The Anaheim Ducks (6-1-1) used a little bit of luck and whole lot of goalie Viktor Fasth to become the first team to defeat the San Jose Sharks in regulation in this young season.
The Ducks 2-1 victory Monday night ended San Jose's eight-game points streak (7-0-1) and helped solidify the Ducks spot as one of the Western Conferences better teams.
Sheldon Souray fired a seeing-eye laser past Sharks goalie Thomas Griess with 6:39 remaining and the Ducks managed to hold on to lead for their best start since the 2006-07 season. That team started 6-0-2 and went on to win the franchises first and only Stanley Cup.
It looked as though Anaheim might squander another quality start from Fasth, but a fortuitous bounce onto the stick of Saku Koivu led to the game-tying goal at 3:53 of the third period and shifted the momentum in the Ducks direction. The puck took a funny bounce off the boards behind the net and Koivu found himself in the right place at the right time. The goal was his second of the year.
Despite the lucky bounce, the Ducks had been holding their own against one of the leagues elite teams. Anaheim is quietly proving to be a hockey club that can make some noise come playoff time. By rolling four lines and spreading out the scoring, the Ducks just might have the right mix of talent to be very dangerous team.
"San Jose's a great team. We played them hard last game and didn't get the results. We wanted to play hard tonight and try to get a different result, and we did that. We had everybody going. Our goaltending was amazing tonight and really gave us a chance to win." -Sheldon Souray
Souray is correct. The goaltending was amazing. Fasth is showing that he is a competitor and has the skills to be an everyday starter in this league. The Swede made 26 saves, several of them spectacular, to earn his third career win in as many starts. His 1.30 GAA and .946 save percentage are among the best in the NHL.
Anybody a believer yet?
How much longer until Bruce Boudreau replaces Jonas Hiller with Fasth? People thought I was nuts for suggesting this after one or two starts, but the numbers don't lie. Hiller has not been sharp (that's putting it nicely) and Fasth gives the Ducks the best chance to win right now. He's even shown he can be good with his stick. Just watch this poke-check of Patrick Marleau on a shorthanded breakaway.
Classic.
I think he has earned at least two or three starts on the six-game road trip.
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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