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Selanne snaps tie to lift Ducks over Blue Jackets

Oct 28, 2008 - 3:22 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Teemu Selanne snapped a tie with 3:55 remaining in the third period to net the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.

Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and an assist and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere collected 30 saves for the Ducks, who completed their road trip a perfect 4-0-0. The Blue Jackets have now dropped three straight.

"Bottom line is, when you go out on the road, you take points any way you can get them," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "It's been a long road trip and there was a lot at stake with our club to get back to .500 after a rough start."

"My job is to give our team a chance to win - especially on the road," Giguere said. "I thought it was a good, well-played team game and we found a way to win."

With his team on the power play, Selanne scored the game winner after blasting a shot from the left faceoff circle which beat Columbus goaltender Fredrik Norrena just inside the left post for his third goal of the season.

"I am very happy about the goal and the road trip," Selanne said. "Any time you can win four games in a row, you know you are doing something good."

Norrena was making just his second start of the campaign in place of the injured Pascal Leclaire, who was placed on injured reserve Monday with an ankle injury. Norrena finished with 21 saves.

"I have to be better," Norrena said. "With Pascal out for a few games, I have to step up and give us a chance to win."

Getzlaf opened the scoring 77 seconds into the contest. Left wing Chris Kunitz took the puck away from Michael Peca in the corner and skated into the right faceoff circle. His shot was stopped by Norrena, but the rebound stayed in the crease and was tapped in by Getzlaf for his third goal of the season.

"A good start to the game, for sure," Getzlaf said. "It was a great play by Chris to get the puck, and it was just laying there - and I tapped it in."

The Blue Jackets (3-6-0) responded three minutes later with their first shorthanded goal of the season. Jiri Novotny posted his first goal of the campaign with just two seconds left on the penalty. Novotny was set up by Andrew Murray, who took the puck away from defenseman Francois Beauchemin behind the net. Murray skated around the right side of the net and fed Novotny, whose one-timer in the slot beat Giguere.

"It's always nice to get a shorthanded goal and give your team that momentum change," Novotny said.

Columbus reclaimed the lead just 37 seconds into the second period by Derick Brassard. The 6-1 center accepted a feed from Jason Chimera and drilled a shot from high in the left slot which beat Giguere.

"The goal was great," Brassard said. "It was a great pass from Jason. I think we played very well tonight. It was one of our best games of the season."

Anaheim (5-5-0) tied it up midway through the third period when Perry redirected defenseman Steve Montador's shot from the left slot for his second goal of the season.

"That's what we have to do," Perry said. "The goal of our line is to create scoring chances and we are finally getting some bounces."