Ducks Hold On for Win, Defeat Coyotes 4-3

The Ducks got off to a quick start at Honda Center and looked like they’d have an easy win, but the Coyotes made it interesting at the end as the Ducks held on for the victory. The Ducks seem to have finally turned the page on a terrible start to the season as they’ve put together five solid games in a row, the latest being tonight’s performance against the division rival Coyotes.

The Ducks started the game quickly and had numerous opportunities to score in the first period. Teemu Selanne would open the scoring with a power play goal under three minutes into the game. Ryan Whitney had the puck at the point before passing to Scott Niedermayer on the half-boards. Niedermayer held the puck for a few seconds, scanning the ice, then passed it right into the middle of the ice where Selanne was standing. Selanne shot and scored on a play that looked similar to his first goal against Nashville on Thursday.

Then the team started showing off their breakout abilities. About halfway through the second period, Niedermayer had the puck in the defensive zone while skating toward neutral ice. He then passed the puck up quickly to Bobby Ryan who broke in from the right wing. With a defender between him and Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, Ryan flicked a wrist shot off the far post and into the net to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead.

The Ducks continued their solid play on another great breakout, this time started by James Wisniewski. Wisniewski had the puck in the defensive zone and saw the Coyotes were making a line change. He quickly flung the puck up to Ryan Getzlaf who was waiting at the offensive blue line, and Getzlaf flipped the puck to Corey Perry who was streaking down the middle. Perry was almost at the top of Bryzgalov’s crease when he received the puck but still had time to get it to his forehand and wrist the puck into the top corner. It was as pretty of a play as we’ve seen from the Ducks in recent games.

Then, just minutes into the third period, Mike Brown shot a rolling puck right off a faceoff that fooled Bryzgalov and went in. The four goal lead in the third period seemed insurmountable for the Coyotes as the Ducks were playing well and firing on all cylinders. But that would quickly change with just one bad play.

Getzlaf had the puck in the defensive zone and tried to make a pass through the middle of the ice, but was easily picked off by Keith Yandle of the Coyotes. Yandle quickly shot the puck and scored high to Jonas Hiller’s blocker side for Phoenix’s first goal of the game.

The Coyotes quickly found their legs after that goal and started playing quick and hard from that point on. It didn’t take long for Phoenix to score again as they lit the lamp less than 40 seconds later.

The Ducks then settled down a little bit but took some bad penalties, eventually leading to yet another Coyotes goal, this one scored on the power play. But that would be the end of the scoring for the night as the Ducks barely held on for the two points in regulation.

There were many more positives about today’s game than negatives. One obvious positive is the continued production of the top two lines. The RPG line contributed two goals and the power play also delivered. Add that to the fact that the fourth line scored a goal and you’ll have a team that’s positioned for success on any night.

But while the Ducks have solved the problem of not being able to score early in games, they have to start focusing on protecting leads. The Ducks will be able to score plenty of goals this season as expected but the real issue will be on defense. The Ducks might be able to score four goals a game, but if the other team can come back in the third period and steal all the momentum it doesn’t do the Ducks much good.

The real difference in tonight’s game was the play of Scott Niedermayer. Niedermayer was darting around the rink all night long and was always involved in the play when he was on the ice, something we haven’t seen much of early this season. Niedermayer looked fast and was playing his usual rover role on the power play, skating circles around everyone and chasing down all the loose pucks. At the end of the game Nidermayer was visibly exhausted, something that you rarely see from the Captain, but it will take that kind of effort every game if the Ducks hope to get back into the playoff race.

But I’m of course being extremely nit-picky here. The Ducks played one of the top teams of the season so far and came out on top, and have played very well for five straight games. This sudden turnaround couldn’t come at a better time for the Ducks who will leave Monday for a four game road trip as they’ll play against some very good teams. The Ducks have earned points in four of five road games, though, and should be just fine if they continue to play this way.

Check back for updates throughout the week leading up to the road trip.