Gaborik Helps the Wild Finally Solve the Ducks

Though Marian Gaborik’s season will still be considered a disappointment, he’s trying hard to finish strong.

Gaborik netted the go-ahead goal in the third period against Minnesota nemesis Jean-Sebastien Giguere, giving the Wild a 2-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks on Sunday.

Dwayne Roloson made 18 saves, and rookie Rickard Wallin had a goal for Minnesota, which scored on Giguere for just the fourth time in eight games -- including last year’s Western Conference finals.

“Obviously we have been having a lot of trouble to score against him,” Gaborik said. “It was good to get a couple goals.”

Good for Gaborik, especially, who shares the team goal lead with Alexandre Daigle with 16. An All-Star last season who was the third-highest scorer in the NHL playoffs, Gaborik missed the first 12 games of this season during a contract dispute. He has been off his game for much of the time since.

“He’s feeling much better,” Coach Jacques Lemaire said. “He’s just starting to feel good about himself and feel confident.”

Niclas Havelid scored for the Mighty Ducks, whose recent dominance of the Wild ended. Anaheim followed its four-game sweep in last year’s playoffs by going 2-0-1 in the first three games this season.

“That’s been the story of the season, losing close ones,” Duck captain Steve Rucchin said. “That’s what happens when you refuse to work.... When you don’t come prepared on a nightly basis, it’s tough. The guys on the ice haven’t gotten the job done. It’s no one’s fault except ourselves.”

After their improbable meeting in last year’s playoffs, the Wild and Mighty Ducks have fallen hard. They began the final week of the regular season with nothing on the line other than draft position and auditions for future playing time.

Minnesota is in 11th place in the West with 77 points, and the Ducks are one spot behind with 74. The last time teams met in the Stanley Cup semifinals one season and missed the playoffs the next was 34 years ago, when Montreal and the Kings matched up one round before the finals in the 1968-69 postseason and didn’t qualify in 1969-70.

“It’s disappointing,” Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. “I didn’t feel at any point in the season that we got to the level of play we should be at.”

Giguere, who made 20 saves, was sharp until Gaborik’s nifty move with 7:42 left. He stopped behind the goal, swooped in front of the crease, faked right and dumped a shot past Giguere’s stick to make it 2-1.

“We got a little confused in our defensive zone, and he took advantage,” Giguere said.

Gaborik was certainly pleased.

“It’s hard for the goalie to react on that kind of move when the play stops,” Gaborik said. “It worked for me, so I’m glad.”