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What we learned from the Ducks’ 2-1 OT victory over the Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning's Erik Condra, right, is the pulled by Ducks' Hampus Lindholm during a Jan. 17 game at Honda Center.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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The Ducks got their second overtime win this season, 2-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday at Honda Center. Ryan Getzlaf scored a goal at home for the first time this season, and their power play scored for the second time in January.

It all added up to a four-point cushion in the Pacific Division for the first-place Ducks.

Here’s what we learned:

Rickard Rakell’s goal wasn’t a set play. It looked like it, especially because the Ducks called timeout moments before the four-on-three power play, as Ryan Kesler tied up Brian Boyle off the faceoff so Rakell could get to the puck.

But Rakell said “not really” when asked if it was a set play.

“I’m just trying to jump on the puck off the faceoff,” Rakell said. “They only had three guys, so it was open ice for me in the middle.”

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Rakell’s team-leading 19th goal came in his 36th game. He is on pace for 37 goals.

The Ducks can play a different style. Getzlaf said “we were boring tonight, there’s no doubt about that” in reference to the style they needed to play to limit chances to a fast-skating team like the Lightning.

“We were playing a high-flying team,” Getzlaf said. “We’re trying not to turn the puck over and feed their offense. We tried to let them do all their little dipsy-doodle and things in the neutral zone and tried not to give up too much. I thought we did a good job of that.”

Anaheim has allowed two or fewer goals in eight straight games.

The power play still didn’t look good. Even though the Ducks scored at four-on-three, their five-on-four advantages continued to look bad.

“The power play didn’t look real good, and we weren’t cohesive in the opportunities we had earlier in the hockey game,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “But when you get a four-on-three in overtime, you’re supposed to score.”

sports@latimes.com

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