The Anaheim Ducks used a suddenly productive power play to dismiss the Phoenix Coyotes by a score of 5-2 on Wednesday night in front of thousands of fans dressed as red seats at the Honda Center.
The Ducks went 2 for 4 with the man advantage to help put a dramatic halt to the Coyotes five-game winning streak. Captain Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Cam Fowler each scored on the power play.
- Anaheim is now 6-0-0 at home. Yes, that is the best home start in franchise history and yes winning is awesome! The Ducks have secured 13 of a possible 14 point since losing back-to-back games in late October and the 27 points and 13-3-1 record is the clubs best start since the Stanley Cup championship season of 2006-07.
- Potential Calder candidate, Hampus Lindholm scored his first NHL goal, added an assist and was named the games first star in what was another stellar game for the 19-year-old. I thought he had a second goal of the game, but turns out Corey Perry got a piece of it for his 10th of the season.
- The goal was Perry's 45th career game-winning goal, moving him past former Ducks great Paul Kariya for second in franchise history. Teemu Selanne is first.
- Lindholm has made the most of his first 15 National Hockey League games. The rookie has five points (1g 4a) and is his plus-13 is tied for second in the NHL with Francois Beauchemin while logging almost 19 minutes a night. For the record, Dustin Penner is first with a beefy plus-15.
- Up until Wednesday night the Ducks had been winning and winning and winning without the aide of its special teams. So what changed? Well for one thing... the Ducks were shooting the puck with bodies in front. They simplified their power play and put pucks on net. You can't score if you done't shoot. Sometimes when things aren't going well a team will try to get too cute and look for the perfect play. What the heck is a perfect play anyway? Just shoot the dang puck and good things happen.
- Imagine where the Ducks would be without Ryan Getzlaf (7g 11a) and Corey Perry (10g 7a)? These guys are machines that were built to defuse the will of NHL goaltenders. I feel blessed to be able to watch these two do their thing for 82 games a season.
- The most impressive aspect of the Ducks game last night was the puck pressure. Anaheim was all over any Coyotes player with the puck. Phoenix had nine giveaways, including two that lead to goals from Lindholm and Andrew Cogliano.
- Speaking of Cogliano. He was shaken up while scoring an empty net goal late in the third period. After the game head coach Bruce Boudreau said Andrew was feeling better and that scoring the goal helped ease his pain.
- The Ducks are off today but will be back to work Friday when they host Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres. My only question is will Miller be leaving with the Sabres or staying with the Ducks? Cue the dramatic music....duh duh duuuuuh....
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