Ducks 4 – St. Louis 3 S.O.
The Ducks pulled out a “gut check… win Friday Night over the Blues. After jumping out to an early 1-0 lead, they fell behind 3-1, 16 minutes into the second period. After an embarrassing shutout the previous game, this team could have easily folded. They didn't. Corey Perry responded quickly with a goal to send Anaheim into the second break down a goal. “The big thing was getting the goal near the end of the second period,… coach Bruce Boudreau told the media.
Ryan Kesler's third period power play goal evened the score. The score remained tied through the third and overtime. After yielding the first shootout goal, netminder John Gibson was strong as he denied the final three St. Louis shooters.
The Ducks showed some intestinal fortitude for the first time in a long time. The had every excuse to mail in the third period, but they didn't. It could be a “watershed… moment for a group that needs to turn it up several notches in the second half of the season. A couple of thoughts from the contest.
* Jakob Silfverberg did everything but put the puck in the net himself. It was his best game since last April.
* There was lots of “chippiness… to the game. The Ducks won a war of attrition Corey Perry provided a few anxious moments when he went back to the locker room after his collision with Jake Allen.
* The Ryan Kesler vs. Vladimir Tarasenko fight was interesting. Known for his scoring, the Russian handled himself well. Unfortunately, it cost his team as he drew an extra minor penalty. More amusing, was that during the replay of the fight, viewers could hear Warrior's Call by Volbeat being played in the arena. It was well timed.
Welcome Back
Defenseman Simon Despres returned to practice yesterday. It was the fist time since his concussion, back in October, that he was able to participate.
Detroit @ Ducks
The Ducks look to build upon Friday's win as the Detroit Red Wings are their opponent tonight at the Honda Center. Wings goalie Petr Mrazek has been red hot lately. He won his last three starts, allowing only four goals in the process.
Ducks forward Mike Santorelli may be scratched for the second consecutive game, however don't count out the fact Pat Maroon was -3 in the last game. Defenseman Clayton Stoner returns to the lineup, sending Korbinian Holzer to the press box. Here is tonight's lineup:
Forwards Rakell-Getlaf-Perry Hagelin-Kesler-Silfverberg Sekac-Horcoff-Cogliano Maroon-Thompson-Stewart
Defensemen Vatanen-Bieksa Lindholm-Holzer Theodore-Manson
Goalies Gibson Andersen
- Ed