Ryan Getzlaf scores shootout winner as Ducks dethrone Kings 3-2

Canadian Press
Oct 22, 2006, 10:35 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Anaheim Ducks finally had things go their way in a shootout.

Ryan Getzlaf faked backup goalie Mathieu Garon and scored the winning goal in the fifth round, helping the streaking Anaheim Ducks beat the rival Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Sunday.

Getzlaf skated slowly toward Garon and faked to the right before pausing and going left, catching Garon sprawled flat on the ice.

"We talked before the game about what his tendencies are," Getzlaf said. "I had an idea on my mind of where I was going to shoot, but it was just a matter of where he was going to be in the net."

The Ducks won their third straight and are off to the best start in franchise history. They lost shootouts against the Islanders and Dallas earlier this month.

"Maybe our shooters are better today," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "It takes the pressure off when you get a one-nothing lead. We did not have a very good start to the game, but we got our legs underneath us and we played better as the game went on."

The Kings have lost five of their last six, including an overtime loss against Minnesota. Sunday marked the start of five games in seven days for them, including four on the road.

"Everybody has pegged those guys as one of the top teams in the league and we gave them everything they could handle," Kings coach Marc Crawford said.

Teemu Selanne struck first for Anaheim in the shootout, going top shelf on Garon's left side.

Alexander Frolov answered for the Kings, beating Jean-Sebastien Giguere through his pads, leaving Getzlaf to settle things in the fifth round.

"We played good and hard," Kings defenceman Aaron Miller said. "Obviously, we don't like the end result, but that's the way we have to play."

Giguere earned his fifth victory, stopping 29 shots in regulation and the five-minute overtime. Garon made 18 saves.

"It shows we're battling and that we never quit," Giguere said. "We were down 2-0, and in the past it would have been real hard coming back from a deficit like that after the first period. But that's what this league has come to. If you don't quit and keep working hard, you'll have your chance."

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