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Hiller, Ducks shut out Coyotes

Jan 5, 2009 - 4:33 AM By Craig Shultz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots for his third shutout both of the season and career and defenseman Chris Pronger and Bobby Ryan netted a power-play goal apiece as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-0, on Sunday.

Both goals came after Phoenix was penalized for too many men on the ice. The victory gave Anaheim sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division.

Phoenix, which had won two games in a row, continued to struggle on the power play, going 0-for-4 and falling to 0-for-18 in its last four games. Ilya Bryzgalov made 32 saves in the loss.

"Tonight, I think, was our best team effort that we've had," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said. "We tried to be more conservative, play more of a grind game. I thought we established that.

"For us, the difference in the game was our specialty teams. We got two power play goals and they went 0-for on their power play. So our penalty killers and our power-play guys stood up."

Captain Scott Niedermayer, who assisted on both Anaheim goals, praised the Ducks' effort.

"I think we had guys hustling out there, moving their feet, competing for the puck and we found a way to get a couple key goals," Niedermayer said.

Bryzgalov said the Coyotes need to avoid costly penalties.

"We are not playing for our first time. This is not our first game. Our changes have to be better," Bryzgalov said. "It's really frustrating when you give up your goals on the power play when you have too many men on the ice.

"It's one thing when you save a breakaway and you get the penalty. It's another thing when you get it for nothing. They come out on the power play and score. It's tough."

Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said the Ducks' experience in big games proved to be a factor.

"The proof in the pudding is that their team is a past champion. They want to become a champion again. They played this game like it was a playoff game. We didn't play with the same intensity that they did," Gretzky said.

"They outskated us, they outhit us and they were better than we were. The score was a flattering 2-0. I thought they had a real solid effort as a team tonight and they deserved to win the hockey game. Had it not been for our goaltender, 2-0 was pretty complimentary."

Phoenix captain Shane Doan had similar thoughts.



"They outplayed us and their power play was better than ours," Doan said. "We got a four-minute power play, they had a broken stick and we had some good chances, but we didn't capitalize on them. Special teams are a huge part of the game and they won it.

"I think overall we didn't play as good as we can and that's disappointing. It was such a big game for us. We're trying to crawl back up to a spot where we can try and get ahead of some teams. It was just a big game and we didn't come out ready."

Pronger scored on a slap shot from the right circle 3:32 into the second period. After Ryan took a shot from left circle, blue-liner Niedermayer gathered the rebound and skated behind the net before sending a pass out to Pronger to set up the goal.

Hiller came up big late in the second period, stopping eight shots by the Coyotes during a four-minute power play following a double minor for high sticking against Anaheim defenseman Brendan Mikkelson.

"It was tough, especially because I already thought I wasn't going to get a lot of shots that period because I had one shot until then," Hiller said. "They were in our zone for four minutes. It was hard on the legs. They moved the puck around pretty well. I think everybody battled through."



"We got caught out there pretty long," Niedermayer said of the penalty kill. "There were probably a couple opportunities maybe we missed to clear the puck. Sometimes that comes back to haunt you, but (Hiller) was back there making some big saves for us."

The second-year Swiss netminder, Hiller turned aside eight shots in the first period, 10 in the second and 11 in the third to record the shutout. He got the start the day after teammate Jean-Sebastien Giguere was named the Western Conference starting goaltender for the upcoming All-Star Game.

"For me, it's important to play as much as possible because I think for a goalie, experience is a big part in this game." Hiller said. "I just try to do my best every game I can play. It's great that it worked out that well. I'm happy for the team to get those two points because they were really important today."

Carlyle said Hiller's effort made thing easier on his teammates.

"When you have a night when your goaltender throws a shutout, then you don't have to score that many to win. And tonight was one of those nights," Carlyle said.

Ryan scored on a one-timer from the left circle 2:59 into the third period off assists from All-Star teammates Niedermayer and Ryan Getzlaf.

"They cleared the puck, so it was a half-breakout, half-neutral zone regroup," Ryan said. "(Getzlaf) showed his poise again, carrying the puck all the way down the half wall and hitting (Niedermayer).

"I think Scotty had too much to look at and found me off the side virtually all alone. That's tough for a goalie to make to get all the way back and across. It was easy for me to slide it home.

Ryan, who played on the Ducks' top line because Corey Perry is serving a four-game suspension, gave credit to the penalty killers.

"The penalty kill had to do it again tonight with a four-minute high sticking call," Ryan said. "It was nice for us to reward them for all they've done lately and put a few home."