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The Anaheim Ducks are currently regarded as holding the strongest goaltending system in the National Hockey League. Frederik Andersen did a lot on Friday night to reemphasize that sentiment.

With Viktor Fasth still on the mend, Andersen stopped twenty-six of twenty-seven shots, beaten only by an absolute laser of a power-play goal by Mika Zibanejad in the second period. His play keyed Anaheim to a well-earned 2-1 victory at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Ottawa, looking to take advantage of a tired Anaheim team on the second-half of a back-to-back, could not generate much offense through the first forty minutes. The Ducks were the better team for the majority of the game, although both of their goals were sort of fluky.

Patrick Maroon's opening marker came on a weird redirect off of Marc Methot's stick, beating an unsuspecting Craig Anderson. And, Ryan Getzlaf's goal was generated after some strong forechecking on the likes of Craig Anderson and Erik Karlsson between the cage, creating a scramble sequence in front of Ottawa's crease.

Score effects and fatigue took over in the third period, where it looked like Bruce Boudreau's team was more than comfortable with loading up in the defensive-zone and playing sort of prevent hockey. Ottawa was gifted a ton of chances to equalize -- none better than a tip-play between Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan -- but could not beat Anaheim's great Dane.

It's a bit of a frustrating outcome for Paul MacLean's team, which had strung together strong games against Edmonton and Detroit earlier in the week.

What makes things a bit more precarious: the San Jose Sharks are coming to town, and they still look like the best the league currently has to offer -- no different than their earlier match-up two weeks ago.

Back with more tomorrow.

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