Niedermayer, Perry Lead Ducks, 3-1

[March 04, 2008]  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Corey Perry and Scott Niedermayer each had a goal and an assist, Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 24 saves and the Anaheim Ducks beat Ottawa 3-1 Monday night in a rematch of last season's Stanley Cup finals.

The victory was the sixth in a row for the defending champion Ducks, while the slumping Senators have won just nine of their last 24.

Todd Bertuzzi had the other Anaheim goal in the only regular-season meeting between the teams this season.

Christoph Schubert scored for Ottawa in the first period after the Senators had fallen behind 2-0.

The Ducks won the Cup in five games last June, wrapping up their first NHL title with a 6-2 victory on June 6 in Anaheim.

Niedermayer, who assisted on Perry's goal, capped the scoring with a slap shot from the right circle on a 5-on-3 power play midway through the third period. The goal was the sixth for the Anaheim defenseman.

Thirty-five seconds after Perry gave Anaheim their two-goal lead in the opening period, Schubert narrowed the gap. The Ottawa defenseman beat a screened Giguere with a slap shot from near the blue line at 15:35 for his sixth goal.

Perry got his 29th goal on a power play. In good position in front of the crease, he redirected Niedermayer's shot past Martin Gerber.

Bertuzzi put Anaheim ahead to stay when he scored from the left circle at 11:58 of the first, his 13th goal.

Gerber, who had been Giguere's backup for two seasons in Anaheim, faced 31 shots.

Ducks center Doug Weight, back after sitting out eight games with a shoulder injury, assisted on Perry's goal.

Coach Randy Carlyle was behind the Anaheim bench after missing Friday's game because of the flu. Assistant Dave Farrish filled in -- and injured defenseman Chris Pronger helped him -- in Friday's 3-1 victory over Calgary.

Former Anaheim coach and general manager Bryan Murray was back in the arena as the Ottawa GM and coach. He returned to the bench after firing John Paddock on Feb. 27 while the Senators were struggling, and Ottawa is 1-2 since he took over the coach's duties.

Murray was at the helm last season when the Senators made their first appearance in the Cup finals.

Notes The six-game winning streak matches the Ducks' season high. They are 23-8-3 since Niedermayer returned, and 11-1 since right wing Teemu Selanne rejoined them. Both sat out part of the season while deciding whether to retire. ... Anaheim C Todd Marchant played after being sidelined by a sore shoulder for three games.

[Associated Press; By KEN PETERS]

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