Sharks 2 - 3 Ducks
Final - OT
  for this game

Kesler's OT strike sends Ducks past Sharks

Dec 23, 2014 - 6:58 AM Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Kesler tallied at the 58-second mark of overtime, just after a power play expired, giving Anaheim a 3-2 victory over San Jose at Honda Center.

San Jose's Brent Burns committed a high-sticking infraction in the final 67 seconds of regulation, and Antti Niemi made a lunging glove stop on Kesler with 23.8 on the clock to help get his team beyond regulation.

Niemi was powerless to stop Kesler's second chance, an overpowering slapshot from the left circle which rippled the net under the crossbar on the far side.

"He stopped me at the far post a few times. Third time is a charm," Kesler deadpanned.

Rickard Rakell netted his first NHL regular-season goal and Cam Fowler also lit the lamp for the Ducks, who were coming off a 6-2 loss in Ottawa which concluded a five-game road trip.

Frederik Andersen came up with 30 saves for the win.

Joe Pavelski and Melker Karlsson supplied offense for the Sharks, whose five- game win streak came to a halt. Niemi stopped 29 pucks in the loss.

"To win in this building is tough," Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said. "I think we have to take some satisfaction that we came from behind in the third."

Rackell's milestone occurred at the 7:20 mark of the second period, when he popped a loose puck over Niemi from atop the crease. The young Swede was only allowed near the rebound because Niemi mishandled a dump-in from the right corner by Emerson Etem which crept up his stick.

"It feels good. Christmas is saved," Rakell joked.

Pavelski's power-play goal at two minutes even of the third period tied the game, before Karlsson's first-ever goal came with 7:56 gone in the third, a harmless low drive from the right wing which somehow squeezed through Andersen.

Fowler then moved up from his point position and scored on a nifty backhander in close off a Ryan Getzlaf dish for a 2-2 game with 4:16 to play.

Game Notes

Rakell had gone his first 46 NHL appearances spread out over the last three seasons without scoring, totaling 11 assists in the meantime ... Pavelski passed Owen Nolan for second all-time on the Sharks' goal-scoring list with 207 ... Fowler participated in his 300th career game ... Both clubs are out of action until Saturday, as Anaheim heads to Arizona, while San Jose takes on Los Angeles ... Ducks defenseman Tim Jackman suffered an apparent facial injury in the second period when struck by the butt end of Sharks forward John Scott's stick and did not return.






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