Parros Scores Twice to Give Ducks Third Win, 5-3 Over Florida


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

ANAHEIM – Two goals by George Parros (that’s right, George Parros) paced the Ducks to a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers at Honda Center. More conventionally, the top line of Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry also had goals for Anaheim, which won its third in a row.

“I was feeling really good,” Parros said to a television reporter on the ice, barely heard over the roar of the crowd that stuck around to watch him get First Star honors. “It seemed like the pucks were coming to me tonight.”

Parros connected in the first and second periods for the first two-goal game of his career to push the Ducks to a lead they never relinquished. Although, they didn’t secure victory until the final minute.

Steve Bernier scored his second power play goal of the evening with 1:07 left (with the Panthers skating 6 on 4 after a pulled goalie) to lift the Panthers to within a goal at 4-3. But Ryan slammed the door with an empty netter a half-minute later, digging the puck from under a diving Bryan McCabe in front of the net, before dumping it in with the backhand.

It was the second time in the period the Ducks responded quickly following a Bernier power play tally. He scored by tipping one in off his thigh 1:20 into the period following a Cam Fowler delay of game penalty that carried over from the end of the second. (It was Florida’s first power play goal after going 0 for their last 37.) That made it 3-2 Anaheim, but Perry whipped a Getzlaf pass in from the slot less than a minute later to give the Ducks back their two-goal lead that they carried until Bernier struck again late in the game.

"We wanted to go out and have a nice cycled shift and get things going," Getzlaf said, "and we were fortunate enough to put one in the back of the net and changed momentum back to us."

Parros put the Ducks on the board 14:01 into the first, after Kyle Chipchura won a battle for the puck behind the net and fed in front, where Parros batted it through just before falling to the ice. “I snuck on the ice after a change,” Parros said, “and Chipper found me in front with a great pass.”

Parros was in more familiar territory on the ensuing faceoff, dropping the gloves with Darcy Hordichuk in a bout that ended quickly when Parros went tumbling down.

"It was great, obviously tonight and any other time George can chip in offensively – and he also had a big fight to follow his goal," Getzlaf said. "Not a lot of guys follow up a goal with a fight right off the face off, but that was good for our group and creates energy for sure."

Getzlaf made it a 2-0 game six minutes into the second period, during a delayed whistle on what would have been a slashing call on Florida. With the Ducks skating 6 on 5 after sending Hiller to the bench, Toni Lydman fired a shot from the right wing circle that bounced behind goalie Tomas Vokoun, and Getzlaf leaned over him to punch it in.

Fifty seconds later, Parros struck again, as a long pass up ice by Andy Sutton bounced around the Florida zone, eventually coming to Parros, who slung it past Vokoun from the slot.

Florida crawled back at 8:08 when Jonas Hiller made a couple of big saves, but couldn’t make a third, as Mike Santorelli pitched the puck in off a rebound just outside the crease.

Parros’ bid for a hat trick was clearly on the minds of the Honda Center faithful, who came alive every time the enforcer stepped on the ice in the third period. But it was not to be.

"It was an awesome feeling," Parros said. "You could hear them getting crazy every time I touched the ice in the third period. It was a good feeling and I appreciate it.

"I wanted the hat trick for sure.  It was great feeling, glad our line could finally contribute. We can’t rely on the top two lines every night. It definitely helps to chip in."

And they helped the Ducks continue a run of home success in which they’ve gone 9-4-1 so far in their building. Florida, which was visiting Anaheim for the first time since November of 2008, dropped its fourth game in the last five.

"We’ve got to take every point we can get in this building," Perry said. "If we can win home we are going to have a better chance of making the playoffs. Things don’t change, we’ve got to go out and play the same way every night.

Said Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, "We definitely had the right approach. We started the hockey game very, very well. We were very workmanlike. And anytime you have a player like George Parros go out and score a couple of goals, everybody feels real good for him, and that kind of led the way."

GAME NOTES

The Ducks have won three straight contests and have garnered standings points in 11 of the last 15 games (9-4-2), earning 20 of a possible 30 points.
 
At home, the Ducks have gone 9-4-1 in 14 games this season, earning 19 of a possible 28 points. The club is currently tied for fourth in the league (with Philadelphia) in points earned at HOME (Washington has 25, Detroit has 22 and Montreal has 20).
 
Tonight marked George Parros’ first career multi-goal game (2-0=2). The goals were his second and third of the season. His second goal marked his second career game-winner. His most recent goal before tonight took place on Oct. 26 at Dallas, his first career game-winning goal. Tonight also marked his third career two-point game (last: Dec. 7, 2008 vs. Columbus; 0-2=2).
 
Kyle Chipchura recorded his first two points of the season (0-2=2) and matched his career high for points in a game (fourth time, last: Apr. 11, 2010 vs. EDM; 1-1=2).
 
