Anaheim builds 3-1 lead, staves off San Jose for 3-2 victory and
takes commanding two-game lead heading back to Southern
California
SAN JOSE
Stanley Cup Playoff experience is evident on the roster of the Anaheim Ducks. While the Ducks won the Cup two years ago and still have several veterans of that march to the title, rookie Andrew Ebbett made the difference Sunday night as the Ducks topped San Jose 3-2 at sold out HP Pavilion.
Anaheim will bring a 2-0 series lead home after outlasting San Jose in both games on the Sharks ice. Anaheim will host the next two games of this best-of-seven series, Tuesday and Thursday nights with 7:35 p.m. starts.
“You have to give Anaheim credit – they found a way to win,” said San Jose coach Todd McLellan.
“I thought our power play was better, we created more chances, more traffic at the net. Eventually, if we keep getting those chances, it’ll go in and it will work in our favor.”
Ebbett, playing in his second playoff game, snapped a 1-1 tie with a 20-foot shot from a tough angle 9:44 into the third period to give the Ducks a lead they would not relinquish.
Teemu Selanne ignited the scoring play by flashing toward the left post with a hard shot that left a rebound along the endboards. Eric Christensen was able to get the puck to Ebbett on the right goalline. Ebbett’s shot skimmed off goalie Evgeni Nabokov’s right leg and into the net.
“I wasn’t able to locate the puck,” said Nabokov, who finished with 23 saves. “I couldn’t get set.”
Ebbett, a 26-year-old center who signed as a free agent two winters ago, made the most of his one shot for the game.
“It is huge to get two wins on the road,” Ebbett said. “We have a lot of work to do. You see how many shots (the Sharks) had again tonight. They are getting their shots, but we are doing a good job of clearing those second opportunities.”
San Jose kept applying pressure against Anaheim’s defense for most of the third period, yet the Ducks came up with a deciding goal for a 3-1 cushion at 13:17.
The Ducks won an offensive zone face-off and turned the threat into a 3-1 edge when Drew Miller drilled a 10-footer through two screens and under Nabokov’s pads from the left flank.
San Jose responded quickly, with Jonathan Cheechoo powering through the middle to chip a short shot over goalie Jonas Hiller’s left shoulder at 13:54.
San Jose had a 12-9 edge in shots for the third period, 44-26 for the game. The Sharks managed one shot on net after pulling the goalie for the final 30 seconds.
“Sometimes it is more important to prevent a goal than it is to score a goal in these tight games,” said Duck coach Randy Carlyle.
“The bottom line is that we are playing a very, very, very good hockey club. They have had success in our building, so we know they can play at a very high level. It’s going to take more than we delivered in these two games to win the next one, I’m sure.”
A total of 29 shots were sent at the two goalies in the first period. Only one shot, Duck Bobby Ryan’s power play goal at 3:45 of play, managed to elude the goalies.
“The whole team does a good job of boxing those guys out so it makes in a little easier for me to focus on stopping the shot,” Hiller said.
San Jose could not score for the fourth consecutive period in the series, despite having a pair of power plays in the opening 20 minutes.
Ryan, playing in only his fourth Stanley Cup Playoff game, opened the scoring during an Anaheim power play caused by a call on Ryane Clowe for tripping Selanne.
San Jose was 34 seconds away from killing the penalty when Anaheim’s defenseman James Wisniewski hustled to the left point to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Ryan’s initial shot from the left flank banged off the left post and toward the slot. Ryan made it 1-0 by leaping over Nabokov to redirect the puck into the net.
While San Jose fashioned a 17-3 edge in shots on net in the second period, the Ducks threatened to extend the lead on several occasions.
San Jose finally solved Hiller at 5:38 of the second period. Anaheim tried to clear its zone but a pass skimmed between Ebbett’s skates and stayed inside the blueline. Ryane Clowe collected the puck and whipped a 35-footer inside the left post for the equalizer.
“Most teams don’t come back from 0-2, but we have a team that can get it done,” said Shark defenseman Dan Boyle.
