Ducks beat Sharks, 5-3, in franchise-record 12th straight home win
The Ducks had two giant reasons to celebrate Monday, as they won their franchise-record 12th consecutive game at Honda Center and locked up star wing Corey Perry in an eight-year extension.
“Everybody got all excited,” Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin said of learning in the first intermission Perry had struck a $69-million deal to remain in Anaheim.
“Staying in Anaheim has always been my first choice,” Perry said in a prepared statement. “This is a great place to play, and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to remain here.
“… I’m pleased to have this done so our focus can remain on our ultimate goal – bringing another Stanley Cup to Orange County.”
The news ignited a second-period blitz of three Ducks goals in two minutes 46 seconds to set up a 5-3 victory over the division-rival San Jose Sharks.
The game also marked the return from injury of goaltender Viktor Fasth, who had 32 saves to improve to 6-0 at home.
Fasth suffered an upper-body injury this month and started for the first time since March 8.
Center Peter Holland broke a 1-1 tie by finishing off a long pass that found its way to Andrew Cogliano to Holland in front of the Sharks’ goal.
Just 34 seconds later, the Ducks (21-3-4) surged down the ice on passes by Bryan Allen and Daniel Winnik to set up the first NHL goal by 20-year-old Emerson Etem of Long Beach.
“I just figured if I kept shooting, one of them would go in,” Etem said of the goal, which came in his 19th game this season.
Then, in a short-handed situation, Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf took a pass from Etem and scored again past San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi.
“It’s another step,” Getzlaf said. “We want this place to be a tough building to come into, and that’s what it is.”
San Jose (12-10-6) came to within 4-3 when its leading scorer Patrick Marleau beat Fasth with 28.9 seconds remaining in the second period.
Sharks defenseman Matt Irwin rifled a goal past Fasth’s left glove with 13:12 remaining in the game, but the Ducks’ defense tightened, and Beauchemin scored an empty net shot in the final minute to seal the triumph.
The Ducks haven’t lost at home since Jan. 25.
The teams swapped goals in the first period.
Beauchemin continued his highly productive season (18 points) by firing his third goal of the season over Niemi’s right shoulder, to the goal’s high right corner.
The Ducks’ early play was indicative of their success this season, as they continually contested San Jose passes and smashed the Sharks into the boards, such as Matt Beleskey’s play against San Jose center Michael Handzus.
San Jose first found a way past Fasth with 57.2 seconds remaining in the first period, when defenseman Jason Demers wristed a hard slapshot just in front of the blue line into the high corner over Fasth’s right shoulder. It was Demers’ first goal of the season.
Twitter: @latimespugmire
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