Ducks top 1st place Sharks to keep playoff hopes alive as the hockey season nears the finish (3/10)
The Anaheim Ducks played one of their better games of the season when they needed it most. Heading down the stretch and needing key points to make the playoffs, this game was big. There was playoff intensity and the Ducks won 4-2 after a blazing first period where they lead 3-0 on goals by Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne and Lubomir Visnovsky. Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov looked shaky especially on the last goal of the period. The team has been inconsistent all year with winning and losing streaks. They entered this game on a 5 game losing streak. San Jose is one of the top teams in the NHL but the Ducks were up for the challenge as they were when they knocked them out of the playoffs last year.
Selanne scored his 599th goal as he gears to get 600 and then to break his idol and countryman Jari Kurri’s mark of 601 career goals. Selanne had to leave the game as he went crashing into the boards and did not return. Bobby Ryan had an empty net goal to seal the victory after Joe Thornton closed the score to 3-2 in the 3rd period. Jonas Hiller was sharp and the it was a great team victory with crisp passing, small amount of turnovers and penalties. Ryan Getzlaf got on the scoreboard for the 3rd time in 4 games but had to also leave the game in the 3rd period with an injury.
While the season draws to the end, the Ducks are clinging to playoff hope but will need to get really hot while other teams slide. It doesn’t look good this year but you never know. More at www.ducks.nhl.com