Ducks Rally To Defeat Minnesota, 2-1, In Home Opener
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com/AP) — Andrew Cogliano ended Minnesota's season-long shutout streak with a short-handed goal early in the third period, and Corey Perry got the tiebreaking goal with 8:25 left in the Anaheim Ducks' 2-1 victory over the Wild on Friday night.
Frederik Andersen made 27 saves in the fourth consecutive victory for the Ducks, who made a dynamic rally to win their home opener.
Cogliano's goal was the first allowed all season by the Wild and goalie Darcy Kuemper, who set the franchise record for consecutive scoreless minutes.
Perry then put the Ducks ahead when Jason Zucker's pass went off rookie Matt Dumba's skate and straight to the former league goal-scoring champion, who eventually scored his fifth goal in five games on a rebound.
"It's not what we planned but it was nice to battle back in the 3rd period and win," said Corey Perry. "I thought the last half of the game we showed a bit emotion and it turned to our favor."
Zucker scored and Kuemper stopped 24 shots for the Wild.
Minnesota had the last five days off after beginning the season with back-to-back shutouts of Colorado. Kuemper played a club-record 163 minutes, 46 seconds of scoreless hockey before Cogliano's goal, which prevented the Wild from becoming just the second team in NHL history to open a season with three consecutive shutouts.
"Every point counts in this division, especially in his conference," added Perry. "Its one of the toughest in hockey. We know every game in the division will be a battle."
Anaheim has won seven of its last eight meetings with Minnesota.
The Ducks played the Western Conference's final home opener after going 3-1 on an impressive season-opening trip. A sellout crowd watched beneath the Ducks' second straight Pacific Division title banner.
Clayton Stoner faced the Wild for the first time since the defenseman left Minnesota as a free agent last summer for a $13 million deal with the Ducks, but his misstep led to the Wild's first goal.
After a scoreless first period, Zucker skated past a stumbling Stoner and scored his second goal in three games. Zucker was born in nearby Newport Beach and grew up in Las Vegas.
Late in the second period, Kuemper broke Niklas Backstrom's franchise record of 157 minutes, 44 seconds of scoreless play.
But with Stoner in the box early in the third, Devante Smith-Pelly forced a turnover and Cam Fowler got the puck ahead to the speedy Cogliano, who buried a backhand for his ninth career short-handed goal.
NOTES: Recently retired ex-Ducks C Saku Koivu attended the game. His brother, Mikko, is the Wild's captain. ... Minnesota's trip concludes Sunday at Los Angeles. The Wild's weird schedule includes just four games in the first two weeks, followed by six games in 10 days. ... Longtime Ducks enforcer George Parros also watched from a luxury suite. ... Forward Chris Wagner made his NHL debut for the Ducks in place of healthy scratch Rickard Rakell. ... New Ducks F Dany Heatley couldn't play against his former Minnesota teammates while missing his fourth straight game with a groin strain. F Kyle Palmieri and D Bryan Allen also haven't played this season due to injuries.
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