Ducks slip past Oilers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Frederik Andersen stopped 21 shots to lead the Anaheim Ducks in a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in the opener of a home-and-home set.
Ryan Kesler and Matt Beleskey each had a goal for the Ducks, who have ripped off five straight victories.
Anaheim secured the victory a day after learning that star forward Corey Perry will be out 3-to-4 weeks with a sprained knee. He suffered the injury last Friday against Minnesota, and the team learned the extent of the injury on Tuesday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had the only goal of the game for the Oilers, who have lost 13 of their last 14 games. Viktor Fasth allowed both goals on 34 shots in the loss.
"Obviously close isn't good enough," said Nugent-Hopkins. "We need to find a way to get that extra one at the right time, make that big play that gets us the lead. We have to find a way to do that. Close doesn't really cut it."
These clubs will meet in Edmonton on Friday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Skating on the power play, the Ducks took a 1-0 lead 8:59 into the game. Rickard Rakell had the puck at the left point and dished it down low for Kyle Palmieri, who quickly sent it to the slot to find Beleskey who was there to finish it off for his 14th of the season.
"It was a great pass by Palmy and Raks made a great play down low," said Beleskey. "If I get it between the [circles] I have to shoot it and hopefully score."
Anaheim made it a 2-0 game halfway through the second as Hampus Lindholm sent a lead pass to Kesler, who skated in on a short break and snapped a wrister into the left corner for his 10th of the season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Just 53 seconds into the third, the Oilers made it a one-goal game when Nugent-Hopkins stole the puck in the slot and quickly wristed it home for his seventh of the year.
Andersen was flawless from there, though, as he turned away seven shots in the third to help his team to the win.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Friday's game starts a five-game road trip for the Ducks ... Anaheim was 1- for-4 on the power play while Edmonton went 0-for-2 ... The Ducks have won eight of 10 and 17 of the last 21 meetings overall.