Ducks 3, Hurricanes 2, SO

HIGHLIGHTS

CANESVISION VIDEO

POSTGAME QUOTES

FLAVOR OF THE GAME

ASK THE CANES

POSTGAME AUDIO

Eric Staal

Justin Peters

Brandon Sutter

Kirk Muller

GAME RADIO AUDIO

Justin Peters Interivew

PHOTO GALLERY

POSTGAME LINKS

Postgame Notes (PDF)

Game Summary

Event Summary

Tracking the Storm: Analysis

• The Carolina Hurricanes remain the only team in the National Hockey League without a win in the shootout (0-5) after falling 3-2 to the Anaheim Ducks. It was the Ducks’ second victory in extra hockey against the Canes in just over two weeks. Saku Koivu netted the game-winning goal in the second round of the shootout. Jonas Hiller stopped all three Hurricanes’ shooters and made 30 saves in the game. Justin Peters stopped two of three in the shootout and made 35 saves. “I thought it was a playoff-style game tonight,” head coach Kirk Muller said. “I thought we got better as the game went on. We had a chance to get that third goal and put it away, and we didn’t.”

• In the second period was when the Canes had their best chance to bury the Ducks. They had numerous quality scoring opportunities, including one where Drayson Bowman had the puck on the doorstep and Hiller practically with his back to him. Yet, Hiller came up with the save to keep it 2-1. If it had been 3-1 heading to the locker room after 40 minutes, the result very well might have been different. “Not to take anything away from [Hiller] – he played really well – but that’s where we had the lead, we had the chance to get the next goal and that’s where we have to get that killer instinct and bury it,” Muller said.

• Jiri Tlusty and Eric Staal extended their point streaks to nine and seven games, respectively. Both players recorded assists on Jerome Samson’s first-period tally, as that line continues to be the Canes’ best and most productive. Tlusty is now just two games shy of equaling Staal’s franchise (since relocation) record 11-game point streak, done in 2010. The longest point streak in franchise history is 18 games, set my Mike Rogers from November 1980 through January 1981.

• Peters played a solid game in net again tonight in the absence of Cam Ward. Muller credited Peters with keeping the Canes in the game early in the first period after what was a flat start. “He played real solid and gave us a chance to win. That’s all you can ask for from a goaltender,” Staal said. “He’s done a tremendous job given an opportunity to step in there. He looks confident and comfortable.” Staal gave Peters a pat on the shoulder after talking with the media following the game.

• Not only are the Canes 0-5 in shootouts, but they have won just two of 14 games that have required extra time to decide a winner. While that’s given them 16 points in the standings (and given them a ROW equal to their win total, which could be the deciding factor in a tie-breaker scenario), it’s also thrown away another possible 12. “You want to pick up points whenever you can,” Staal said. “Overtimes and shootouts haven’t been our strong suit this year. I don’t know what to say. It’s not for a lack of trying. We’ve had opportunities.”

• The Canes’ shootout trio of Jeff Skinner, Staal and Brandon Sutter was missing shootout ace Jussi Jokinen. Staal came the closest to scoring, ringing his shot off the post. Muller said he’d use Staal again in the shootout, no question. He said Skinner has the skill to finish, and he thought he’d give Sutter a chance.

• The Hurricanes took an inordinate amount of delay of game penalties tonight – three, and all by forwards. Those type of black-and-white calls will certainly come back to haunt a team. The Canes had to kill off four power plays in the third and did so successfully on three. Perry’s game-winning goal came after Skinner was whistled for a high-stick.

• Saturday’s Southeast Division match-up with the Florida Panthers has large implications. The Canes trail Florida by eight points in the standings, and Saturday will be one of four remaining games between the two teams this season.

Recap (Associated Press)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Saku Koivu scored the only goal in the shootout and the Anaheim Ducks earned a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.

Corey Perry, who scored his 30th goal for his third career 30-goal season, and Luca Sbisa scored in regulation for Anaheim.

Jerome Samson and Jamie McBain scored for Carolina.

Thursday's matchup was the finale of the Ducks' eight-game, 15-day road trip on which they went 5-1-2.

Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller had 30 saves.

Carolina goalie Justin Peters (35 saves) started his second straight game and played in his fourth straight as Cam Ward remained out with a lower-body injury.

The win was Anaheim's second of the season (2-22-2) when trailing after two periods.

The Hurricanes' Jiri Tlusty assisted on Samson's goal to extend his scoring streak to nine games, two short of the longest streak since the club moved to North Carolina from Hartford, Conn., in 1997.

Samson gave the Hurricanes the lead at 13:52 of the first, beating Hiller between the pads on a tough angle from the right side of the net. Eric Staal also had an assist. Staal has a seven-game scoring and six-game assist streak.

Sbisa tied it for the Ducks at 14:40, scoring from the slot.

McBain got the Hurricanes their lead back on a power play at 5:40 of the second, beating Hiller from the left point on an assist from Jaroslav Spacek.

But Perry tied it for Anaheim on a power play at 9:35 of the third period, picking his rebound out of the air and flipping the puck over Peters' left shoulder.

NOTES: Hurricanes radio broadcaster Chuck Kaiton called his 2,900th NHL game. ... It was the second game of the Hurricanes' six-game homestand. ... Carolina RW Tuomo Ruutu (upper body), who signed a four-year contract on Wednesday, was scratched for his fourth straight game. ... Also scratched for the fourth straight time was Hurricanes RW Chad LaRose (upper body). ... D Kyle Cumiskey and RW George Parros were healthy scratches for Anaheim. ... C Koivu played in his 199th game with the Ducks. ... The Ducks won the teams' earlier meeting 3-2 in overtime on Feb. 8 in Anaheim.