Fowler
nets OT winner Ducks defeat Canucks
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[December 29, 2014]
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As they've done
all season, the Anaheim Ducks find a way to win close games. Overcoming
a strong performance from a perennial All-Star goaltender in the
opposing net, they extended their Pacific Division lead with a dramatic
victory.
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Defenseman Cam Fowler scored at 2:32 of overtime and goaltender
Frederik Andersen made 13 saves as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the
Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Sunday night.
The victory prevented Anaheim (24-8-6) from losing consecutive games
for the first time since Nov. 28-29 and extended their Pacific
division lead to 11 points over the Canucks as well as Los Angeles
and San Jose. They lead the NHL with 54 points and are tied with the
Chicago Blackhawks with 24 victories.
Despite outshooting the Canucks by a two-on-one margin through 60
minutes, the Ducks were extended to overtime for a second
consecutive night by a strong effort by Vancouver netminder Ryan
Miller.
The game-winning sequence was started by Ducks right winger Devante
Smith-Pelly, who carried the puck across the blue line and fed it to
center Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf's return pass glanced off Smith-Pelly
and forced Miller to make a toe save but he could not control the
rebound. Fowler cashed in at the goalmouth for his fifth of the
season and third career overtime goal.
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"Staying the course was part of the reason we won tonight, as well
as shooting the puck and not looking for pretty plays. We really
pressed them in the last period and a half. It was nice justice for
our guys to get rewarded with the win," said Ducks coach Bruce
Boudreau.
Vancouver showed the effects of not playing a game since last Monday
due to the NHL's Holiday Break. They were beaten to the puck
consistently in the game's second half and made uncharacteristic
errors. Left winger Daniel Sedin had a golden opportunity to win the
game prior to Fowler's goal when he was sent in on a breakaway but
he lost control of the puck as he approached Andersen and never got
a shot off.
"It's pretty simple, we have to be better. If we want to win in this
league we have to take the puck to the net. We can't rely on our
goaltender," said Canucks coach Willie Desjardins.
The Canucks will take the point knowing they need to raise the level
of play to equal Miller's. Over the past three games, he's stopped
93 of 98 shots and is demonstrating the form needed for the Canucks
to return to the playoffs after missing them last season.
"I thought for a game coming off a break, the compete was there.
We'll clean things up. It's been three tight games with Anaheim and
we'll keep working to get the better of it next time," Miller said.
[to top of second column] |
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Trailing 1-0 entering the third period, the Ducks evened the game on
defenseman Francois Beauchemin's first goal of the season at 6:52.
Getzlaf won a faceoff and got the puck back to the point for a slap
shot that beat Miller from 52 feet. The assist extended Getzlaf's
consecutive point streak to eight games.
The Ducks pressed to win the game in regulation but could not dent
Miller again through 60 minutes. Ducks right winger Andrew Cogliano
had the best opportunity but his attempt off an odd-man rush with
2:30 left hit the post to Miller's left and bounded away.
Vancouver opened the scoring on defenseman Yannick Weber's third
goal of the season at 2:04 of the second period. His soft snap shot
from the right point was perfectly placed just inside the right post
to beat a screened Andersen with wingers Jannik Hansen and Alex
Burrows drawing assists.
Miller made 29 saves and kept the lead intact through two periods
with 10 saves in the middle frame including stops on close-in shots
by wingers Emerson Etem and Pat Maroon with less than five minutes
remaining in the middle frame.
The loss marked only the second time this season Vancouver (20-11-3)
has lost when leading after two periods.
NOTES: The Canucks recalled D Bobby Sanguinetti from Utica of the
AHL on Saturday. ... Vancouver scratched Sanguinetti and LW Tom
Sestito. ... Anaheim did not dress RW Tim Jackman (injured), D Mark
Fistric, D Coby Robak and LW Dany Heatley. ... The Ducks recalled LW
Max Friberg from Norfolk of the AHL and he made his NHL debut. ...
The Ducks are getting generous home cooking from this stretch of the
schedule. They will remain in Southern California until Jan. 25 with
their only road game over the next 10 matches coming in Los Angeles
on Jan. 17.
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