With 1-1=2 points tonight, Ryan Getzlaf has earned 1-5=6 points in the last three contests, 1-7=8 points in the last seven, 6-13=19 in the last 20 and 8-19=27 in the last 24.
 
Corey Perry has scored a team-leading 12-16=28 points, including 1-1=2 this evening. He has 2-3=5 points in the last three games, 6-6=12 points in the last 10, 8-10=18 points in the last 16 and 12-16=28 points in the last 24.
 
Bobby Ryan has scored four goals in the last three games (4-0=4) and six goals in the last six (6-0=6). Ryan has 9-5=14 points in his last 15 games and 12-6=18 points in his last 19 contests.
 
Jonas Hiller has won three straight contests, stopping 86-of-93 shots for a 2.33 GAA (7 GA/180 MIN) and .925 SV% during that span. Hiller has gone 8-4-1 in his last 13 games (since Nov. 3 vs. TB) with a 2.78 GAA (36 GA/777 MIN) and .911 SV% (368-of-404).
 
Tonight’s attendance was 12,504.




GAME LOG

3rd Period

20:00 - It isn't a work of art, but the Ducks trudge their way to a 5-3 victory, their third in a row.

19:50 - Parros is out there in the closing seconds, but can't get in position for a shot.

19:29 - ANAHEIM GOAL (EMPTY NET) - BOBBY RYAN - The puck gets sent down to the Florida end, where Ryan has just McCabe to beat with the net empty. McCabe briefly stops him, diving on top of the puck, but Ryan digs it out from under him to backhand it in. The Ducks make it 5-3 with 31 seconds left.

19:15 - Florida net empty.

18:53 - FLORIDA GOAL (POWER PLAY) - STEVE BERNIER - It's Bernier again, as he slaps in a rebound off a Hiller save of a long Panthers shot. Two PP goals in a row for Florida after going 37 straight without one.

17:55 - Vokoun staying on the bench as we come out of the TV timeout. No Parros on the PK yet with the empty net.

17:55 - ANA Penalty - Saku Koivu, 2 min. slashing. Koivu, after missing his chance to punch in a rebound, swings the stick and takes down Reasoner in the offensive zone. Not a good penalty with the Ducks up two goals with 2:05 left.

17:25 - Perry spins and reverses his field no less than four times in the corner, not losing the puck once. Impressive.

16:30 - Video board goes with a picture-in-picture isolation of Parros when he's on the ice. Crowd responds every time he steps on.

The broadcast reminds fans that Florida took defenseman Erik Gudbranson third overall in the last draft and he's in juniors. The Ducks took Fowler at 12. Just saying.

13:55 - Florida nearly gets one when Hiller loses the puck behind the net and doesn't get back in time, but Koivu beautifully blocks Booth's shot. Big play that went virtually unnoticed.

Power Player with the night off shown in the crowd wearing a thick jacket. I almost didn't recognize her.

9:46 - Ellerby tries to throw one on net from behind it, but Hiller is ready.

6:45 - Crowd gets loud every time Parros is near the puck. He comes fairly close to getting his stick on a rebound off a Marchant shot. Though, maybe not that close.

2:15 - ANAHEIM GOAL - COREY PERRY - Getzlaf snatches the puck out of the air behind the extended goal line, puts it on his stick and backhands a pass to Perry, who whips it through Vokoun while falling to the sheet. Ducks lead by two goals again.

1:20 - FLORIDA GOAL (POWER PLAY) - STEVE BERNIER - Weiss fires a shot from above the left wing circle that hits of Bernier's thigh with his back to the net and eludes Hiller. Florida, the team with the worst power play in the league, finally connects after an 0 for 37 slump. It's 3-2 Anaheim.

0:42 - Hiller with a dramatic stab with the glove off a Wideman shot.

0:00 - Off and running in the third, Florida on the PP.

2nd Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - The Ducks get goals from Parros (his second) and Getzlaf, but Florida gets one back and it's 3-1. Panthers will have 1:46 of power play time to start the third.

19:45 - ANA Penalty - Cam Fowler, 2 min. delay of game. Fowler flips it over the glass and realizes it right away, looking to the rafters in frustration and heading right to the box.

18:15 - Fowler charges into the slot, sweeps to the backhand and it's just kicked away by Vokoun.

17:40 - Koivu bats one on net from mid-air, saved.

"Shake Ya Tailfeather" from the underrated Bad Boys II soundtrack coming out of the timeout.

Scoring change on the Florida goal. It was actually Mike Santorelli who got credit (see below).

12:30 - Ryan gets absolutely robbed by Vokoun, who splays out to stop Ryan's try from in close after a nice pass into the slot from Perry.

11:15 - Crowd gets loud just watching Parros go after a puck in the corner. Love it.

8:08 - FLORIDA GOAL - MIKE SANTORELLI (SCORING CHANGE FROM EARLIER) - Hiller makes two big stops, but can't make a third, as Santorelli punches in a rebound with the backhand right in front. It's 3-1 Ducks.

