Anaheim Ducks Back into Playoff Action Defeating the St. Louis Blues
Anaheim Ducks is finally back into business, tying it with Calgary Flames for the eighth spot in the Western Conference after hammering St. Louis Blues by 2-1 on Wednesday night at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California.
Ray Emery has come back to defend the net for Ducks after being absent for more than a year, he made 30 saves to win the first match since his critical hip surgery late last season.
It was like he never left, from his pre-game rituals to his saving styles, all remained the same throughout.
"He was the reason we won," Jason Blake said, who himself made Anaheim’s two goals, a first since late December. "I thought Ray played unbelievable tonight and made some great saves. It's been a long time coming for him."
Both teams remained nil each during the first period, but Blues defenseman, Nathan Oystrick, capitalised on a power play advantage midway through the second, making it the first since his 2008-2009 season with Atlanta.
Oystrick played three games with Ducks during the 2009-2010 season then returned to the AHL and he’s currently filling in for Nikita Nikitin who’s on the injured reserve.
Oystrick’s goal seemed to snap Ducks out of a long slumber as Jason Blake replied back nearly two minutes later when his pass to teammate, Teemu Selanne, unwillingly got caught under the Slovakian defender, Jaroslav Halak, and slipped into the net.
The score was all tied up entering the final period as both teams knew that they were desperate for the win, nearing the playoffs and out of the elite eight.
St. Louis has a slight chance if none at all of making the playoffs this season, sitting 13th with 71 points, they’ll have to win nearly every upcoming game which seems a little unrealistic.
Blake fired Lubomir Visnovsky’s deflected a shot back at Halak at the 1:50 mark in the final with over 18 minutes remaining to take the lead and making his last attempt, the game winner.
Halak stopped 22 shot attempts for St. Louis.
"We had our chances, and we just needed to find a way to finish, or find a way to grab one when the goalie was out of position," Blues coach Davis Payne said, St. Louis has lost two straight games now since Saturday.
What Calgary always feared has finally come true, Anaheim overtakes them for eighth place in the Western Conference with 81 points. They are tied but statistically speaking, Ducks are ahead.
Both teams have fewer than 12 games remaining and each will be of huge importance nearing the end of regulation season.
Anaheim will go to LA on Saturday to face Kings, and host Flames the very next day and again facing them on the 30th, this time in Calgary.
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