The longer, the better

Ducks continue extraordinary play in overtime games

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Mighty Ducks have finally joined the fray. Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere passionately spoke of his team's need to play with more enthusiasm and show that they truly believed they belong. His teammates responded.

Mind you, it took a couple of miscues with the puck by Devils netminder Martin Brodeur -- the best in the business handling the puck -- to fuel the Ducks' attack. But to their credit, they took full advantage.

Beyond the gaffes-turned-goals, though, Anaheim finally exhibited the requisite feistiness needed to battle New Jersey and succeed. The Ducks did just about everything better than they did in the first two games, banging bodies and diligently defending the area directly in front of Giguere.

Three Stars      SI.com's Jon A. Dolezar gives you his three stars of the Ducks' Game 3 win.  Analysis and Opinion  • Darren Eliot: Ducks fly again in OT More Stories  • Game 3: Recap | Box Score • Devils' sweep dreams are over • Overtime has turned into Jiggytime • Unheralded Salei makes his mark • Notes: Oates quick on the draw • Line Analysis: Mighty Ducks | Devils • Goalie Analysis: Giguere | Brodeur  Instant Poll  Who will win the Stanley Cup finals? Devils in 5 Devils in 6 Devils in 7 Ducks in 6 Ducks in 7 View Results

Anaheim had its flow back, the numbing effect of the 10-day layoff out of their system. The Ducks skated through the neutral zone with presence and purpose, gaining the red line effectively and often entering the Devils' zone on the rush. When that wasn't available, they were able to get the puck deep and establish a forecheck, making sure that they were physical on Scott Stevens at every opportunity. It all added up to being just enough to get back into the series.

One distinct advantage Anaheim had throughout the series was in the faceoff circle. Up until the game-winner in overtime, they hadn't capitalized, or even generated much in the way of chances off the draw. But, when Adam Oates won the draw cleanly back to Ruslan Salei, they made the Devils pay the ultimate price.

On the way to victory, Giguere established the all-time record for consecutive shutout minutes in overtime, breaking Patrick Roy's mark from 1993. The Ducks are 6-0 in overtime this postseason and 11 of their 13 playoff wins are by one goal. Confoundingly, for all of his career accolades, Brodeur fell to 8-17 in overtime games.

Obviously, the Ducks have stumbled onto the secret for success against Brodeur and the Devils -- get the game to the extra session.

Three Stars

First Star: Salei was at his miserable best in front of the Ducks' net and deserved star billing even without the game-winning goal in overtime. He was a tower of strength defensively all night long.

Second Star: Rob Niedermayer was outstanding on the penalty kill, and was a force on the forecheck throughout Game 3.

Third Star: Scott Gomez continues to create offensively and present matchup problems for the Ducks.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com. Eliot will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason, and he is also broadcasting the Stanley Cup Finals for NHL Radio.

 

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Stories

Three Stars: Salei the latest Ducks OT hero Giguere has made overtime into Jiggytime this postseason Devils' plans for Stanley Cup finals sweep are over Mighty Ducks beat Devils in Game 3 Notebook: Veteran Oates quick on the draw 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily Schedule

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