CALGARY, Alberta (AP) - Embarrassed by the Calgary Flames two weeks ago, the Anaheim Ducks returned to the scene of that ugly loss and picked up an important victory.
Andrew Cogliano scored the go-ahead goal at 14:41 of the third period as the Anaheim Ducks picked up an important two points with a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
“That’s one of the biggest two points of the season, for sure,” said Cogliano. “To come back from behind in the third period, it shows where we’re going as a team and I think it’s a big statement win for us.”
Stephane Robidas’ shot from the blue-line was kicked out by Karri Ramo but the puck went right to Cogliano at the face-off circle, who quickly fired in his 21st goal of the season.
“Right place at the right time. It landed right on my stick. When I saw the net, no better feeling,” said Cogliano, who put a shot off the post just minutes earlier. “Those are the goals we’re trying to score, especially myself. Getting to the net, getting some rebounds.”
Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller made 32 saves, a nice bounce-back game for him after getting chased less than 12 minutes into the last start at the Scotiabank Saddledome after yielding three goals on five shots in a 7-2 loss.
“The whole team was upset with what happened last time. I didn’t feel I played terribly or whatever but those things happen and it’s nice if you get a chance pretty quick to do better,” said Hiller. “Definitely happy with the way we responded and the way I responded. I thought we played a pretty good road game.”
Nick Bonino and Mathieu Perreault also scored for Anaheim, which kicked off a three-game road trip to Western Canada with its sixth road win in its last eight games away from the Honda Center.
The Ducks moved to within two points of the Pacific-leading San Jose Sharks. Anaheim still holds two games in hand.
“It would be great to be up there because if you’re second, you have a good chance of playing L.A. in the first round which would be a tough matchup,” Hiller said.
Brian McGrattan and Jiri Hudler scored for Calgary.
Trailing 2-1 headed to the third period, the Ducks tied it at 5:32.
Sami Vatanen’s rising shot from the blue-line hit a scrum of bodies in front that included Ramo, who had come out of his crease to cut down the angle. The puck dropped at the skates of Perreault, behind Ramo, and he easily slid the puck into the vacated net.
Perreault’s 16th goal extended his point streak to six games (four goals, two assists).
Trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Flames tied it at 4:44 of the second. Although the goal was fluky, it came after a shift in which the trio of McGrattan, Kevin Westgarth and TJ Galiardi put in some tireless work deep in the Anaheim end.
Tyler Wotherspoon made a great play at the blue-line to keep the puck in after an attempted clear. His quick shot toward the net deflected off the glove of Kevin Westgarth in front then bounced in hit the leg of McGrattan and trickled behind Hiller.
McGrattan’s fourth goal and 10th of his career comes in his 300th NHL game.
“That’s the way you learn sometimes, too. You learn from tough losses,” said McGrattan. “Our group hasn’t given up all year. We’re in every game and work our butts off right until the end and that’s a good sign.”
Calgary took a 2-1 lead with 26 seconds left in the second, the result of a pretty play by Ladislav Smid.
Smid fooled everyone with a fake shot before sending a quick pass to Hudler at the face-off circle who blasted a slap shot past Hiller before he could get across.
Anaheim got the only goal of the first period on a pretty individual effort from Bonino.
After weaving his way through center and into the Calgary zone, he ripped a shot into the top corner past the outstretched glove of Ramo.
It was the third power-play goal in three games for the Ducks, who in the nine games prior to that were 1 for 33 with the extra man.
Ramo had 31 saves to fall to 13-11-4. The Finn had won his previous five decisions.
NOTES: On the eve of the one-year anniversary of the trade of Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh, the two players they received in return - LW Kenny Agostino and RW Ben Hanowski, were both healthy scratches for the Flames. … Calgary LW TJ Galiardi drew back in after missing the past two games. … Not in the line-up for Anaheim were D Francois Beauchemin, C Daniel Winnik and LW Matt Beleskey. … Anaheim’s 22nd road victory ties the franchise record, previously done in 2006-07 and in 2008-09.
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