Niklas Hagman makes game-winner as Anaheim Ducks overtake Calgary Flames in intense shootout -NHL
The 12,000 plus fans in the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, were in for a ride on Monday night, February 6, 2012, as Anaheim and Calgary entered a wild shootout, but the Ducks barely managed to escape as Niklas Hagman made the game-winner to edge Flames, 3-2.
Anaheim Ducks have certainly seen some better day as they stand at number 13 in the Western Conference with 48 points, being below the lowest ranked team in the Eastern Conference, Carolina Hurricanes.
For the Ducks, snapping their two-game losing streak at home against a team like Calgary could certainly be a sigh of relief for them but what they should be focusing on next time is taking control in regulation.
Bobby Ryan and Matt Beleskey gave Anaheim a strong lead to work on in the opening period with two straight goals nearly two minutes apart, but the rest of the game was all domination sponsored by the Calgary Flames.
Alex Tanguay put Calgary on the board with his sixth of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season while Flames captain, Jarome Iginla, got equaliser at the 6:15 mark of the third on a power play opportunity, giving the visitors another chance in overtime.
The shootout was wild as both teams successfully managed to tie the score at every opportunity they got, but failed to take the lead when the time called for it.
Olli Jokinen scored on Calgary’s first attempt after Anaheim missed on theirs. Corey Perry added the equaliser on the second chance, after which both teams failed on the remaining two.
The post regulation contest kicked off when Bobby Ryan got the potential game-winner on their fifth attempt but Blair Jones of Calgary was right there to level it once again.
Niklas Hagman scored the next as Mikael Backlund failed on Calgary’s last chance to give Anaheim the much earned win.
Anaheim has one more at home against Carolina Hurricanes before taking off on a eight-game road trip after Wednesday while Calgary has a lot of ground to cover before the playoffs as they visit the San Jose Sharks on the same day.
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