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Scott Niedermayer lifts Ducks over Canucks in overtime

Mar 12, 2009 - 6:14 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Defenseman Scott Niedermayer scored with 83 seconds remaining in overtime as the Anaheim Ducks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

Teemu Selanne, All-Star Ryan Getzlaf and Petteri Nokelainen tallied in regulation while Erik Christensen and blue-liner Ryan Whitney notched two assists apiece for Anaheim, which had dropped four in a row at home.

"I think it's important for our well-being and our sanity," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "We've worked hard in some games and had as many chances as we had tonight and still came up empty. It's always enjoyable when you can find a way to win."

Alex Burrows and Kyle Wellwood netted goals before Ryan Kesler forged a 3-3 tie with 4:58 left in the third period for the Canucks, who have lost consecutive contests (0-1-1) following a four-game winning streak.

"To give up a goal in overtime is inexcusable from everybody," Kesler said. "We need to tighten up defensively and our power play needs to start going. This was a good game, but not good enough."

Niedermayer, who also scored in a 3-2 setback to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, secured the win by taking a pass from defenseman Chris Pronger and skating in on Roberto Luongo before firing a hard wrist shot past the All-Star goaltender.

"I kind of bobbled it, so I didn't have time to think too much, which is probably good," Niedermayer said. "I just went down and tried to get it up high. I just worried about not getting caught, not getting hit from behind.

"My strength as a player kind of helps in a situation like that, where I need to skate and move. Great play by (Todd Marchant) along the boards to win that battle. That's really where it starts."

Selanne opened the scoring with 2:25 remaining in the first period and Getzlaf doubled the bulge at 6:26 of the following session. However, Burrows and Wellwood tallied against netminder Jonas Hiller in a 50-second span midway through the second to forge a tie.

"It's very frustrating right now," Burrows said. "We wanted this win, we battled back twice to tie it up. We even killed the 4-on-3 against one of the best power plays in the league in overtime for more than a minute.

"And then to give up a breakaway at the end is pretty frustrating."

Nokelainen - acquired from the Boston Bruins for defenseman Steve Montador at the NHL trade deadline on March 4 - gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead with 6:39 remaining in the period with his first tally of the season.

"I think the new players (are) feeling more comfortable," Carlyle said. "We can't wait for people. We have to have a contribution from everybody."

Kesler leveled the contest late in the third, collecting a loose puck in front of the crease and lifting a backhander over the shoulder of Hiller, who finished with 32 saves.

"It's the NHL, it's competitive," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "All teams are good. We got off to a pretty good start. Their goaltender had really good rebound control tonight and made some big saves."

Luongo, who stopped 37 shots, lost for just the third time since February 3.

"It's always tough to lose like that," Luongo said.?? "Bottom line is, I don't think we played a great game. We've got to get back to basics a little bit and make sure that we get back to what made us successful in the last few weeks."