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By Adam Brady (abrady@anaheimducks.com)
AnaheimDucks.com

ANAHEIM – Say this about the Anaheim Ducks: They’re rarely boring.

In a game they dominated for most of the first 58 minutes on their way to a three-goal lead, the Ducks still didn’t seal the deal until a Rob Niedermayer breakaway goal with 35 seconds left.

Getzlaf had two goals, including the 3,000th in franchise history, to pace the Ducks to the 5-3 victory.

That’s because Anaheim gave up late consecutive scores to the Blue Jackets in a span of 1:19 to watch a 4-1 lead dwindle to 4-3 with under a minute left. But as the Jackets were trying for the tying goal, Niedermayer stole the puck in the Columbus end and beat goaltender Pascal Leclaire one on one to put the nail in the coffin.

"When you have that 4-1 lead you have to be able to stay focused," said Ryan Getzlaf, who had two goals on the night. "It was a position where we let up a little bit I think, a few plays were lackadaisical and that turns into scoring chances. It’s not a concern at all. We’re going to take our win and go."

Following a second period in which Getzlaf scored twice and Ryan Carter added another, Anaheim took a seemingly insurmountable lead when Bobby Ryan scored with 5:31 left in the contest. Ryan took a nice feed from George Parros and while his initial shot was stopped by Leclaire, Ryan poked the loose puck underneath him.

But Columbus didn’t stop fighting, cutting into the lead with 2:05 left on a slap shot by Kris Russell that snuck under Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Then Fredrik Modin made it a one-goal game just after Leclaire headed to the bench for an extra attacker, sending a shot on net from the right wing that bounced off Giguere, then hit the post and landed over the stripe.

That made the final minute a lot more interesting than it originally looked like it would be, until Niedermayer broke the tension and helped Anaheim to its third straight home win and fifth out of the last seven overall.

The Ducks outshot the Jackets 34-32, the first time in 10 games the Ducks have outshot their opponent (they’re 6-3-1 over that stretch).

Anaheim went into that third period somewhat comfortably in front as Getzlaf scored two in the middle session to help stake the Ducks to a 3-1 lead. After a mostly listless first stanza, Getzlaf got things going early in the second, finding the net just 1:33 into it. Getzlaf’s initial shot bounced off goalie Pascal Leclaire, who was caught way out of the crease when the puck kicked back to Getzlaf. That gave him the angle to gather the puck and backhand it past Leclaire and defenseman Mike Commodore.

Ryan combined with Carter to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead at 7:29, as Ryan hustled down the right wing before waiting for the perfect time to feed across to a charging Carter, who punched it through.

The fourth line of (L-R) Ryan, Carter and Parros teamed for two goals and five points.

The Jackets fought back with a rare power play goal eight minutes later, as Derick Brassard threw the puck at Giguere from a low angle and got it to bounce off the goalie inside the near post. It was just the 12th man advantage goal of the year for Columbus, who entered the game with the league’s worst power play percentage at just 9.60.

Getzlaf and Corey Perry teamed to restore the Ducks’ two-goal cushion in the period, as Perry fought two Jackets for the puck near the right post before feeding Getzlaf, who batted it home for his 12th of the season. Not only that, it was the 3,000th goal in Ducks franchise history.

"That’s cool," Getzlaf said. "It’s part of another milestone in this organization that has done so much for me. Hopefully I can be here for a lot more."

That wasn’t the only milestone reached on the night, as Giguere’s 29 saves led to his 200th career victory.

The line of Ryan, Parros and Carter combined for two goals and five points on the night, thanks in part to Parros' career-high two assists.

"I am definitely happy," Parros said. "I just keep going forward from here. It’s important for me to build on that, so I can continue the success later on in the second half of the season. Really the important thing is obviously the win tonight. We’re in no position to give away points, so we’re happy for that. "

Parros was named one of the three stars of the game, something he estimated hadn't happened since his minor league days. "It’s been awhile," he said with a chuckle. "I had to ask Getzy to make sure I knew what to do."

The Ducks will look to keep it going when they take on St. Louis at Honda Center on Wednesday.

GAME NOTES

The Ducks have recorded points in six of the last eight (5-2-1). The club has also earned points in eight of their last 11 games (6-3-2) and 17 of the last 22 (14-5-3).

 

Anaheim has a three-game win streak at HOME and has picked up points in five of the last six games at Honda Center (4-1-1).

 

Ryan Getzlaf’s two goals marked his second multi-goal game this season (also Nov. 5 vs. STL) and the seventh of his career. He now has points in 10 of his last 11 games (6-9=15) and 19 of 21 (12-22=34 with a +12 rating). He also has a six-game HOME point streak (5-4=9).

