Ducks’ Jonsson Plays the Angle

If the Mighty Ducks manage to slip into the Stanley Cup playoffs--and that remains a mighty big if--then Jorgen Jonsson has done his part.

He has scored only one goal since being acquired from the New York Islanders on March 11. It came Monday night, and it couldn’t have been timed better.

The Ducks were skating on thin ice at the Arrowhead Pond, their playoff hopes in danger of melting away. Then Jonsson swooped in, picked up a loose puck and fired it from an odd angle. The red light flashed and the Ducks were still moving forward on their way to a 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.

Jonsson’s goal with 1 minute 34 seconds left in the second period did more than merely break 1-1 tie. It also allowed the Ducks to remain three points behind San Jose for the eighth and final playoff spot.

“We just have to keep it going now,” said Jonsson, who at 27 is playing his first season in the NHL.

It was Jonsson who kept things from grinding to a halt.

The Ducks slogged through the second period against the going-nowhere Predators. Of course, the Ducks had lost to similar also-rans this season, a big reason they are scrambling now.

One flick of the wrist made everyone on the Duck bench relax.

Jonsson found himself with the puck to the right of the net. He didn’t hesitate.

“We have been talking a lot about shooting the puck,” Jonsson said. “I just aimed and fired.”

The shot whizzed past goalie Mike Dunham, who seemed stunned.

“It was a freaky goal,” Jonsson said.

Ah, but beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

To a man, the Ducks, and their coach, called the goal “huge.”

“That goal gave us the lead going into the third period,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “That gave us a big edge.”

That it came from Jonsson wasn’t exactly a surprise. He does have 12 goals this season.

Still, it had been two months since the last one.

Jonsson hadn’t scored since Feb. 12, when he was still with the Islanders. He had been blanked since.

“Of course, that is on your mind,” said Jonsson, who has three points since the trade. “You start thinking, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ You just have to keep taking the shots. Sometimes the break goes my way.”

The Ducks were looking for a little more offense when they picked him up just before the trading deadline, and the price was right--center Johan Davidsson and future considerations.

Of course, the Ducks may still end up empty-handed. Even before the trade, Jonsson was talking about returning to Sweden next season. The chances of that happening, though, are getting slimmer.

General Manager Pierre Gauthier said he believes he will sign Jonsson. A little taste of the playoffs could cinch the deal.

“I want to get to the playoffs and see what it feels like,” said Jonsson, who said he will make his decision after the season.

Jonsson did his best Monday to get the Ducks there.

Kip Miller scored 1:50 into the third period, and that goal was set up by Jonsson. He burst into the Predator zone, drawing the defense toward him. Jonsson then stopped and slipped the puck to Miller, and a moment later the Ducks were breathing easy.

“That’s the type of back-breaker you have to get at this point of the season,” goalie Guy Hebert said. “When you have a two-goal cushion, everyone feels better.”