ANAHEIM—The Ducks continue to make history for themselves in another victory. Saku Koivu scored two goals while Jonas Hiller broke a franchise record in net leading the Ducks to a 3-2 win in overtime over the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.
Anaheim controlled the game in the first period putting the heat on Coyotes netminder Thomas Greiss who saw his ninth game this season. Greiss fared well stopping all, but one that came on the Coyotes second man advantage. With a battle for the puck in the Ducks end, Koivu skated into the Phoenixzone while shorthanded to send a drive that counted for his sixth of the year. In the end, the Ducks outshot Phoenix 14-5.
Phoenix nearly blew the second taking a pair of penalties, but holding the Ducks from moving further away from them. The Ducks gave the same response as Anaheim outshot the Coyotes 16-14 in what could have beenPhoenix’s best opportunity.
The third period gave note that the Coyotes needed time to warm up on the offense. After an early goal from Andrew Cogliano five minutes into the period, the Coyotes finished strong to end the second. Their charge came off a snap shot from Martin Hanzal who scored his 11th on a wide open net when Michael Stone sent the puck around the net taking Hiller out of the equation.Phoenix tied the game with 44 seconds left on a deflection from Mike Ribeiro. It was Keith Yandle who drove the shot with Ribeiro deep into traffic in front of Hiller to put the Coyotes back into contention.
Phoenix took just six shots to help force overtime, but with the Ducks holding a nine game winning streak and home advantage, the game was theirs to win or lose with five minutes of four on four hockey. Anaheim wasn’t going to need five minutes as one would do the trick. Just 51 seconds into sudden death, Koivu sealed the Ducks tenth straight win. His team waited for the right moment to set the veteran center with a frontal shot on Greiss for the game winner.
Koivu ended the night with two goals and an assist with 3 points. Hiller ended the game on a much bigger note as he broke Viktor Fasth’s eight game winning streak set last season. With the record in hand it gave Hiller his 17th making 23 saves in the process. While the winning streak continues the Ducks should attempt to figure out their problems as they sit 27th on power plays going 0-20 in their last seven wins. Scoring on even strength goals can only last so long as they face San Jose Sunday and have an 18.7 percent rate on the man advantage.
