Mighty Ducks

Anaheim Mighty Ducks Betting Lines, Live Odds. Also specializing in sports news coverage, live scores, sportsbook odds, nhl and listings, and more sports information for your sports gaming and betting needs

Anaheim 3, Calgary 2

Sean O’Donnell scored the game-winning goal at 1:36 of overtime to give the Ducks a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in game four of the Western Conference quarterfinal series on Thursday night at the Arrowhead Pond.

The series is now tied 2-2 and will shift to Calgary for game five on Saturday at 7 p.m. PDT.

With time expired on Stephane Yelle’s high sticking penalty in overtime, O’Donnell pinched in from his point position and got a pass from winger Chris Kunitz.  The veteran defenseman slapped a low shot through Miikka Kiprusoff’s legs for the winner.  The goal was O’Donnell’s first of the playoffs.

“That was an interesting feeling, realizing that it got through his legs there and that the game was over and that you were the one who shot it,” said O’Donnell.  “It was a nice feeling and it felt a little bit strange, but I’ll take it.”

After a scoreless first, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne tallied second period goals to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Getzlaf (1, Perry, Vishnevski) opened the scoring for the Ducks at 3:47 of the second period.  The rookie center picked up a loose puck inside the Ducks zone and broke away alone on Kiprusoff.  Getzlaf deked and tucked a quick forehand shot inside the right post for his first goal of the playoffs.

Selanne (1, McDonald, S. Niedermayer) gave the Ducks a two-goal advantage less than four minutes later on the power play.  Selanne cleaned up the rebound of an Andy McDonald shot to give Anaheim a 2-0 lead at 7:13 of the second period.

The two-goal lead would be erased it seemed in an instant to begin the third period. 

Flames captain Jarome Iginla (1, Langkow, Ference) struck for his first goal of the game and of the playoffs 11 seconds into the third period.  The Flames captain broke free and beat JS Giguere to cut the Ducks’ lead in half.

Calgary tied the contest just over three minutes later when Iginla (2, Ference, Amonte) got a shot from the slot past Giguere to make it 2-2 at 3:27 of the third.

“We felt like we played really well the first two periods. In the third period, give them some credit,” said O’Donnell.  “We gave up a couple of goals that obviously we’re not happy about.”

The Ducks kept the Flames off the board the rest of the way and O’Donnell’s goal earned Anaheim a series split, 2-2 heading back to Calgary.

“I think this was probably our best game of the series,” said O’Donnell.  “That’s usually the way it happens. With good teams, if you lose a game you’ve got to make sure the next game is your best. Now we’re expecting an even better Game 5 from them.”

posted by: MightyDuck at 17:53 | link | comments |

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de