the season.

The victory was the Ducks' 27th in Anaheim this season and established a franchise record for home victories. They won 26 in 2005-06 and matched that mark last season.

Getzlaf controlled the puck behind the Dallas goal line, skated forward and slid a perfect pass to Schneider coming down slot.

Modano got his 20th goal on a 20-footer that beat Giguere on the stick side. Brenden Morrow set up the score with his pass from the right boards to Modano, who was skating down the slot and veered to his left to get the shot off.

Schneider opened the scoring with a 55-footer from the right side that sailed past Turco at 9:43 of the first period.

The multigoal game was the 15th of his career.

Notes: Dallas D Mattias Norstrom, 36, played in his 900th NHL regular-season game. ... Anaheim C Doug Weight was a healthy scratch. ... The Ducks had won the previous meeting, a 2-1 victory on March 19 in Dallas. ... Anaheim D Chris Pronger served the seventh of an eight-game suspension. He's slated to return for the regular-season home finale on April 6.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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