Story Doesn’t Get Old for Ducks

Either the Mighty Ducks’ long list of rookies are oblivious to the pressures of a playoff race or they are too young to realize that pressure exists.

Dustin Penner and Corey Perry made sure the Ducks’ good work on their trip didn’t go to waste as they scored goals to end a third-period tie in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night at the Arrowhead Pond.

Joffrey Lupul also had two goals, including one into an empty net, to help the Ducks keep pace in the tight race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot. The Ducks (27-19-11) sit three points behind eighth-place Edmonton and four points behind the seventh-place Kings.

“It’s big to win the last two games, and especially the last one before we go to the Olympic break,” said Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who stopped 23 shots. “Everybody’s in a good mood and we can enjoy our break even more, then come back and be refreshed.”

Although much of the announced sellout crowd of 17,259 was there to see forward Teemu Selanne honored for reaching 1,000 career points, it was a night for the youngsters.

Rookie center Ryan Getzlaf dominated with a team-high six shots and eight bona fide scoring chances. But it was the 23-year-old Penner and 20-year-old Perry, two other first-year players, who provided the difference.

Only 17 seconds into the third, Penner stepped out from behind the net and beat Chicago goalie Adam Munro from a sharp angle to end a 1-1 tie. Perry provided insurance three minutes later when he put in a perfect redirection of a pass from Getzlaf.

“At this level, it doesn’t matter what the situation is,” said Penner, sounding like a grizzled veteran. “Every game is important. You don’t worry about a game down the road in a few weeks. You worry about the one in front of you.”

Lupul, 22, finished off the night with the empty-net goal.

“I keep saying the future of this team looks good,” Giguere said. “These guys are growing up. We’ve been asking a lot of those rookies and they’ve come through every time. I think they’re getting better every day.”

The victory was important as the game set up as a trap for the Ducks. The Kings created space with victories on consecutive days and there was a fear of a letdown against the struggling Blackhawks heading into the two-week NHL break. Chicago has the second-worst record in the conference.

“You credit your players because, in reality, they took responsibility and committed to a game plan,” Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said. “It shows that we have some resiliency and some strong personalities in the room.

“The hockey club has played extremely hard. We had a difficult stretch of games and we’ve responded.”

Lupul scored in his second consecutive game when he converted a backhand shot off a feed from Andy McDonald for a power-play goal at 6:55 of the first, giving the right wing 20 goals in his second season.

The assist extended McDonald’s point streak to 11 games, the longest currently in the NHL and the longest in club history since Teemu Selanne had a 13-gamer from Jan. 21, 2000, to Feb. 18, 2000.

“I try not to think about it too much,” McDonald said. “You just keep the same routine you have.”

Patrick Sharp answered for Chicago with the only goal in the second period. But that was a temporary setback against a Duck team whose cadre of youngsters, led by Getzlaf, Perry and Penner, are thriving.

“Those guys have definitely contributed,” McDonald said. “All three of them since they all came back. They played well and we’re going to need that if we want to go to the playoffs.”