GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: ANAHEIM (14-5) at OTTAWA (13-5)

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

<div class="pre">STANLEY CUP FINALS

NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 2:30 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 1:32 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 1:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 0:57 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 0:25 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 0:15 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS
ANAHEIM 3
OTTAWA 2 0:05 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ANAHEIM 0 2 1 3
OTTAWA 1 1 0 2 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: OTT - (PP) DANIEL ALFREDSSON 12 (PETER SCHAEFER, MIKE
FISHER) 19:59
2ND PRD: ANA - (PP) ANDY MCDONALD 8 (TODD MARCHANT, COREY PERRY)
10:06
ANA - ANDY MCDONALD 9 (SCOTT NIEDERMAYER, SEAN O'DONNELL)
11:06
OTT - (SH) DANY HEATLEY 7 (PATRICK EAVES, JASON SPEZZA)
18:00
3RD PRD: ANA - DUSTIN PENNER 3 (TEEMU SELANNE, ANDY MCDONALD) 4:07

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: ANA - 0 OF 3, OTT - 1 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ANA 2 13 6 21
OTT 13 4 6 23

GOALIES: ANA - JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE
OTT - RAY EMERY

OFFICIALS: REF - BILL MCCREARY, BRAD WATSON
LIN - JAY SHARRERS, SCOTT DRISCOLL

ATT: 20,500</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ANAHEIM 0 2 1 3
OTTAWA 1 1 0 2 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: OTT - (PP) DANIEL ALFREDSSON 12 (PETER SCHAEFER, MIKE
FISHER) 19:59
2ND PRD: ANA - (PP) ANDY MCDONALD 8 (TODD MARCHANT, COREY PERRY)
10:06
ANA - ANDY MCDONALD 9 (SCOTT NIEDERMAYER, SEAN O'DONNELL)
11:06
OTT - (SH) DANY HEATLEY 7 (PATRICK EAVES, JASON SPEZZA)
18:00
3RD PRD: ANA - DUSTIN PENNER 3 (TEEMU SELANNE, ANDY MCDONALD) 4:07

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: ANA - 0 OF 3, OTT - 1 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ANA 2 13 6 21
OTT 13 4 6 23

GOALIES: ANA - JEAN-SEBASTIEN GIGUERE
OTT - RAY EMERY

OFFICIALS: REF - BILL MCCREARY, BRAD WATSON
LIN - JAY SHARRERS, SCOTT DRISCOLL

ATT: 20,500</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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------------------------------------
Anaheim 0 2 1 --3
Ottawa 1 1 0 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 12 (power play)
(Peter Schaefer, Mike Fisher), 19:59. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana
(slashing), 0:58; C Perry, Ana (cross checking), 3:54; C Neil, Ott
(goalie interference), 6:13; P Eaves, Ott (holding), 17:11; C Perry,
Ana (roughing), 17:11; R Getzlaf, Ana (goalie interference), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 8 (power play) (Todd
Marchant, Corey Perry), 10:06. 3, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 9 (Scott
Niedermayer, Sean O'Donnell), 11:06. 4, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 7
(shorthanded) (Patrick Eaves, Jason Spezza), 18:00. Penalties: C
Neil, Ott (interference), 4:29; C Phillips, Ott (hooking), 8:02; M
Fisher, Ott (roughing), 20:00; S Pahlsson, Ana (roughing), 20:00.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Anaheim, Dustin Penner 3 (Teemu Selanne,
Andy Mcdonald), 4:07. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana (hooking), 1:02.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Anaheim 2 13 6 --21
Ottawa 13 4 6 --23
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Anaheim - 1 of 3, Ottawa - 1 of 4. Goalies :
Anaheim, Jean-Sebastien Giguere (23 shots, 21 saves; record: 12-4-0).
Ottawa, Ray Emery (21 shots, 18 saves; record: 13-6-0). A: 20,500.
Referees: Bill Mccreary, Brad Watson. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Scott
Driscoll.</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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------------------------------------
Anaheim 0 2 1 --3
Ottawa 1 1 0 --2
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 12 (power play)
(Peter Schaefer, Mike Fisher), 19:59. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana
(slashing), 0:58; C Perry, Ana (cross checking), 3:54; C Neil, Ott
(goalie interference), 6:13; P Eaves, Ott (holding), 17:11; C Perry,
Ana (roughing), 17:11; R Getzlaf, Ana (goalie interference), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 8 (power play) (Todd
Marchant, Corey Perry), 10:06. 3, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 9 (Scott
Niedermayer, Sean O'Donnell), 11:06. 4, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 7
(shorthanded) (Patrick Eaves, Jason Spezza), 18:00. Penalties: C
Neil, Ott (interference), 4:29; C Phillips, Ott (hooking), 8:02; M
Fisher, Ott (roughing), 20:00; S Pahlsson, Ana (roughing), 20:00.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Anaheim, Dustin Penner 3 (Teemu Selanne,
Andy Mcdonald), 4:07. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana (hooking), 1:02.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Anaheim 2 13 6 --21
Ottawa 13 4 6 --23
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Anaheim - 1 of 3, Ottawa - 1 of 4. Goalies :
Anaheim, Jean-Sebastien Giguere (23 shots, 21 saves; record: 12-4-0).
Ottawa, Ray Emery (21 shots, 18 saves; record: 13-6-0). A: 20,500.
Referees: Bill Mccreary, Brad Watson. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Scott
Driscoll.</div>

