(SportsNetwork.com) – The Anaheim Ducks know that two points are better than
just one.
The Ducks look to secure a second straight victory on Sunday night as they
play host to the Arizona Coyotes.
Anaheim snapped a three-game slide (0-1-2) with Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win
over the Vancouver Canucks. It had to be nerve-racking for the Ducks, who had
lost five of their past six games that went beyond regulation.
Matt Beleskey’s goal with 8:08 left in the third period tied the game and both
Corey Perry and Jakob Silfverberg scored in the shootout.
Perry, the first participant, came down the right side, drifted towards the
slot and patiently lifted a shot over a sliding Eddie Lack. After Vancouver’s
first two shooters failed to score, Silfverberg’s quick wrister over the glove
of the Vancouver netminder sealed the win.
Ryan Getzlaf tallied a goal and an assist, while Andrew Cogliano also scored
and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves to improve Anaheim to 2-1-5 in its past
eight games.
“We found a way to win and that’s what we have been trying to do,” said Perry.
Andersen made his seventh straight start and faced the Coyotes for the first
time in his career on Nov. 7, losing a 3-2 decision in a shootout. He yielded
two goals on 25 shots and was beaten by Mikkel Boedker for the deciding tally
in the tiebreaker.
Ryan Kesler had the last chance for hosting Anaheim, but his shot went wide of
the net.
Getzlaf and Beleskey both scored for the Ducks, who won all five of their
meetings with the Coyotes last season. They lost at home to Arizona for only
the second time in the past eight encounters.
Shane Doan and Rob Klinkhammer each had a goal for the Coyotes, while Mike
Smith turned away 37 shots in the win.
Arizona snapped a two-game slide with a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose
Sharks on Saturday night. Antoine Vermette scored in regulation and had the
lone tally of the tiebreaker.
Doan had a goal and an assist, David Schlemko scored and Boedker notched a
pair of assists.
“Good teams push back,” said Vermette. “We stuck with it and came back.”
Devan Dubnyk made 40 saves and stopped San Jose’s three attempts in the
shootout to improve his record to 5-0-1 on the season. It is unknown if he
will get another start tonight or if Smith will return to net.
Forward Rene Bourque, acquired by the Ducks on Thursday from Montreal in
exchange for defenseman Bryan Allen, skated with Anaheim on Saturday, though
his status for this game is unknown.
