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Perry helps Ducks earn split with Kings in England

Sep 30, 2007 - 8:19 PM LONDON (Ticker) -- This looked more like the team that won the Stanley Cup last season.

Corey Perry scored two goals and added an assist as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 4-1, on Sunday in the finale of the two-game Premiere Series at the soldout O2 Arena.

After being sunk by nine penalties and three power-play goals in Saturday's 4-1 loss here, the Ducks used the man-advantage to their favor and won for the first time since hoisting the Stanley Cup in June.

"We competed hard in both hockey games, we have wear and tear on our bodies but our mental focus is good," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "The work ethic was strong and we have no complaints with our players."

The first of two Anaheim power play goals in the opening period came at the 10:49 mark.

With Todd Bertuzzi obstructing the vision of netminder Jason LaBarbera, Perry received a pass in the slot from Andy McDonald and scored from close in.

McDonald also had an assist at the 15:19 mark, when Chris Kunitz scored the team's second power-play goal after a mad scramble in front of the net.

Carlyle said the team had tried to mix up its power play line a bit, but went back to basics in this game.

"I think that with the way we put things together historically we have always tried to formulate a pairing and (center Ryan Getzlaf) and Perry were a pairing right from their first rookie camp three years ago," he said. "We tried to wander away from that a little bit to share some minutes and some power play time but we weren't getting the necessary result, so we decided we were going to go back to the combination and we threw Kunitz there and he's been an interchangeable part on the left side."

Perry said he was glad to have a familiar face back on his power play unit.

"It was nice getting back with (Getzlaf)," he said. "Playing with 'Getzy' is nice ... We kind of know where each other is going to be on the ice."

Just 2:53 into the second period, the Ducks' lead grew to 3-0 as Perry scored his second goal of the season, courtesy of a fortuitous bounce. Ducks defenseman Kent Huskins shot on net went wide right, but the ricochet off the boards came out to Perry, who had no trouble beating an out-of-position LaBarbera.

Things got no better for the Kings netminder as the Ducks tallied again less than two minutes later and took a commanding 4-0 lead. Anaheim alternate captain Rob Niedermayer scrapped a puck out of corner and centered to Travis Moen, who had ample time to beat LaBarbera with a wrister to the top-right conner of the net.

In his first NHL game since the 2005-06 season, LaBarbera made 21 saves and did little to build his case a starter. The Kings will likely take a closer look at 19-year-old Jonathan Bernier, won made 26 stops in Saturday's win.

"There's another level to get to and Anaheim's found that level and we're still trying to find it," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "Our team is a team that's getting better and I think this weekend we showed we can be a force to be reckoned with. Where our level needs to get to is the level that Anaheim got to tonight."

Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller made 22 stops in the victory, only allowing Mike Cammalleri's third goal of the young season. Though playing well in the victory, Hiller is not expected to see substantial time in goal this season.

Regular starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere is expected to return from sports hernia surgery within the next two weeks and Ilya Bryzgalov, who made 17 saves Saturday, is the likely backup.