 

NHL: ANAHEIM at OTTAWA

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-----------------------------------------
ANAHEIM 0 2 1 --3
OTTAWA 1 1 0 --2
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Ottawa, Daniel Alfredsson 12 (power play)
(Peter Schaefer, Mike Fisher), 19:59. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana
(slashing), 0:58; C Perry, Ana (cross checking), 3:54; C Neil, Ott
(goalie interference), 6:13; P Eaves, Ott (holding), 17:11; C Perry,
Ana (roughing), 17:11; R Getzlaf, Ana (goalie interference), 18:16.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 8 (power play) (Todd
Marchant, Corey Perry), 10:06. 3, Anaheim, Andy Mcdonald 9 (Scott
Niedermayer, Sean O'Donnell), 11:06. 4, Ottawa, Dany Heatley 7
(shorthanded) (Patrick Eaves, Jason Spezza), 18:00. Penalties: C
Neil, Ott (interference), 4:29; C Phillips, Ott (hooking), 8:02; M
Fisher, Ott (roughing), 20:00; S Pahlsson, Ana (roughing), 20:00.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Anaheim, Dustin Penner 3 (Teemu Selanne,
Andy Mcdonald), 4:07. Penalties: F Beauchemin, Ana (hooking), 1:02.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
ANAHEIM 2 13 6 --21
OTTAWA 13 4 6 --23
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: ANA - 1 of 3, OTT - 1 of 4. Goalies : Anaheim,
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (23 shots, 21 saves; record: 12-4-0). Ottawa,
Ray Emery (21 shots, 18 saves; record: 13-6-0). A: 20,500. Referees:
Bill Mccreary, Brad Watson. Linesmen: Jay Sharrers, Scott Driscoll.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

ANAHEIM OTTAWA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
C Perry 0 1 +1 2 D Alfredsson 1 0 -1 3
R Getzlaf 0 0 -1 0 M Fisher 0 1 even 2
D Penner 1 0 +1 3 A Meszaros 0 0 even 2
A McDonald 2 1 +3 3 D Heatley 1 0 +1 6
S O'Donnell 0 1 even 1 J Spezza 0 1 even 1
T Marchant 0 1 +1 1 A Vermette 0 0 -2 2
F Beauchemin 0 0 +2 3 C Kelly 0 0 -2 0
B May 0 0 +1 0 A Volchenkov 0 0 -2 0
S Pahlsson 0 0 even 1 C Neil 0 0 -2 1
S Niedermayer 0 1 -1 1 P Schaefer 0 1 even 1
T Moen 0 0 -1 0 C Phillips 0 0 -2 1
R Carter 0 0 even 0 T Preissing 0 0 even 0
J DiPenta 0 0 even 0 P Eaves 0 1 +1 0
K Huskins 0 0 +2 1 C Schubert 0 0 even 0
R Niedermayer 0 0 even 3 W Redden 0 0 -1 3
J Motzko 0 0 even 0 O Saprykin 0 0 even 0
R Jackman 0 0 +1 0 J Corvo 0 0 even 1
T Selanne 0 1 +1 2 M Comrie 0 0 even 0
C Pronger SUSPENDED NHL D McAmmond CONCUSSION
S Thornton HEALTHY B McGrattan HEALTHY
G Parros HEALTHY L Nycholat HEALTHY
C Kunitz LOWER BODY INJUR
A Miller HEALTHY</div>

 

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Dustin Penner began to show signs of life inGame Three. He left the Ottawa Senators hanging on for dearlife after Game Four.

