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Monday, Apr. 3 10:30pm ET
Ducks tied with Canucks for ninth | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Recent acquisitions Jorgen Jonsson and Kip Miller led the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to a key late-season victory. Jonsson's go-ahead goal ended a 22-game scoring drought and Miller added an insurance score as the Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 to remain in the thick of the Western Conference playoff chase. Steve Rucchin connected on a first-period power play for the Ducks, still three points behind San Jose with three games remaining for the conference's final playoff spot. "It doesn't matter what other teams do. We have to take care of our own business," Ducks forward Paul Kariya said. "We can still play better. We just couldn't get much going tonight. They're a frustrating team to play against." Cliff Ronning scored for the Predators, 0-3 this season against Anaheim. The teams play again Friday at Nashville. Jonsson intercepted a clearing pass by Nashville defenseman Craig Millar along the right boards and quickly unleashed a wrist shot that tipped off defenseman Bill Houlder's stick and beat Mike Dunham to the far side as the goalie fanned on it with his stick. "It's a tough pill to swallow," Nashville's Drake Berehowski said. "We were starting to play well and then a shot goes off one of our players. It was a tough break." Jonsson's goal with 1:34 left in the second period was his 12th of the season and first in 10 games with the Ducks, who acquired him from the New York Islanders on March 11. Miller made it 3-1 at 1:50 of the third, taking a pass in the left circle from Jonsson and beating Dunham to the short side for his 10th goal and sixth in 26 games since joining Anaheim in a trade from Pittsburgh in late January. The Ducks, who were without power-play specialist Fredrik Olausson because of the flu, opened the scoring with the man-advantage at 1:40 of the first. Rucchin one-timed Teemu Selanne's centering pass from 10 feet away, beating Dunham low to the stick side for his 17th goal -- and 10th by Anaheim's power play in 39 opportunities. "We knew they're had the best power play in the league since February, and we didn't want to give them too many opportunities," Dunham said. "But they got some timely goals." The Predators, looking to play the spoiler role for the second straight game after hurting Vancouver's playoff chances last Friday, tied it at 8:10 of the second when Ronning beat Guy Hebert under the pads from the base of the right circle. Hebert made 16 saves. Nashville defenseman Richard Linter, who took a jarring check from Mike Leclerc in the first period, left the game with 14:34 left in the second with an injured shoulder after Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei rode him into the boards and was called for interference. Coach Barry Trotz said that Linter would miss the Predators' final two games. The Predators, who will eclipse the 300 mark in man-games lost for the second straight season Wednesday night at Phoenix, also lost defenseman Alexandre Boikov in the first period with a separated right shoulder. "It's tough to play with only four defensemen at this level," Dunham said. "The coaches put (right wing) Scott Walker back there and he did a real good job for us." | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Nashville Clubhouse Anaheim Clubhouse Mighty Ducks sign Colgate star McDonald
RECAPS Buffalo 3 Toronto 2
Anaheim 3
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