Bertuzzi's Late Goal Lifts Ducks 2-1

[March 20, 2008]  DALLAS (AP) -- Todd Bertuzzi's power-play goal with 27.2 seconds left broke a tie, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 20 shots to send the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.

With the score tied at 1 and Dallas captain Brenden Morrow in the penalty box for interference, Bertuzzi crashed the net and his point-blank swing at the puck got through the pads of Dallas goaltender Marty Turco for Bertuzzi's 14th goal of the season.

Defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim strengthened its grip on second place in the Pacific Division behind San Jose, moving three points ahead of third-place Dallas.

Morrow scored a short-handed goal for the slumping Stars, who lost their third in a row and are 1-6 in their past seven games.

Scott Niedermayer added a power-play goal for the Ducks, 15-3-1 in their past 19 games.

Anaheim got off to a slow start, failing to register a shot in the game's first 11:35.

Morrow's breakaway was the only score of the first period.

Turco sent the puck along the boards in a clearing attempt during a Ducks' power play, and when Anaheim defenseman Mathieu Schneider fell while trying to glove the puck at the right point, Morrow took possession with nobody back for the Ducks. Morrow skated in alone and beat Giguere from the slot for Morrow's 28th of the season at 12:34.

The Ducks tied it at 1 at 4:08 of the second period, five seconds into a power play, when Niedermayer's shot from the right circle went through Turco's pads for Niedermayer's seventh goal of the season.

Notes: Dallas C Steve Ott completed his three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Colorado's Jordan Leopold. ... Anaheim D Chris Pronger served the second of an eight-game suspension for stepping on the leg of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler. ...Also out for the Ducks: RW Corey Perry (quadriceps) and C Ryan Carter (wrist). ... Turco got the only assist on Morrow's goal, Turco's third of the season and 13th of his career, the most by a goalie in franchise history. ... Morrow has five goals against the Ducks this season. ... The Liverpool FC reserve team, competing in a Dallas-area soccer tournament, watched from a luxury box. Stars owner Tom Hicks is co-owner of Liverpool FC, but Hicks was not at the game. ... Dallas had been 5-1 against Anaheim this season, 8-1-1 in the past 10 meetings.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

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