Penner snapped a tie 4:07 into the third period and the AnaheimDucks made it stand, holding on for a 3-2 victory over theSenators on Monday to move within one win of the Stanley Cupchampionship.

Andy McDonald scored two goals and set up another andJean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves for the Ducks, who canclinch the first Cup in franchise history Wednesday at the HondaCenter.

Getting the puck just outside of the blue line, Teemu Selannecarried down the right side as a 2-on-1 situation arose insidethe offensive zone. Heading toward the net, Penner easilyknocked Selanne's pass into a vacant net at 4:07 as goaltenderRay Emery was well out of position.

It was the first goal for Penner since Game Three of the WesternConference semifinals against Vancouver, a span of 12 games.He recorded his first points since that contest vs. the Canuckson Saturday, when he notched a pair of assists.

For the second time this postseason, Anaheim survived withoutNorris Trophy finalist Chris Pronger, who was serving a one-gamesuspension for delivering a blow to the head of Ottawa's DeanMcAmmond early in the third period of Game Three. The Ducksalso posted a victory in Game Four of the conference finals vs.Detroit as Pronger was banned from that contest for a blow tothe head of Tomas Holmstrom in the previous game.

Francois Beauchemin and captain Scott Niedermayer wereworkhorses in Pronger's absence Monday. Beauchemin logged 31minutes, 40 seconds of ice time in the session, while captainScott Niedermayer - also a candidate for the Norris Trophy -played 29:23.

With the contest appeared headed to intermission scoreless, theSenators cashed in on a power play just before the buzzer totake the lead. Peter Schaefer received the puck from MikeFisher behind the net and quickly dished to captain DanielAlfredsson, who fired it under the right arm of Giguere with 1.5seconds remaining for his league-leading 12th goal of thepostseason and a 1-0 edge.

Entering the game, the Ducks were leading the league in timesshorthanded with 114. They added to that total early, withdefenseman Francois Beauchemin being called for slashing 58seconds into the opening period and Perry following with across-checking penalty at 3:54.

Giguere was stellar during those power plays, making five of his12 saves in the period during those four minutes.

Had it not been for the excellence of Giguere, the Senators'lead after one period would have been much larger. The 2003Conn Smythe Trophy winner made a number of brilliant saves,denying Jason Spezza from alone in front just 3 1/2 minutes intothe contest and stopping Fisher with 2:22 to go.

The Ducks did not register their first shot of the game untilthe 11:25 mark, when Corey Perry fired a long wrister from theright faceoff circle that was stopped by netminder Ray Emery.Perry nearly gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead just over three minuteslater, but his shot from the opposite side rang off the rightgoalpost.

The tide turned in the second period, and Andy McDonald was themain reason why. After his chip shot from the doorstep hit theright elbow of the net at 2:48, McDonald evened the game at10:06, just four seconds after Chris Neil's interference penaltyexpired.

From behind the net, Todd Marchant passed the puck to McDonald,who cut across the low slot from the bottom of the right circle.After drawing Emery to the ice, McDonald wristed a shot pastdefenseman Andrej Meszaros and the fallen goalie, with Spezzamaking an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to stop the puck alongthe goal line.

It took McDonald just 60 seconds to put Anaheim ahead with histeam-leading ninth of the playoffs. Rob Niedermayer made a nicebackhand pass in the neutral zone to McDonald, who skated infrom the blue line and cut across the slot as defenseman AntonVolchenkov glided by while skating backward and fell to the ice.

With no one in his path, McDonald slid a backhander between thepads of Emery at 11:06 for a 2-1 advantage.

Emery kept the deficit at one with his best save of the night,snagging Beauchemin's shot from the right circle during a 2-on-1rush with his glove with 3:47 remaining in the session.