Just got a text from a friend that said, "Hatty? I would love that." And oddly enough, just the very thought of it gave me mini chills.

6:54 - ANAHEIM GOAL - GEORGE PARROS - Sutton makes a long pass that gets the puck bouncing around in the Florida end. It comes off a Panther stick right to Parros in the slot, and Georgie slings it past Vokoun to absolutely light up this crowd. First career two-goal game for Parros who can't contain the grin as he stands near the Ducks bench waiting for the next faceoff. It's 3-0 Ducks.

6:04 - ANAHEIM GOAL - RYAN GETZLAF - During the delayed whistle on what would have been a slashing call on Florida, the Ducks pull Hiller for the 6 on 5. Lydman fires a shot from the right wing circle that hits off Vokoun and bounces behind him in the blue paint, where Getzlaf leans over him and punches it in before falling over Vokoun. It's 2-0 Ducks.

3:35 - Perry goes hard to the net (as per usual) and has his shot deflected into the netting (the wrong netting) by Kulikov.

1:48 - Blake carries the puck from behind the net and tries to jam it under Vokoun. No go.

0:00 - Here we go in the second of three periods scheduled for tonight.

1st Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - The Ducks look much better in the second half than the first half, taking a 1-0 lead on a Parros goal.

Just got this email from a fan: New idea. Tell me if you like it. The George Parros Hat Trick. A goal, a fight on the next shift, and a mustache.

19:40 - Getzlaf picks up a loose one, gets in deep and just misses getting it past Vokoun on the backhand.

18:45 - Hiller with a big stop on an open one-timer for Dvorak.

14:05 - Right off the draw following his goal, Parros drops the gloves with the other 16, Darcy Hordichuk. Unfortunately for Parros, the buzz from his goal is killed quickly as Hordichuk takes him down to the ice in a relative hurry. Maybe Parros should just stick to scoring goals. Then again, maybe not.

14:01 - ANAHEIM GOAL - GEORGE PARROS - Chipchura wins the battle for a loose puck with Kulikov behind the net and quickly feeds in front to Parros, who manages to wrist it through while falling to the ice The crowd comes alive out of its lull and it's 1-0 Ducks on Parros' second of the year.

8:25 - Hiller saves the day after a Visnovsky turnover, moving out to change Weiss' shot from the left wing on the rush.

7:33 - As Ryan tries to jump on a loose puck in front, he's shoved down by Dvorak, so Bobby shoves back and does some jawing.

7:01 - After firing two slap shots in a row, Fowler doesn't try a third, hitting Visnovsky for the one-timer that Vokoun gobbles.

6:09 - FLA Penalty - Bench minor, 2 min. too many men on the ice. Fowler races with the puck into the Florida end and fires a shot that Vokoun kick saves, drawing the whistle.

3:40 - Ryan gets it through a crowd to Getzlaf in front, and his shot is knocked away with the left arm of Vokoun.

1:00 - Getzlaf with a tip in front with his back to the net that just barely bounces wide. More than a tip, it was just Getzlaf letting a shot hit off his body.

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

Pregame

7:07 - Another nice rendition of the anthem by the adorable Jenny Swoish.


Starters in bold/italics. Scratches crossed out.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

ANAHEIM DUCKS

# Pos Name 4 D KEATON ELLERBY 6 D DENNIS WIDEMAN 7 D DMITRY KULIKOV 9 C STEPHEN WEISS (A) 10 L DAVID BOOTH 13 C MIKE SANTORELLI 14 R RADEK DVORAK (A) 16 L DARCY HORDICHUK 18 C SHAWN MATTHIAS 19 C MARTY REASONER 21 L CHRIS HIGGINS 24 D BRYAN MCCABE (C) 26 R STEVE BERNIER 27 C STEVE REINPRECHT 32 R MICHAL REPIK 43 D MIKE WEAVER 52 D JASON GARRISON 67 R MICHAEL FROLIK 29 G TOMAS VOKOUN 30 G SCOTT CLEMMENSEN	# Pos Name 4 D CAM FOWLER 5 D LUCA SBISA 8 R TEEMU SELANNE (A) 9 R BOBBY RYAN 10 R COREY PERRY 11 C SAKU KOIVU (A) 15 C RYAN GETZLAF (C) 16 R GEORGE PARROS 17 D LUBOMIR VISNOVSKY 22 C TODD MARCHANT 23 D PAUL MARA 25 D ANDY SUTTON 28 C KYLE CHIPCHURA 32 D TONI LYDMAN 33 L JASON BLAKE 42 R DAN SEXTON 63 C NICK BONINO 64 C BRANDON MCMILLAN 1 G JONAS HILLER 31 G CURTIS MCELHINNEY
Scratches
# Pos Name 5 D BRYAN ALLEN 37 R BILL THOMAS 61 L CORY STILLMAN	# Pos Name 3 D ANDREAS LILJA 21 D SHELDON BROOKBANK 34 L AARON VOROS

Game Notes