Anaheim, Calif. – The checking line’s job is to neutralize, minimize the damages, just not get burned.
So when Anaheim’s checking line produced the winning goal Monday night in the Ducks’ 3-2 series-opening victory over the Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup Finals at the Honda Center, it was final confirmation – but not necessarily the definition – of a job well done.
Winger Travis Moen, the pride of tiny Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan, broke a 2-2 tie with his goal at 17:09 of the third period, and the Ducks went on to a victory on a night when Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere had to make only 18 saves and the Senators uncharacteristically spent much of the night bottled up in their own end – or caught making turnovers.
The way this works, of course, the Ducks would not dare to gloat about all but shutting down the Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson-Dany Heatley line for a night. It’s not only bad protocol, it’s bad luck.
As much as possible, and utilizing the home team’s last change, the Ducks had Rob Niedermayer, Moen and Samuel Pahlsson out against the Spezza line, and often also used Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer in the same defensive pairing. Alfredsson and Spezza did have assists on Wade Redden’s power-play goal in the second period, but they didn’t get anything done at even strength against the checking line.
The Pahlsson line had 12 of the Ducks’ 36 shots on Senators goalie Ray Emery – six from Rob Niedermayer, four from Pahlsson and two from Moen.
“We got lucky tonight,” Moen said. “We kept trying to play in their end and stuff. Five-on-five we played well, the way we wanted to – physical.”
Ottawa coach Bryan Murray gave credit where it was due.
“Their checking line played head to head with our guys and ended up getting the winning goal,” he said. “So that’s the whole game in a nutshell.”
Spezza gave the checking line credit for a “good” job.
“I don’t think it presents any more problems than any other checking line,” he said. “We didn’t have our sharpest night as a team, and because of that, they got the win.”
The game seemed destined for overtime as the third period wound down, but Moen got a shot off from the slot after a pass from Rob Niedermayer and beat Emery to give the Ducks the lead that stood up.
Ottawa took a 2-1 lead into the third period on the strength of goals from Mike Comrie and Redden, but Ray Getzlaf’s goal at 5:44 tied it up.
OTTAWA VS. ANAHEIM
Ducks lead series 1-0
Monday: Anaheim 3, Ottawa 2
Wednesday: at Anaheim, 6 p.m.
Saturday: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 4: at Ottawa, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6: at Anaheim, 6 p.m., if nec.
Saturday, June 9: at Ottawa, 6 p.m., if nec.
Monday, June 11: at Anaheim, 6 p.m., if nec.
Ducks 3, Senators 2
Ottawa 1 1 0 – 2
Anaheim 1 0 2 – 3
First period – 1, Ottawa, Fisher 4 (Meszaros, Comrie), 1:38 (pp). 2, Anaheim, McDonald 6 (Selanne), 10:55. Penalties – S. Niedermayer, Ana (high-sticking), :53; Heatley, Ott (tripping), 2:34; Jackman, Ana (roughing), 14:14.
Second period – 3, Ottawa, Redden 3 (Alfredsson, Spezza), 4:36 (pp). Penalties – Redden, Ott (hooking), :59; Getzlaf, Ana (cross-checking), 3:52; Beauchemin, Ana (tripping), 6:34; Pahlsson, Ana (slashing), 6:59.
Third period – 4, Anaheim, Getzlaf 6 (Perry, Jackman), 5:44. 5, Anaheim, Moen 5 (R. Niedermayer, S. Niedermayer), 17:09. Penalties – Schubert, Ott (slashing), 6:37; Meszaros, Ott (interference), 10:03; S. Niedermayer, Ana (hooking), 13:08; Pronger, Ana (stick holding), 19:16.
Shots on goal – Ottawa 3-10-7 – 20. Anaheim 8-10-14 – 32. Power-play opportunities – Ottawa 2 of 7; Anaheim 0 of 4. Goalies – Ottawa, Emery 12-4-0 (32 shots-29 saves). Anaheim, Giguere 10-3-0 (20-18). Attendance – 17,274 (17,174). T – 2:31. Referees – Paul Devorski, Dan O’Halloran. Linesmen – Shane Heyer, Jean Morin.
DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Rob Niedermayer – The star defenseman’s younger brother was terrific on the checking line.
2. Ryan Getzlaf – Ducks center scored the tying goal.
3. Scott Niedermayer – Logged nearly 28 minutes, much of them with Chis Pronger.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped the ceremonial first puck, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Stephen Stills sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Too bad they couldn’t get Canadian Neil Young to do “O Canada,” or it would have been “Déjà Vu” all over again.