Invisible over the first three games of the Finals, Dany Heatleycame through late in the period with the first even-strengthgoal of the series for Ottawa's No. 1 line and his second tallyin 10 contests.

In the lineup in place of the injured McAmmond, Patrick Eavescorralled the puck behind the net to the right of Giguere andwalked to the end line before making a cross-crease pass toHeatley, who buried it from the right side with two minutesleft, forging a 2-2 tie.

 

OTTAWA (Ticker) -- Dustin Penner began to show signs of life inGame Three. He left the Ottawa Senators hanging on for dearlife after Game Four.

Penner snapped a tie 4:07 into the third period and the AnaheimDucks made it stand, holding on for a 3-2 victory over theSenators on Monday to move within one win of the Stanley Cupchampionship.

Andy McDonald scored two goals and set up another andJean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves for the Ducks, who canclinch the first Cup in franchise history Wednesday at the HondaCenter.

"We're going to enjoy it here probably for the next couple ofminutes," McDonald said. "But this game's over and we have toget ready for the next game. ... Hopefully, we can use our fansin our own building to be a little bit extra motivated for thatnext game."

Of the 28 times a three-games-to-one lead was taken in theStanley Cup Finals, only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have comeback to win the championship. They accomplished the featagainst the Detroit Red Wings, who won the first three games ofthat series.

"We've won three in a row before, but it's going to be tough forus," Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson said. "I'm sure if youlook at the stats, you'll see that history's not with us. We'llprobably go just one game at a time."

"We realized there was a big opportunity here to even theseries, and we're never happy with a loss," Senators goaltenderRay Emery added. "It's a tough spot to be in, but one we'redefinitely capable to come out of."

Getting the puck just outside of the blue line, Penner gave itto Teemu Selanne, who carried down the right side as a 2-on-1situation arose inside the offensive zone. Heading toward thenet, Penner easily knocked Selanne's pass into a vacant net at4:07 as Emery was well out of position.

"Teemu kind of fed me coming off the bench," Penner said. "WhenI was in the middle of the ice, I gave it back to him, thenjust drove the net. He put it right on my tape and I had anopen net to put it in."

"A bad goal on our part," Ottawa coach Bryan Murray said."(Defenseman) Chris Phillips had broken his blade, came off theice, couldn't stay. Wade (Redden) had a change when the rushwas taking place and he got flat-footed at the bench, and theytook advantage of it."

It was the first goal for Penner since Game Three of the WesternConference semifinals against Vancouver, a span of 12 games. Herecorded his first points since that contest vs. the Canucks onSaturday, when he notched a pair of assists.

For the second time this postseason, Anaheim survived withoutNorris Trophy finalist Chris Pronger, who was serving a one-gamesuspension for delivering a blow to the head of Ottawa's DeanMcAmmond early in the third period of Game Three.

The Ducks also posted a victory in Game Four of the conferencefinals vs. Detroit as Pronger was banned from that contest for ablow to the head of Tomas Holmstrom in the previous game.

"We were missing a big ingredient tonight, so everybody steppedup and did a (heck) of a job," Giguere said.

Francois Beauchemin and captain Scott Niedermayer wereworkhorses in Pronger's absence Monday. Beauchemin logged 31minutes, 40 seconds of ice time in the session, while captainScott Niedermayer - also a candidate for the Norris Trophy -played 29:23.

"I don't think we want to get used to playing without Chris,"Niedermayer said. "He's a great player and helps our team alot. But obviously, we realized when he's not there, we have tobe at our absolute best. Everybody has to do their jobs."

The win was Anaheim's first on the road in the Stanley CupFinals after losing its first five.

With the contest appeared headed to intermission scoreless, theSenators cashed in on a power play just before the buzzer totake the lead. Peter Schaefer received the puck from MikeFisher behind the net and quickly dished to Alfredsson, whofired it under the right arm of Giguere with 1.5 secondsremaining for his league-leading 12th goal of the postseason anda 1-0 edge.

"We dumped it in, then me and Fisher got on the wall,"Alfredsson said. "Fisher got it down to Schaefer behind thenet, and I was able to find an opening in the slot. I was ableto connect the pass. We got something really going to have agreat first period."

Entering the game, the Ducks were leading the league in timesshorthanded with 114. They added to that total early, withdefenseman Francois Beauchemin being called for slashing 58seconds into the opening period and Perry following with across-checking penalty at 3:54.