 

George Parros established a career high with two assists tonight (0-2=2) and matched a career high for points in a game (also Oct. 20, 2005 w/LA at DAL, 1-1=2).

 

Corey Perry had an assist tonight, giving him 7-19=26 points with a +8 in his last 22 games. He also has a seven-game HOME point streak (2-7=10).

 

With a goal and an assist tonight (1-1=2), Bobby Ryan earned his second multiple-point game of the season and third of his career. He has collected 1-3=4 points in the last five games.

 

With a goal tonight, Rob Niedermayer has collected 3-1=4 points in the last four games.

 

Today’s attendance was 16,914.

GAME LOG
3rd Period

20:00 - END OF GAME - The Ducks make sure it's interesting at the end before ultimately prevailing, 5-3.

19:25 - ANAHEIM GOAL - ROB NIEDERMAYER - Niedermayer steals the puck away from the Jackets and is all alone with just Leclaire to beat one on one. He waits, waits, waits, before letting go of a wrist shot that beats Leclaire on the stick side. NOW, it's over.

19:14 - COLUMBUS GOAL - FREDRIK MODIN - Just as Leclaire heads to the bench for an extra attacker, Modin scoots past Corey Perry on the left wing and throws a shot on net that hits Giguere, then the near post and gets over the stripe. Remember when I said this one was over? Ignore that.

17:55 - COLUMBUS GOAL - KRIS RUSSELL - Russell skates past Pronger into the left wing circle and rips a slap shot that slips under Giguere. Probably a shot he should have stopped, and it's 4-2 Anaheim.

I like being able to close my eyes in this arena, and judging only by the music played, pretend it's 1985.

14:29 - ANAHEIM GOAL - BOBBY RYAN - Parros skids around the back of the net to slide the puck to Ryan on the doorstep. His initial shot is stopped by Leclaire but it's sitting right in front of him as Ryan reaches out and punches it underneath him. Great to see Bobby getting one after he was benched last game for the last half of the second and all of the third. He's been beautiful tonight. It's 4-1 Ducks and this bad boy is over.

14:00 - You have to love the Anaheim Ducks tonight. They are really working in this period.

12:18 - Getzlaf's going for the hattie as he rips a slap shot that Leclaire Huxtable barely kick saves.

Bryz gave up seven tonight as the Coyotes lost in Chicago, 7-1. Yikes. The question is: Do you think he even realizes it was that many?

11:03 - The Ducks escape the four-minute power play as Marchant is released from the bin. If you ask me, that right there is where this game ended.

9:40 - Getzlaf gets behind the defense on the penalty kill and tries a toe drag move, but the puck is taken away by Tyutin. Guess who he learned that move from?

8:59 - Brassard takes a shot that slips behind Giguere, but goes just wide.

There's a techno song we play in here every game that always reminds me of the scene in American Pie where Jason Biggs puts on a strip show. I hate that I have to think about that every time.

7:03 - ANA Penalty - Todd Marchant, 4 min. (double minor) high sticking. And just to thank Leclaire for hustling to the bench during the delayed whistle, the Jackets dump the puck in the corner, allowing Anaheim to touch it up and avoiding a possible 6 on 5. I can't figure out why this team has never made the playoffs.

4:20 - ANA Penalty - Corey Perry, 2 min. hooking. You could almost form a new team among the guys in the Ducks box.

2:39 - ANA Penalty - Ryan Carter, 5 min. fighting and 10 min. misconduct and Bobby Ryan, 2 min. unsportsmanlike conduct and CBJ Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, 5 min. fighting and 10 min. misconduct and Manny Malhotra, 2 min. unsportsmanlike conduct. After the whistle there are some pleasantries exchanged between the Ducks and Jackets and out of the fray it's Carter and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen dropping the gloves. Not too many punches are exhcnaged until Carter puts his hand in Tollefsen's face and wrestles him hard to the ice. Tollefsen actually bangs the back of his head on the ice and at first looks to be unconscious. He eventually comes to and is slowly taken off the ice. Not pretty at all. Ironically, Tollefsen gets a 10-minute misconduct, along with Carter. 

Our tennis balls are in their traditional spots, but we have two imposters on the other side of the rink. Would it be too much to ask to have an old-fashioned rumble at center ice?

1:57 - Robbie Niedermayer gets the puck on the rush and gives a nice feed to Pahlsson, who gets it behind Leclaire, but somehow it goes no further as he sits on it.

1:05 - Selanne gives Scott Niedermayer a nice feed in the slot, and his shot clinks the post.

0:00 - Here we go in the third, the Ducks leading 3-1 and on a power play carryover.

2nd Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - And it's a great one for Anaheim, who get two from Getzlaf and one from Carter to take a 3-1 lead.

