Wild 2 - 3 Ducks
Final
  for this game

Ducks hold on late to down Wild

Mar 2, 2013 - 6:41 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - The Anaheim Ducks' success at home continued Friday night, but they will have to do a better job playing a full 60 minutes after nearly squandering a comfortable lead in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.

The Ducks carried a three-goal cushion into the third period, only to see the Wild strike in the frame's opening minute and again just past the midway point.

Things got even more tense when Anaheim defenseman Francois Beauchemin tripped Matt Cullen with 3:17 remaining. Late in the ensuing power play, Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper went to the bench to make it 6-on-4.

Minnesota had a couple chances, but wasn't able to come up with an equalizer as the Ducks ran their winning streak at Honda Center to eight games.

Jonas Hiller made 31 saves for the Ducks, who are off to the best start in club history at 15-3-1.

"We felt pretty good coming into this season. Obviously nobody expects to start the way we did, but guys are doing the right things," said Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf.

Kyle Brodziak put the Wild on the board with a blast off the right post 29 seconds into the third. Devin Setoguchi fired a slap shot from the top of the left circle that found room on the short side at 10:37.

"I wish we could have gotten that third one," said Minnesota coach Mike Yeo. "I wish our guys could have been rewarded for that effort. Especially after being down 3-0 in our second game in two nights. We're not celebrating a victory, but I am very impressed with our guys."

Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne put Anaheim ahead 2-0 with goals in the first period.

Kyle Palmieri, fresh off a natural hat trick in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Nashville, chipped the puck ahead to Corey Perry at the blue line, and Perry made a perfect feed to Getzlaf for a tap-in at 4:45.

Selanne then moved into 11th place on the NHL all-time goals list, passing Luc Robitaille, by beating Kuemper with a backhander at 11:21. It was the 42-year- old's 669th career goal, breaking a tie with Robitaille.

The Wild put 15 shots on Hiller in the second period, but lacked a finishing touch. Anaheim, meanwhile, was able to increase its lead despite recording only six shots in the middle frame.

Kuemper didn't realize the puck was underneath him along the goal line and Matt Beleskey charged the crease to poke it in at 11:26.

Game Notes

The Ducks haven't lost at Honda Center since their home opener ... Minnesota was looking for its first three-game winning streak of the season .... Kuemper finished with 26 saves.






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