Giguere was stellar during those power plays, making five of his12 saves in the period during those four minutes.

Had it not been for the excellence of Giguere, the Senators'lead after one period would have been much larger.

"Our goaltender played outstanding for us in that first period,and that gave the guys a chance to rally around each other toget it done in the second," Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf said."The frustration level was just there because we weren't playingthe way we wanted to."

"Giguere kept us in the game all night long with some bigsaves," Beauchemin added. "For sure, that was a tough goal togive up (late) in the period. It's always tough to give uplate-period goals, but we have some character. Some guysstepped up and we did the job."

The 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Giguere made a number ofbrilliant saves, denying Jason Spezza from alone in front just 31/2 minutes into the contest and stopping Fisher with 2:22 togo.

"I thought that we really got carried away early in the hockeygame with some of the emotions," Anaheim coach Randy Carlylesaid. "I think we were actually trying too hard. ... I think weplayed over half of the period on special teams. ... Ourgoaltender kept us in the hockey game early."

The Ducks did not register their first shot of the game untilthe 11:25 mark, when Corey Perry fired a long wrister from theright faceoff circle that was stopped by netminder Ray Emery.Perry nearly gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead just over three minuteslater, but his shot from the opposite side rang off the rightgoalpost.

"I think we were basically doing the same things we did in GameThree in the first period - taking penalties, not making gooddecisions with the puck," Niedermayer said. "We felt a bitlucky (only being down 1-0). We managed to regroup, played alot better in the next two periods. We knew we had to. Therewas no option at that point."

The tide turned in the second period, and Andy McDonald was themain reason why. After his chip shot from the doorstep hit theright elbow of the net at 2:48, McDonald evened the game at10:06, just four seconds after Chris Neil's interference penaltyexpired.

"I had a pretty good chance there," McDonald said of his shotthat rang off the iron. "The puck just kind of popped out. Iswung around and didn't really get a good shot off. ...Sometimes you don't get those scoring chances, so I think I wasfortunate to get some more good scoring chances later in thesecond."

From behind the net, Todd Marchant passed the puck to McDonald,who cut across the low slot from the bottom of the right circle.After drawing Emery to the ice, McDonald wristed a shot pastdefenseman Andrej Meszaros and the fallen goalie, with Spezzamaking an unsuccessful last-ditch effort to stop the puck alongthe goal line.

It took McDonald just 60 seconds to put Anaheim ahead with histeam-leading ninth of the playoffs. Rob Niedermayer made a nicebackhand pass in the neutral zone to McDonald, who skated infrom the blue line and cut across the slot as defenseman AntonVolchenkov glided by while skating backward and fell to the ice.

"He got back too far," Murray said. "Our defense started togive up, create more of a gap, backing away too much. He gotback pretty deep in the slot area, and it just looked to me likehe got on his toes and tried to reach to make a play on thepuck. Andy's quick and made a good move on him."

With no one in his path, McDonald slid a backhander between thepads of Emery at 11:06 for a 2-1 advantage.

"When people are put in situations, and when you see themexecute to that level, it's just a tribute to the individualabout his skill level," Carlyle said. "That's not an easy playto be as patient as he was in both of those situations. Thoseare big-league plays. That's a hockey player stepping up andplaying desperate and executing at a very high level for histeammates."

"You need to score goals to win a hockey game," Niedermayeradded. "You need it from different lines at different times,and we've had that up until this point. Obviously, that linetonight was the difference in the game for us."

Emery kept the deficit at one with his best save of the night,snagging Beauchemin's shot from the right circle during a 2-on-1rush with his glove with 3:47 remaining in the session.

Invisible over the first three games of the Finals, Dany Heatleycame through late in the period with the first even-strengthgoal of the series for Ottawa's No. 1 line and his second tallyin 10 contests.

In the lineup in place of the injured McAmmond, Patrick Eavescorralled the puck behind the net to the right of Giguere andwalked to the end line before making a cross-crease pass toHeatley, who buried it from the right side with two minutesleft, forging a 2-2 tie.

"I saw we had a little 2-on-1 at the net. Patty made a greatstep and made a great pass," Heatley said. "Scoring is not arelief for me. I had a few chances tonight that I probablycould have buried for a few more."