19:07 - CBJ Penalty - Kristian Huselius, 2 min. hooking. Huselius wraps the puck around Brett Festerling.

17:55 - ANAHEIM GOAL - RYAN GETZLAF - Getzlaf gets his second of the game, thanks to the hard work of Perry. He fights for the puck against Jan Hejda and Jason Chimera near the right post before tapping it to Getzlaf, who one-times it through. The Ducks retake a two-goal lead. And again, it's the 3,000th in franchise history.

The next Ducks goal, by the way, is the 3000th in franchise history. Just mentioning.

15:31 - COLUMBUS GOAL (POWER PLAY) - DERICK BRASSARD - The Columbus power play finally comes through. Brassard has no one near him as he holds the puck just below the extended goal line. He takes a chance by shooting it off the side of Giguere, and it pays off. The puck hits Giguere and caroms inside the near post. Ducks lead cut in half.

14:30 - ANA Penalty - Brett Festerling, 2 min. holding the stick. I never understand that penalty. Aren't you allowed to hold the stick?

This thing where the Power Players turn their backs to the in-arena camera to show the "Text Ducks to 81812" message on their t-shirts? Can't say I'm against that.

11:08 - The Ducks easily kill off the penalty, as Columbus continues to have by far the worst power play in the league at below 10 percent.

10:10 - The Ducks make it look hardly like they're the ones on the penalty kill, as they pin the puck in the Columbus end and Pronger rips a slap shot from the point that's saved.

9:08 - ANA Penalty - Samuel Pahlsson, 2 min. interference.

Is it just me or does Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock look like Newt Gingrich?

7:29 - ANAHEIM GOAL - RYAN CARTER - Gorgeous play for the Ducks as Bobby Ryan takes it from Parros at the blue line and waits for the precise moment to slip the puck through Kris Russell's legs to a charging Carter, who punches it through. Ryan ends up in the net with the puck, but it counts and it's 2-0 Ducks.

6:15 - Hedican has some trouble with the puck at the blue line and Nash takes it away. Then he deftly skates past Hedican before throwing a wrist shot that Giguere stops. Big bullet dodged for Anaheim.

3:53 - CBJ Penalty - Rick Nash, 2 min. hooking. A chance for the Ducks to boost the lead.

1:33 - ANAHEIM GOAL - RYAN GETZLAF - Getzlaf gets some room in the slot and fires a shot that kicks off Leclaire. But he's way out of the crease when it rolls back to Getzlaf, who gathers and fires a backhander past Leclaire and d-man Mike Commodore to sneak it inside the left post. It could have possibly nicked off Perry's stick, as he was right there near the post when it went through. Either way, it's 1-0 Anaheim.

0:30 - Robbie Niedermayer throws the puck in front from behind the net and it's nearly kicked in by the Jackets.

0:00 - Off and running in the second.

1st Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - And it's a mostly uneventful one as we're scoreless, with the Ducks getting off nine shots and the Jackets have six.

16:24 - After Bobby Ryan's shot goes off Leclaire and into the netting, George Parros and Jared Bolll tangle, with Parros getting most of the good shots in before they both run out of gas.

14:15 - Giguere makes a very nice stop on a one-timer from an all-alone R.J. Umberger.

12:53 - ANA Penalty - Rob Niedermayer, 2 min. tripping. Niedermayer loses his stick, runs by the bench to get another one and commits the penalty.

8:55 - Montador fires a rocket that flies just wide. The Ducks are putting the pressure on.

8:30 - Bobby Ryan on the fourth line with Ryan Carter and George Parros.

7:20 - Moen gets slammed into the turnbuckle near the Columbus bench, but gets right back up.

5:38 - Getzlaf whips a wrist shot that Leclaire reaches out and snags with the glove.

5:20 - Selanne slaps a one-timer from his familiar spot at the bottom of the circle, but Leclaire denies.

4:42 - CBJ Penalty - Fedor Tyutin, 2 min. interference. You're darn Tyutin that he jumped in Selanne's way as Selanne went after the puck in the corner.

3:30 - Commodore sends a relatively innocent shot at the net that somehow fools Giguere and rings the crossbar.

1:25 - Ducks get out on the rush and Scotty Niedermayer flips a wrister that Leclaire saves.

0:00 - And we're underway at Honda Center.

Pregame

Starting Goaltenders - ANA Jean-Sebastien Giguere; CBJ Pascal Leclaire

Starting Skaters - ANA Chris Pronger, Kent Huskins, Brendan Morrison, Teemu Selanne, Todd Marchant; CBJ Jan Hejda, Mike Commodore, Jiri Novotny, Andrew Murray, Manny Malhotra

Scratches - ANA Nathan McIver, Brian Sutherby, Brad May; CBJ Christian Backman, Jakub Voracek