VIDEO: Ducks Tame The Wild

Photo: AP

By Richard Gonzalez

The Anaheim Ducks were looking to ride the momentum from their game against the Washington Capitals and get their second consecutive win against the Minnesota Wild. The last time these two teams met, the Ducks broke a losing streak by blanking the Wild. Ryan Miller is in for the Ducks and Devan Dubnyk is on for the Wild. Former Ducks’ forward, Pontus Aberg will be in the line-up as he looks to score his first goal as a member of the Wild. 

First Period

The first period was shortly stopped due to the linesmen (Devin Berg) taking a puck off the leg. He was helped off the ice by the Wild training staff and headed back to the locker room. The period was all about the defensive play. Only five shots total at the 10-minute mark of the game. Miller got lucky when one of the Wilds shot ended up behind him but a quick whistle stopped the play. The period would end scoreless with the Wild outshooting the Ducks, 8-6. 

Second Period

The second period would see the game’s first penalty as Joel Eriksson Ek took a hooking call against Rickard Rakell. The Ducks would capitalize on their first power play opportunity by getting the game’s first goal from Jakob Silfverberg from Devin Shore and Max Jones. This would be Jones’ first career NHL point. The Wild would go right back on the penalty kill as Luke Kunin took a hi-sticking call against Hampus Lindholm. The Wild would kill that one off. The Wild had a chance to score on a wrap-around but Lindholm gets his stick there in time to block the shot. As the period was winding down, Jaycob Megna started mixing it up with a Wild player and all player came in with some minor roughing. No penalty calls were assessed during that scrum. The Ducks would finish the second leading 1-0. The Wild outshot the Ducks, 12-11. 

Third Period

Just approximately two minutes into the game, the Ducks would take their first penalty of the game. Megna gets a slashing call. The Ducks were able to kill it with the continued stellar play of Miller. The Ducks would go back on the penalty kill at the 6:29 mark for interference. As the Ducks were about to kill off their second penalty, Lindholm got called for hooking to put the Ducks on their third penalty. The Ducks would again kill the penalty. Cory Perry would suck the life out of a what looked like a surging Wild team by scoring his second game and the second goal of the game. Ryan Kesler would finally score the game’s third goal ending a 39 game goal drought. Lindholm would put the nail in the coffin by getting the empty net goal. Aberg would take a slashing and unsportsmanlike penalties in the final 16 seconds of the game. Ducks win this game 4-0.

Analysis

The Ducks played this game with some high intensity. It appears that their confidence was still booming from the win the other night against the Capitals. They held the Wild to only three shots at the midway mark of the first. Michael Del Zotto is finding his game with the Ducks are he had a few offensive chances along with Montour. Miller was really on his game tonight and the Ducks did a good job at keeping the Wild players wide. Max Jones would get his first NHL point. They did get into a little penalty trouble in the third but with the help of Miller, they were able to kill each of them. Miller would get his 44th career shutout and consecutive wins. 

Team Notes

Silfverberg scored his team-leading 16th goal.

Perry tied Teemu Selanne for second amongst most games played(966) by a Ducks player.

Max Jones earned his first NHL point.

Miller stopped all 31 shots for his 44th career shutout.

Up Next

The Ducks will play the Calgary Flames on Friday, Feb. 22nd, at 6:00 PM.

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